Henry Fielding: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

A-Hunting we will go

Henry Fielding

“A-Hunting we will go” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

Henry Fielding: Collected Lyrics Text 1 1853 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from A First Series of Hymns and Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

The dusky night rides down the sky,

And ushers in the morn;

The hounds all join in glorious cry,

The huntsman winds his horn.

Chorus—Then a hunting we will go, &c.

Verse 2

Sly Reynard, he like lightning flies,

His cunning's wide awake;

To gain the race he eager tries,

His forfeit life the stake.

When a hunting we do go, &c.

Verse 3

Away he goes, he flies, the rout

Their steeds all spur and switch;

Some are thrown in, and some thrown out,

And some lie in the ditch.

But a hunting we will go, &c.

Verse 4

But now his strength to faintness worn,

The hounds have seized their prey;

Then hungry, homewards we return,

To hunt another day,

When a hunting we will go, &c.

Credits

Written by Henry Fielding

Words by Henry Fielding. Historical text published in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853), “A-Hunting we will go”

Every text in this 1853 collection is by Henry Formby (1816-1884), who died more than 140 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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