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The Buffalo

The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould was the 'Squarson', that is the Squire and Parson, of the parish of Lewtrenchard in West Devon from 1881 to 1924. He is best known as the writer of the hymn 'Onward, Christian Soldiers' but he was also an author, a historian and a collector of folk songs. It is his role as a collector of the folk songs of Devon and Cornwall. This song was amongst those he collected This was a popular emigrant song in the early eighteenth century. According to Barrett, it was especially popular in London. It was also found along the Missouri River in America. Tonight it is sung by The Ohio lady Rita Bone Kopp who is sporting a nifty line in knickers. She is accompanied by the Young family from Wisconsin in America.

Come all you young fellows
That have a mind to range,
Into some foreign country
Your station for to change,
Into some foreign country
Away from home to go,
We lay down on the banks
Of the pleasant Ohio,
We'll wander through the wild woods
And we'll chase the buffalo.
We'll chase the buffalo
We'll wander through the wild woods
And chase the buffalo.

There are fishes in the river
That is fitting for our use,
And high and lofty sugar-canes
That yield us pleasant juice,
And all sorts of game, my boys,
Besides the buck and doe,
We lay down on the banks
Of the pleasant Ohio,
We'll wander through the wild woods
And we'll chase the buffalo.
We'll chase the buffalo
We'll wander through the wild woods
And chase the buffalo.

Come all you young maidens,
Come spin us up some yarn,
To make us some new clothing
To keep ourselves full warm,
For you can card and spin, my girls,
And we can reap and mow,
We lay down on the banks
Of the pleasant Ohio,
We'll wander through the wild woods
And we'll chase the buffalo.
We'll chase the buffalo
We'll wander through the wild woods
And chase the buffalo.

Supposing these wild Indians
By chance should come us near,
We will unite together
Our hearts all free from care,
We will march down into the town, my boys,
And give the fatal blow,
We lay down on the banks
Of the pleasant Ohio,
We'll wander through the wild woods
And we'll chase the buffalo.
We'll chase the buffalo
We'll wander through the wild woods
And chase the buffalo.

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With thanks to Lesley Nelson-Burns for the information and she is also the creator of the midi file.