Hunting Song

The Six Fell Packs

Now I’ll give you a toast now to all the Fell packs;
To masters, to huntsman, and whips of all macks;
You can have your athletics and games of all sorts;
As hunting is surely the greatest of sports

Tally Ho! Tally Ho! Tally Ho!
Hark for’ ad good hounds Tally Ho!

John Peel was first hunter to gain lasting fame;
At Caldbeck not long since they honoured his name;
Bill Porter, Jim Dalton, and others we know;
Then rivalling Peel, there came Bowman, and Old Joe

Tally Ho!......

On t’west side there’s t’Eskdale with Porter’s son Jack;
Harry Hardisty’s proud of his laal Melbreak pack;
Geordie Bell hunted ‘Cathra for many a year;
Johnny Richardson now keeps those foxes in fear

Tally Ho!......

Now Bowman retired they engaged a young lad;
>As Ullswater whip and he hasn’t done bad;
He’s stayed 30 years and he still goes the rounds;
So hears to Joe Weir and his Ullswater hounds

Tally Ho!......

We next come to one to who hunting is born;
He’s the third generation to carry the horn;
Anthony Chapman’s his name, and I hardly need say;
How his Coniston hounds love his “Hoo! Git Away!”

Tally Ho!.......

Now there’s just yan pack left hunting plain open fell;
Who’s foxes are apt to go straight necked to hell;
Walter Parkin’s young pack has caught up with the rest;
And the Lunesdale hounds now hold their own with the best

Tally Ho!.......

So back to my toast to this greatest of sports;
Here’s to hunters and hounds sparing Reynard a thought;
May we follow the horn till it’s our turn to die;
Then if Saint Peter has hounds he will hear us all cry

Tally Ho! Tally Ho! Tally Ho!
Hark for’ ad good hounds Tally Ho!