> The Copper Family > Songs > Hark the Goddess Diana

Hark the Goddess Diana

[ Roud 5754 ; Bodleian Roud 5754 ; trad.]

Hark the Goddess Diana is a hunting song from the repertoire of the Copper Family. It is printed in The Copper Family Song Book; I don’t know of any published recording of it.

Ben Muriel of the British Library told me that they have a recording by the Copper Family in their collection; but it is currently unavailable (as of August 2024).

Lyrics

The Copper Family sing Hark the Goddess Diana

Hark the Goddess Diana calls aloud for the chase
Bright Phoebe awakes in the morn
Come arouse from your slumber and for hunting prepare
𝄆 Through the fields then hark away then 𝄇
𝄆 Through the fields then hark away then hark away then prepare. 𝄇

See our hounds are unkennelled all ready for the chase
We’ll away to yonder grove for a hare
All dangers we’re scorning and for hunting preparing
𝄆 See our Huntsman he’s a casting 𝄇
𝄆 See our Huntsman he’s a casting he’s a casting his hounds. 𝄇

We soon found our hare Sir and she skipped off through the dew
Our hounds they lined out in full cry
Their music was charming on a fine hunting morning
𝄆 O’er the hills and through the valleys 𝄇
𝄆 O’er the hills and through the valleys over hedge gates and styles. 𝄇

With our huntsmans view halloa and the sound of his
What a glorious chase she has led us
With his crying, Hark forward high over hark forward
𝄆 See our hare is now retiring 𝄇
𝄆 See our hare is now retiring and our hounds closing on. 𝄇

See our hare is now dead Sir and the chase is all over
We will home to our wives and retire
We’ll drink wine and strong beer we will drink without fear
𝄆 For the hunt is all over 𝄇
𝄆 For the hunt is all over we will wind off our hounds. 𝄇