While Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping

I had a long-legged lurcher dog,
I kept her in my keeping.
She'd flush out hares, on the moonlit night,
While the gamekeepers lie sleeping,
While the gamekeepers lie sleeping.

One day the Policeman collared me,
To have me in his keeping.
Your brindle made, a moonlit raid,
While the gamekeepers lay sleeping,
While the gamekeepers lay sleeping.

I seen her come out of the wood,
Across the field a-speeding.
A partridge she had in her mouth,
While the gamekeepers lay sleeping,
While the gamekeepers lay sleeping.

But my dog's black and white you see,
So I'm not for your keeping.
He couldn't see, I'd brindled she,
While the gamekeepers lay sleeping,
While the gamekeepers lay sleeping.

One day his wife fell mortal ill,
He had to give up Policing.
But I dropped two bird, on his door each night,
While the gamekeepers lay sleeping,
While the gamekeepers lay sleeping.

Now she fared so well upon pheasant broth,
Her colour come back creeping.
So long as my bitch roamed abroad,
While the gamekeepers lay sleeping,
While the gamekeepers lay sleeping.

Now the bitch she pupped and I given him one,
To have in his own keeping.
Now he's left the force, and he roams with me,
While the gamekeepers lie sleeping,
While the gamekeepers lie sleeping.

Trad: English
From singing of Johnny Collins
AG
apr97