Historical Folk Lyrics
"A Hunting Tale"

Oh, I took my gun out on my back and a-hunting I did go,
It was to kill a big fat buck and track him in the snow,
And track him in the snow.

I followed him to that river that runs up on yonders hill;
At the bottom of that river this herd of deer did dwell,
This herd of deer did dwell.

When I came in sight of them like divers they dove down,
They dove into the bottom and they squat upon the sand,
They squat upon the sand.
I took my gun all in my hand, out into the water ran;
It was to kill all those that fled, that was my whole intent,
That was my whole intent.

When I was under water five thousand feet or more
I fired off that rifle, like a cannon it did roar,
A cannon it did roar.

I fired all in among them, I chanced for to kill one,
The rest stuck up their bassets and at me they did come,
And at me they did come.
Their horns were in the velvet, [ the fiery ship could mask?]
And like so many streams of lightning, why, they pitched my body past,
They pitched my body past.

'Til it became like a riddle and a bulldog could jump through,
I threw all in a passion, my naked sword I drew,
My naked sword I drew.

Five hours I held them battle, six hours I gave them play.
Well, I killed about five thousand and the rest all ran away,
Why, the rest all ran away.

Well, I gathered up my venison, all out the water went,
It was to kill all those that Bed that was my whole intent,
That was my whole intent.

Then I bent my gun a circle and I shot around the hill.
Then out of four and twenty a thousand I did kill,
A thousand I did kill.

Then I gathered up my venison and I started out for home,
It was a hot and summer day, and a blustery squall of snow,
And a blustery squall of snow.

Well, I traveled o'er hills and mountains, and over hills so high
That when I stood a-gazing I could almost reach the sky,
I could almost reach the sky.

As I stood a-gazing the sun came running by,
And I gathered up my venison, I jumped on as it passed by,
I jumped on as it passed by.

It carried me all 'round the world and o'er the swelling tide,
And I sold my venison to the stars so merrily I did ride,
So merrily I did ride.

Just as the sun was going down it gave a sudden whirl,
Then I let loose my hold, I landed in the other world,
Landed in the other world.

But as Saint Providence would have it I lodged upon the moon
And in course of a half of day or so I landed safe at home,
I landed safe at home.

Then I gathered up my money for venison and for skin,
And I took it to the big frame barn, it wouldn't near half go in,
It wouldn't near half go in.

The rest I dealt out to the poor, bright guineas out of hand,
And now I think it's time to stop and live again to man,
And live again to man.

Now the man that made up this song, sir, his name was Bango Bang,
And if you can tell a bigger lie I swear you ought to hang,
I swear you ought to hang.