Reynard the Fox
| TYPE | 3 - Complex Melody |
| TOPIC | Hunting |
| TUNE STRUCTURE | A8 B4 |
| VERSE STRUCTURE | 6v 4l + 2l ch |
| TIME SIGNATURE | C |
| KEY SIGNATURE | ♭ |
| TONAL CENTRE | F |
| INCIPIT | GE♭GB♭B♭C'D♭'C'B♭C'B♭ |
| GENRE | Ballad |
| TEXT SOURCE | P.W. Joyce, Ancient Irish Music (Dublin: McGlashan and Gill, 1873) pp.50-51 |
| TUNE SOURCE | as above |
| FIRST LINE | The first day of spring in the year ninety three |
| NOTATED INCIPIT |
Reynard the FoxThe first day of spring in the year ninety three,The first recreation was in this counterie;The King's county gentleman o'er the hills, dales and rocks,They rode out so jovially in search of a fox.Tally-ho hark-away,Tally-ho hark-away,Tally-ho hark-away,My boys away, hark-away.When Reynard was started he faced Tullamore,Arklow and Wicklow along the sea-shore:We kept his brush in view ev'ry yard of the way,And he straight took his course through the street of Roscrea! Tally-ho, &cBut Reynard, sly Reynard, lay hid there that night,And they swore they would watch him until the daylight;Early next morning the woods they did resoundWith the echo of horns and the sweet cry of hounds. Tally-ho, &cWhen Reynard was started he faced to the hollow,Where none but the hounds and footmen could follow;The gentlemen cried "Watch him, watch him, what shall we do?"If the rocks do not stop him he will cross Killaloe!" Tally-ho, &When Reynard was taken, his wishes to fulfill,He called for ink and paper, and pen to write his will;And what he made mention of, they found it no blank,For he gave them a cheque on the national bank. Tally-ho, &"To you, Mr Casey, I give my whole estate;And to you, young O'Brien, my money and my plate;And I give to you, Sir Francis, my whip, spurs and cap,For you crossed walls and ditches and ne'er looked for a gap!" Tally-ho, &