Name: The Fowler
Duration: P00H05M01S
Description: Passed on to me by Gail Williams, this one originally came from the Norfolk singer Harry Cox. In just five verses it tells a huge story and even more.

The Fowler

from Traces by Chris Foster

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Passed on to me by Gail Williams, this one originally came from the Norfolk singer Harry Cox. In just five verses it tells a huge story and even more.

lyrics

Come all you young fellows that follows the gun.
I would have you come home by the light of the sun.
For young Jimmy was a fowler who went fowling all alone
and he shot his own true love, by mistake, for a swan.

And then it’s home come young Jimmy with his dog and his gun.
Crying “Uncle dear Uncle do you know what I have done?
Oh cursed be that gun smith who has made me my gun,
for I’ve been and shot my true love. I mistook her for a swan.”

Then out come his uncle with his locks hanging grey.
Saying “Jimmy, dear Jimmy don’t you run away.
Don’t you leave your own country until your trial it comes on,
for you never will be hanged for the shooting of a swan.”

All the girls in this country they’re all pleased you know.
Just to see pretty Polly down a-lying so low.
You could stand them all on a mountain. You could put them all in a row
and her beauty would shine among them just like a fountain of snow.

Then the trial it come on and pretty Polly did appear,
saying “Uncle, dear Uncle let young Jimmy go clear.
With my apron thrown over me, he mistook me for swan
and he shot his own true love. It was Polly his own.
With my apron thrown over me, he mistook me for a swan
and he shot his own true love. It was Polly his own.”

credits

from Traces, track released January 1, 1999
Chris Foster - vocal and guitar.

Arranged and produced by Chris Foster. Recorded by Ken Macpherson at Track Station Recording, Burton upon Trent.

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Chris Foster Reykjavik, Iceland

Chris Foster grew up in the south west of England. A master of his trade, he was recently described as “one of the finest singers and most inventive guitar accompanists of English folk songs, meriting legend status.” Over the past 40 years, he has toured throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and the USA. He has recorded six solo albums as well as working on many collaborative projects. ... more

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