New Fairport cd release

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

I have similar problems with Matachin - fine in every player except the car (I never thought of condensation - thanks Andy).

My FC CD arrived today - will be playing this later.    

[WestWind]

To enhance my wife's and my enjoyment of "Live at Cropredy '08", I surfed on Google and managed to print out the lyrics for most of the songs.  But one that has eluded me is "The Eynsham Poacher".  Can anyone direct me to a suitable site?

Thanks ///  Tom M.***

[Jan_]

To enhance my wife's and my enjoyment of "Live at Cropredy '08", I surfed on Google and managed to print out the lyrics for most of the songs.  But one that has eluded me is "The Eynsham Poacher".  Can anyone direct me to a suitable site?

There's a version here (minus Simon's intro ) ...

http://www.folkinfo.org/songs/displaysong.php?songid=18

The song has an interesting history ...

http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/users/mh/eynsham/eynpoacher.htm

[Dr Clive]

Also in the excellent 2nd Fairport Songbook (thanks to Maart), which has the arrangement by Peggy, including key changes and the instrumental break. But difficult to get hold of these days, I gather.

DC

[Suzanne]

I think I do have a copy of the full lyrics somewhere - the "Eynsham" version.  If not I'll ask one of the local morris men tonight and he'll be able to supply them.

[Jan_]

As previously posted, words and tune at http://www.folkinfo.org/songs/displaysong.php?songid=18 (Nearly the same as the FC version.)

Three Eynsham chaps went out one day
To Lord Abingdon's Manor they made their way
They took their dogs to catch some game
And soon to Wytham Woods the came

Laddie-i-o, Laddie-i-o
Fal-de-ral over a laddie-i-o

We had not long been beating there
Before our spaniel put up a hare;
Up she jumped and away she ran,
At the very same time a pheasant sprang.

We had not beat the woods all through
When Barrett, the keeper, came in view;
And when we saw the old beggar look
We made our Cassington Brook.

When we got there 'twas full to the brim,
And you'd have laughed to see us swim,
Ten feet of water, if not more;
When we got out our dogs came o'er

Over hedges, ditches, gates and rails,
Our dogs follows us after behind our heels;
And you can all say what you will
We'll have our hares and pheasants still

[Jim]

in the fairport version
Laddie-i-o, Laddie-i-o
Fal-de-ral over a laddie-i-o

is sung as
Laddie-i-o, Laddie-i-o
three jolly young fellows as ever did go

[Suzanne]

*Slightly off-topic* For those of you who want to pinpoint a few of the sites/people mentioned in the song, this is what I gleaned from one of the Eynsham morris men last night:

Cassington Brook is known these days as the Evenlode and it is quite a fast-paced river which floods very frequently which would explain the "ten foot of water, if not more" because the song refers to width and not depth. (And I know how well it floods - it's pretty-close to my house!).  It's assumed that the poachers went out in less-than-perfect weather conditions.

Lord Abingdon "owned" Whytham Woods; these days the woods are owned by Oxford University and you need a permit before you are even allowed to set foot in there  In fact, they probably do still have a gamekeeper there ready to shoot you!

I gather that Lord Abingdon's Manor house was in Horton (now Horton-cum-Studley) and he owned a hell of a lot of land.

The poachers made their way to Whytham Wood by crossing the Toll Bridge over the Thames at Eynsham/Swinford.  The original Toll Bridge in Eynsham was built by Lord Abingdon.  The Thames and Evenlode merge about half a mile down the A40 from Eynsham (if you're going to Oxford) which is one of the reasons Eynsham (and Cassington) are surrounded on all sides by flood plains.  

(Maybe I should start running a sightseeing tour).

Incidentally, there is another minor amendment to the lyrics - as sung by the Eynsham morris men (or slurred if there are kids present!):  

"When we got there 'twas full to the brim,
And you'd have laughed to see us old b*****s swim"

Going back on topic, I've always loved this song because it's so familiar to me and would really like Fairport to perform it whilst the Eynsham Morris men do the dance.  Now the song is back in the repertoire (complete with Simon's wonderful performance of the opening lines) it would be great if it could happen...

[WestWind]

Many thanks to Katys Mum, Jim, Dr. Clive & Suzanne for the help on the "Eynsham Poacher" lyrics.  Now we can sing along more effectively!

Cheers ///  Tom***