Annotation:Hounds are all out (The)
HOUNDS ARE ALL OUT, THE. AKA - "The Huntsman's Rouze." English, Air (6/8 time). C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. "The hounds are all out", or "The Huntsman's Song to the Country Bumpkins", was sung by Mr. Elhs Roberts at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, to words and music by dramatist and songwriter [[wikipedia:Henry_Carey_(writer}]]. It was a “rouse up for the hunt” song that was used by Carey in his Betty, or The Country Bumpkins (1732)[1], and published in The Musical Century vol. 1 (1737, p. 40), a collection of his most famous pieces (although it was first published in John Walsh's British Musical Miscellany, London, 1733-4). Subsequently it was published in John Simpson's The Delightful Pocket Companion vol. 2 (1745), and in the Thompson's A Choice Collection of Favorite Hunting Songs (London, 1770), as well as other vocal anthologies and songsters like The Lark (London, 1740). The words go:
The hounds are all out, and the morning does peep,
Why how now you sluggardly sot?
How can you, how can you lie snoring asleep,
While we all on horseback have got?
Brave boys, while we all on horseback, &c.
I cannot get up, for the over-night's cup
So terribly lies in my head;
Beside, my wife cries, My dear, do not rise,
But cuddle me longer a-bed;
Dear boy, but cuddle, &c.
Come on with your boots, and saddle your mare,
Nor tire us with longer delay;
The cry of the hounds, and the sight of the hare
Will chase all our vapours away,
Brave boys, will chase, &c.
About the middle of the 18th century the tune sustained several alterations, with the melody being elaborated and improved. The newer version appears in Fielding’s Vocal Enchantress (1783), The Musical Miscellany (Perth, 1786), and similar publications. The elaborated version was used also for the song, "Contented Fellow (The)," and may be the version can be found in American musician Whittier Perkins' 1790 music manuscript collection (p. 16). The older version of the tune was also entered in the music copybook of Welsh fiddler John Thomas, dated 1752.
- ↑ Although the song was successful, Carey's Country Bumpkins received a cold reception after it opened.