Raynard The Fox
Chasing Reynard: A Folk Tale in Melody
Lyrics
On the first day of spring
Spring begins; the time frame is 1793
In the year Ninety Three
Specific year referenced
The chief recreation was in this country
Popular activity among people in the country
The King's county gentlemen o'er
Gentry from King's County (now County Offaly)
Whose dales and rocks
The landscape they traversed
They rode out so jovially in
They joyfully set out
Search of the fox
Hunting for the fox
Tally-ho, hark away, tally-ho, hark away
Traditional hunting cries
Tally-ho, hark away, me boys, away
-When Reynard was started he faced Tullamore
Tracking Reynard's path through locations
Then Arklow and Wicklow along the sea shore
-We kept his brush in view
They consistently followed Reynard
Every yard of the way
-And straight he steered a course
Reynard's determined path through Rosscrea
Through the streets of Rosscrea
Empty line
Tally-ho, hark away, tally-ho, hark away
Reiteration of hunting cries
Tally-ho, hark away, me boys, away
-But Reynard, sly Reynard
Reynard hiding overnight
Lay hid there that night
-They swore they would watch
The determination to watch him until dawn
Him until the daylight
-But early next morning, the hills did resound
The next morning's hunt begins
With the echo of the horn
-And sweet cry of hounds
-Tally-ho, hark away, tally-ho, hark away
Continued hunting cries
Tally-ho, hark away, me boys, away
-When Reynard was started
Reynard's direction towards a challenging terrain
He faced to the hollow
-Where none but the hounds and
-The footmen could follow
-The gentlemen cried "Watch him!"
Concerns about Reynard's potential escape
What shall we do?
-Well, if the rocks don't stop him
-He will cross to Killaloe
-Tally-ho, hark away, tally-ho, hark away
Continued hunting cries
Tally-ho, hark away, me boys, away
-When Reynard was taken, his wishes to fulfill
Reynard's actions upon capture—writing a will
He called for ink and paper and
-A pen to write his will
-And what he made a mention of
-They found it no blank
-For he gave them a cheque
-On the National Bank
-Tally-ho, hark away, tally-ho, hark away
Continued hunting cries
Tally-ho, hark away, me boys, away
-To you, Mr Casey, I give my whole estate
Reynard bequeathing possessions to different individuals
And you, young O'Brien
-My money and my plate
-I give to you, Sir Frances, my whips
-Spurs and caps
-For you crossed walls and ditches and
-You ne'er looked for a gap
-Tally-ho, hark away, tally-ho, hark away
Final hunting cries and conclusion
Tally-ho, hark away, me boys, away
-Tally-ho, hark away, tally-ho, hark away
-Tally-ho, hark away, me boys, away tally-ho!
Final rallying cry
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