The Lincolnshire poacher

When I was bound apprentice in famous Lincolnshire,

Full well I served my master for more than seven year

Till I took up to poaching as you will quickily hear;

O 'tis my delight on a shining night, in the season of the year.

As me and my companions were setting of a snare,

'Twas there we spied the game-keeper, for him we did not care,

For we can wrestle and fight, my boys, and jump o'er anywhere;

O 'tis my delight on a shining night, in the season of the year.

As me and my companions were setting four or five,

And taking on 'em up again, we caught a hare alive,

We took the hare alive, my boys, and thro' the woods did steer,

O 'tis my delight on a shining night, in the season of the year.

I threw him on my shouldier, and then we trudgèd home,

We took him to a neighbour's house, and sold him for a crown,

We sold him for a crown, my boys, but I did not tell you where,

O 'tis my delight on a shining night, in the season of the year.

Success to every gentleman that lives in Lincolnshire,

Success to every poacher that wants to sell a hare,

Bad luck to every game-keeper that will not sell his deer,

O 'tis my delight on a shining night, in the season of the year.