The Keeper

[memelaina]

Okay, I know that some of you are filkers, so please help me out. I was singing to my grandson Jack (Jackie Boy!), who's only two months old, and the only version of "The Keeper" that I could remember the words to was the dirty version. "The Keeper he was spare and tall, and under his coat wore naught at all...". Now I know there is a perfectly respectable English folksong version of this, but I can't for the life of me remember the words. Does someone have them readily available?

Oh, and, of course, I can only remember the first verse of the dirty version - so does anyone have the rest of that, as well?

Comments

[threeringedmoon.livejournal.com]

http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/song-midis/Keeper.htm

The Keeper

The keeper did a hunting go
And under his cloak he carried a bow
All for to shoot a merry little doe
Among the leaves so green-o.

Jackie boy (Master) Sing ye well (Very well)
Hey down (Ho down) Derry derry down
Among the leaves so green-o
To my hey down down (To my ho down down )
Hey down (Ho down) Derry derry down
Among the leaves so green-o

The first doe she did cross the plain,
The keeper fetched her back again.
Where she is now, she may remain,
Among the leaves so green-o.

CHORUS

The next doe she did cross the brook.
The keeper fetched her back with his hook.
Where she is now you may go and look
Among the leaves so green-o.

CHORUS

The keeper did a hunting go.
In the woods he caught a doe.
She looked so sad that he let her go.
Among the leaves so green-o.

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This version by the Weavers.
DC