Hare of Kilgrain, The

DESCRIPTION: The hunter goes out in pursuit of sport. The hare tells its story of how the dogs pursued it. It leads them on a long chase, and proclaims that it did humans no harm, but at last the hounds catch and kill their innocent prey
AUTHOR: James Sloan ?
EARLIEST DATE: 1924 (Sam Henry collection; reportedly written c. 1770)
KEYWORDS: animal death hunting
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Henry/Huntingdon/Herrmann-SamHenrysSongsOfThePeople H12, p. 31, "The Hare of Kilgrain" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #2883
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Innocent Hare" (theme: fatal hare hunt)
cf. "The Granemore Hare" (theme: fatal hare hunt)
cf. "The White Hare" (theme: fatal hare hunt)
NOTES [44 words]: The Henry text appears to be composite; the first two verses are in praise of the hunt and Richard Hunter at its head. The perspective then shifts to the hare, forced to flee and run and at last die.
Nimrod was "a mighty hunter before the Lord" (Genesis 10:8-10). - RBW
File: HHH012

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography