It were early one morning when I rose from me bed
I've heard hark, hark away me boys so clearly
And so I drew me a little nearer, for to see who was there
That were going out fox hunting so early
And so I drew me a little nearer, for to see who was there
That were going out fox hunting so early.

There were nine gentlemen and the Duke of Buckingham
And they each of them set out upon the trial
To see the hounds run in the north, where they have great fame and worth
And the most of them set out with no denial
To see the hounds run in the north, where they have great fame and worth
And the most of them set out with no denial.

It were at Swarthfell Rocks, where we laid on our hounds
Not thinking a fox there being likely
Now an huntsman long I've been but the likes I've never seen
We unkenneled bold Reynard so early
Now an huntsman long I've been but the likes I've never seen
We unkenneled bold Reynard so early.

Henry Wilkinson cried, "Hark, hark away me boys."
Joe Clark, our foot-sportsman, soon heard him
Richard Mounds he cried, "Oddzounds, you mun' couple up your hounds
For this day you never will come near him"
Richard Mounds he cried, "Oddzounds, you mun' couple up your hounds
For this day you never will come near him."

They come through our town moor, being late in the hour
It were sometimes one hound and sometimes t'other
It were hard to be expressed which of them ran him the best
For they each ran abreast close together
It were hard to be expressed which of them ran him the best
For they each ran abreast close together.

There were Tippler and Towler and Fair Maid and Drolider
There were Countess and Blossom and Fury
And there were several other hounds ran close within his bounds
But these were the hounds that ran near him
There were several other hounds ran close within his bounds
But these were the hounds that ran near him.

They come through Hallen Hag, their course being strong
I'm sure there was little ease in it
But our hounds they ran him well and they turned him in again
And he took Sharrow Woods for his cover
But our hounds they ran him well and they turned him in again
And he took Sharrow Woods for his cover.

Then Reynard being weary and seeking for shelter
His way was to take the straight over
But our hounds they ran amain and they laid him in again
And there they destroyed him for ever
But our hounds they ran amain and they laid him in again
And there they destroyed him for ever.

Oh Lilter followed him, and never more was seen
Which caused our great sportsmen to murmer
That a finer little hound never ran above the ground
He was the bonniest little hound in the number
Aye a finer little hound never ran above the ground
He was the bonniest little hound in the number.

So now to conclude, and to finish me song
This gallant fox hunt it is all over
It's the forty-second fox that's been slain on Swarthfell Rocks
So that puts an end to me story
It's the forty-second fox that's been slain on Swarthfell Rocks
So that puts an end to me story.