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The Keepers and the Drivers

Bill Price sang The Keepers and the Drivers in 1972 on his Folk Heritage album The Fine Old Yorkshire Gentleman. He noted:

A song recalling an unsuccessful hare-hunt in 1909 from the singing of Bob Auty of the Holme Valley Beagles, and telling us more of the evening’s entertainment than the hunt itself.

Steve Turner sang The Keepers and the Drivers in 1982 on his Fellside album Jigging One Now. He noted:

A bloodless hunting song from Yorkshire, from the Holme Valley Beagles Songbook. I picked it up from Phil Reed who sings at the Leicester folk club. I hope Tykes will excuse a Lancastrian’s liberty with some irresistable bits of dialect—but Holmfirth is only just over the hill anyway!

Lyrics

The Keepers and the Drivers

From Hunters’ Songs, Traditional Songs Sung by the Holme Valley Beagle’s Hunt, 4^th edition 1990

The keepers and the drivers, likewise some sporting men,
To have a day of hunting, lads, it was their hearts’ intent;
So they went to Baron Kilner, and asked him for his ground,
To have a day of hunting, so they sent for Holmfirth hounds.

Chorus (after each verse):
Laddie full light full la-rol-la,
Laddie full light full la-rol-la,
Laddie full light full la-rol-rol,
Laddie full light full la-rol-la.

So they choose a captain, likewise they choose a day,
At the Rose and Crown at Meltham, lads, the drivers’ hunt was there;
They sent out invitations, they sent them a long way,
“Be sure to be at Meltham on that appointed day.”

The huntsman and the whipper-in, with sixteen harriers came,
And breakfast it being over, lads, he said, “Now where’s your game?”
The captain said to the huntsman. “The dogs they make a row,
Go fetch um yat ut stable, turn out at Royd Edge Brow.”

They had not been out very long, when Sportsman he gave mouth,
“Hark! forward,” said the huntsman, “she’s lying to the south”;
The hare, it being a stout one, she ran up Harden Clough,
And every honest sportsman there had pleasure quite enough.

This hare she gave a double, turns her head towards the west,
But Monitor and Lady, they did not let her rest;
For as they ran o’er Madge Knowle, the hounds were in full cry,
Away they went o’er hill and dale, till they came to Isle of Skye.

Charles Heaton and Sam Pogson said, “This hare’s been over run,
We’d better leave the ground,” they said, “her staying power is done.”
Just then our worthy captain made just one remark,
“Let’s wend our way to Meltham before it gets too dark.”

And when we gate to Meltham, Walker Wood he took the chair,
And every honest sportsman there, his orders did obey;
Now some could sing and some could play, Joe O’Lukes could tell a tale,
Joe Brook he sings Old Charlottee, John Brook filled us some ale.

John Schofield sang a hunting song, Joe O’Lukes he tells a tale,
And captain said to landlord, “Just fill this jug with ale”;
But before he finished off his tale, he said, “his hund was roe,”
He’d walked all gate thrut Isle of Skye, as it began to snow.

Ben Kinder he came down thrut Royd, he sang a Russian air,
I think they called it Sambo, why, he sang it very fair;
He played a foreign instrument, he played it very neat,
He played his own accompaniment with his elbows, knees and feet.

There was one gamekeeper, he jumps up, “Before I do depart,
I’ll bid adieu to Captain, lads, before I make a start;
For there’s one think that is certain, he’s got a name for life,
But he says he’s near o’ been Captain, but for Arthur Earnshaw’s wife.

So here’s adieu to huntsmen, and all invited guests,
It’s been a pleasant evening, lads, it’s been one of the best;
John Brook, he being the landlord, said, “It is now closing time.”
So the drivers’ hunt was ended, in nineteen hundred and nine.