On the f Em ourteenth of may a G t the d D awn of the d Em ay
With my gun on my shoulder to the wo G ods I d C id s Em tray
In search of some game if the we G ather pro C ved f Em air
To see could I get a s G hot at the b D onny black h Em are
I met a young girl there, her face like a rose,
And her skin was as fair as the lily that grows.
I says, "My fair maiden, why ramble you so?
Can you tell me where the bonny black hare do go?"
The answer she gave me, oh, the answer was "No,
But under me apron they say it do go,
And if you'll not deceive me, I vow and declare,
We'll both go together to hunt the bonny black hare."
I laid this girl down with her face to the sky.
I took out me ramrod, and me bullets likewise,
Saying, "Wrap your legs round me, dig in with your heels,
For the closer we get, love, the better it feels."
The birds, they were singing in the bushes and trees,
And the song that they sang was, "She's easy to please."
I felt her heart quiver and I knew what I'd done.
Says I, "Have you had enough of me old sporting gun?"
The answer she gave me, oh, the answer was, "Nay,
It's not often young sportsmen like you come this way,
And if your powder is good and your bullets are fair,
Why don't you keep firing at the bonny black hare?"
"Oh, me powder is wet and me bullets all spent,
And I can't fire a shot, for it's choked at the vent,
But I'll be back in the morning, and if you are still here,
We'll both go together to hunt the bonny black hare."
Fairport Convention
