When I was bound apprentice in famous Lincolnshire
‘Twas well I served my master for nigh on seven year
Till I took up to poaching as you shall quickly hear
Oh ’tis my delight on a shining night
In the season of the year
As me and my companions was setting out a snare
‘Twas then we spied the gamekeeper, for him we didn’t care
For we can wrestle and fight, my boys, and jump from anywhere
Oh ’tis my delight on a shining night
In the season of the year
As me and my companions were setting four or five
And taking them all up again, we caught a hare alive
We caught a hare alive, my boys, and through the woods did steer
Oh ’tis my delight on a shining night
In the season of the year
threw him over my shoulder, boys, and then we trudged home
We took him to a neighbour’s house and sold him for a crown
We sold him for a crown, my boys, but I divven’t tell you where
Oh ’tis my delight on a shining night
In the season of the year
Success to every gentleman that lives in Lincolnshire
Success to every poacher that wants to sell a hare
Bad luck to every gamekeeper that will not sell his deer
Oh ’tis my delight on a shining night
In the season of the year