Dogs and Ferrets

Collected by Bob Copper in about 1954 from Jim Barrett, at the Fox in North Waltham, Hants: see Chapter Fifteen, pp. 123-134, of Songs and Southern Breezes for the details; and the appendix for these words.

My dog and I went out one night,
To view our habitation.
Up jumped poor puss and away she ran,
Right into my plantation.

I pulled out my little penknife
Attempted for to clean her,
Don't holler, poor puss, don't holler, poor puss,
For your uncle he has got you.

I put her in my little knapsack,
I chucked her across my shoulder,
I took her to a public-house
And I sold her for a crown, sir.

I spent that crown and another one too,
Don't you think I'm a jolly fellow?

Now I keeps dogs and ferrets too
What I have for my keeping,
And I catches all the hares and the rabbits, too,
While the gamekeeper lays sleeping,
Sleeping - while the gamekeeper lays sleeping.

See also the version collected by Bob Copper from Jim Barrett in Hampshire, around 1954.