While Gamekeepers Were Sleeping

DESCRIPTION: Singer has a dog. "She'd run a hare of a moonlit night, While gamekeepers were sleeping." A policeman catches him poaching but he gets off with a trick. The policeman retires. Poacher gives him broth for his sick wife and a pup. Now he is also a poacher.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1977 (recording, Bob Roberts)
KEYWORDS: poaching hunting healing trick dog animal police wife
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
DT, GAMESLEP
Roud #363
RECORDINGS:
Bob Roberts, "While Gamekeepers Were Sleeping" (on Voice18)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping" (lyrics)
NOTES [65 words]: The first verse is "Dogs and Ferrets" [indexed as "Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping" - RBW] but the plot is entirely different. - BS
Many versions share more than the first verse; many scholars lump them, and I did so also until Ben pointed out the differences. But that song is entirely about poaching and success in that venture. The characteristic of this is the subversion of the gamekeeper. - RBW
File: TcWGaLSl

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