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Rufford Park Poachers (Single)

by The Rowan Amber Mill

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The latest of our lockdown recordings, our take on the traditional song based on real events.
"In 1851, a gang of forty or so poachers assembled in Rufford Park as a mass action against the unfair monopolising of game-hunting rights by wealthy landowners. The poachers were attacked by ten gamekeepers and, in the ensuing battle, one of the gamekeepers was badly injured and later died of a fractured skull. Four of the poachers' ringleaders were arrested and each subsequently sentenced to deportation and fourteen years of penal servitude for manslaughter."
There are quite a few superb versions of this song out there, some we particularly love include Jospeh Taylor's wonderful 1908 wax cylinder recording, Martin Carthy's Kershaw Session version in the 1980s, through to Coope, Boyes & Simpson a capella version in the 1990s.

lyrics

A buck or doe believe it so A pheasant or a hare
Were set on earth for everyone Quite equally to share
So poacher bold, as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart
And think about those poachers bold That night in Rufford Park

They say that forty gallant poachers They were in distress
They'd often been attacked when Their number it was less So poacher bold, as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart
And think about those poachers bold That night in Rufford Park

Among the gorse, to settle scores Those forty gathered stones
To make a fight for poor men's rights And break the keepers bones So poacher bold, as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart
And think about those poachers bold That night in Rufford Park
The keepers went with flails against The poachers and their cause
So no man there again would dare Defy the rich man's laws So poacher bold, as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart
And think about those poachers bold That night in Rufford Park

Down on the ground with mortal wound Head keeper Roberts lay
He never will rise up until The final judgement day
Of all that band who made a stand To set a net or snare
The four men brought before the court Were tried for murder there So poacher bold, as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart
And think about those poachers bold That night in Rufford Park

The Judge he said "For Robert's death Transported you must be
To serve a term of forty years In convict slavery"
So poacher bold, as I unfold Keep up your gallant heart
And think about those poachers bold That night in Rufford
A buck or doe believe it so A pheasant or a hare
Were set on earth for everyone Quite equally to share
So poacher bold, your tale is told Keep up your gallant heart
And think about those poachers bold That night in Rufford Park

credits

released May 22, 2020
Trad arr Stephen.
Kim Guy : Vocal.
Stephen Stannard : All instruments. Mix and production. Cover design.
Cover stars: Abbots Bromley Horn Dancers circa 1900

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The Rowan Amber Mill Devon, UK

Since 2007 The Rowan Amber Mill have been purveyors of Woodland Folkadelica/alt-Folk. Releases include: "folk devils & moral panics", "midsummers" and "Heartwood". The Book of the Lost (with Emily Jones). Silent Night Songs (with Angeline Morrison).The folk horror collection Harvest the Ears. The synth album Follows Shortly (as Making Tea For Robots). They are half of Rowan:Morrison. ... more

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