I saw a Jolly Hunter
Charles Causley (1917-2003)
I saw a Jolly Hunter
I saw a jolly hunter
With a jolly gun
Walking in the country
In the jolly sun.
In the jolly meadow
Sat a jolly hare.
Saw the jolly hunter.
Took jolly care.
Hunter jolly eager -
Sight of jolly prey.
Forgot gun pointing
Wrong jolly way.
Jolly hunter jolly head
Over heels gone.
Jolly old safety catch
Not jolly on.
Bang went the jolly gun.
Hunter jolly dead.
Jolly hare got clean away.
Jolly good, I said.I saw a Jolly Huntsman
I saw a jolly huntsman
With a jolly gun,
Savouring a country
Walk in jolly sun.
On a jolly grassy knoll
Jolly rabbit sat,
Saw your jolly huntsman,
Didn't fancy that.
Huntsman jolly champing,
Marksmanship in play,
Forgot gun was pointing
Wrong jolly way.
Huntsman topsy-turvy,
Hyst'ron-protty-ron,
Jolly ward-lock guard-catch
Not jolly on.
Bang, jolly gunshot!
Huntsman jolly laid
Out for good. Fur got away.
Jolly good, I said.Translation: Copyright © Timothy Adès