John Woodcock Graves: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

John Peel

John Woodcock Graves

“John Peel” as printed in The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918).

John Woodcock Graves: Collected Lyrics Text 1 1918 · historical text
Public domainSoldier songHistorical song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

D'ye ken John Peel, with his coat so gay?

D'ye ken John Peel at the break of the day?

D'ye ken John Peel, when he's far far away,

With his hounds and his horn in the morning.

Chorus

For the sound of his horn brought me from my bed.

And the cry of the hounds which he oft times led,

Peel's view hol-loo would awaken the dead,

Or his fox from his lair in the morning.

Verse 2

Yes, I ken John Peel, and Ruby too,

Ranter and Ringwood, Bell-man and True,

From a find to a check, from a check to a view.

From a view to a death in the morning.

Chorus.

Verse 3

Then here's to John Peel, from my heart and soul.

Let's drink to his health let's finish the bowl,

We'll follow John Peel thro' fair thro' foul.

If we want a good hunt in the morning.

Chorus.

Verse 4

D'ye ken John Peel, with his coat so gay,

He lived at Trout-beck once on a day,

Now he has gone far far away,

We shall ne'er hear his voice in the morning.

Chorus.

Credits

Written by John Woodcock Graves

Words by John Woodcock Graves. Historical text published in The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918), “John Peel”

The 1918 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; other entries are held.

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 2026-10-12. 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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