THE BELTANE CHASE SONG
traditional

Women
I shall go as a wren in spring
With sorrow and sighing on silent wing
And I shall go in our lady's name
Aye, till I come home again

Men
And we shall follow as falcons grey
And hunt thee cruelly as our prey
And we shall go in our master's name
Aye, to fetch thee home again

Women
Then I shall go as a mouse in May
In fields by night and cellars by day
And I shall go in our lady's name
Aye, till I come home again

Men
But we shall follow as fat tom cats
And chase thee through the corn and vats
And we shall go in our master's name
Aye, to fetch thee home again

Women
Then I shall go as an autumn hare
With sorrow and sighing and mickle care
And I shall go in our lady's name
Aye, till I come home again

Men
But we shall follow as swift grey hounds
And dog thy tracks by leaps and bounds
And we shall go in our master's name
Aye, to fetch thee home again

Women
Then I shall go as a winter trout
With sorrow and sighing and mickle doubt
And I shall go in our lady's name
Aye, till I come home again

Men
But we shall follow as otters swift
And snare thee fast ere thou canst shift
And we shall go in our master's name
Aye, to fetch thee home again

Women
Aye, and I'll come home again.