When I was bound apprentice in
famous Lincolnshire,
Full well I serv'd my Master for more than seven year,
Till I took up to Poaching, as you shall quickly hear;
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shining night in the season of the year.
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As me and my companions were setting of a snare,
'Twas then we spied the gamekeeper, for him we did not care,
For we can wrestle and fight, my boys, and jump o'er anywhere.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shining night in the season of the year.
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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 through the woods did steer.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shining night in the season of the year.
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I threw him on my shoulder, and then we trudged 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.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shining night in the season of the year.
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Success to ev'ry gentleman that lives in Lincolnshire,
Success to ev'ry poacher that wants to sell a hare,
Bad luck to ev'ry gamekeeper that will not sell his deer.
Oh, 'tis my delight on a shining night in the season of the year.
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