Lyrics The Ballad of the Foxhunter - Cherish The Ladies

The Ballad of the Foxhunter

'Lay me in a cushioned chair;
Carry me, ye four
With cushions here and there
To see the world once more
'To stable and to kennel go;
Bring what there is to bring;
Lead my Lollard to and fro
Or gently in a ring
'Put the chain upon the grass:
Bring Rody and his hounds
That I may contented pass
From these earthly bounds.'
His eyelids droop, his head falls low
His old eyes cloud with dreams;
The sun upon all things that grow
Falls in sleepy streams
'Huntsman, blow the horn
Come make the hills reply
Loosen on the morn
A gay wandering cry
Rody, blow your horn
Come make the hills reply'
'I cannot blow my horn
But only weep and sigh.'
Lollard treads upon the lawn
And to the armchair goes
The old man’s dreams are gone
He soothes the long brown nose
Moves many a pleasant tongue
Upon his wasted hands
Aged hounds and young
The huntsman near him stands
Round his cushioned place
With new sorrow wrung:
Hounds gazing on his face
Aged hounds and young
Fire in the old man’s eyes
His fingers move and sway
The wandering music dies
They hear him feebly say
The blind hound with a mournful cry
Slowly lifts his head;
They bear the body in;
The hounds wail for the dead
The hounds wail for the dead;
Wail for the dead