Kate Rusby
The Christmas Goose
[Verse 1]
It was in a pub in Manchester, the Cornstalks was the sign
A famous pub where travellers they used to sleep and dine
One Christmas time a gentleman so long had been his use
He came to spend his holidays and choose his Christmas goose

[Chorus]
All around the greenwood so early in the morn
The merry, merry huntsman blows his silver bugle horn

[Verse 2]
He drank a pint of sherry wine and he smoked a mild cigar
He chatted with the customers and people in the bar
And not a thought of wickednеss ere entеred in his head
Until the chambermaid appeared to light him up to bed

[Chorus]
All around the greenwood so early in the morn
The merry, merry huntsman blows his silver bugle horn

[Verse 3]
And then he grew so amorous and he squeezed her on the stairs
He kissed her at the chamber door before he said his prayers
He gave to her a guinea to prevent her being vexed
And then he blew the candle out and you can guess the rest
[Chorus]
All around the greenwood so early in the morn
The merry, merry huntsman blows his silver bugle horn

[Versre 4]
Next morning this Lothario discharged his modest bill
Put on his boots and paid the landlord for his parting gill
And where he went to afterwards it's not for me to say
Suffice he came to choose his goose upon next Christmas day

[Chorus]
All around the greenwood so early in the morn
The merry, merry huntsman blows his silver bugle horn

[Verse 5]
Next Christmas time it came around which filled his heart with glee
He'd wandered round from town to town and strange things did he see
Till he ended up in Manchester and put up for the night
At the Cornstalks which a year before had filled him with delight

[Chorus]
All around the greenwood so early in the morn
The merry, merry huntsman blows his silver bugle horn

[Verse 6]
He went into the coffee room as jaunty as could be
Where many a fellow like himself was waiting for his tea
He ordered of the very best the landlord could produce
And he called the waiter back to say, "And don't forget the goose"
[Chorus]
All around the greenwood so early in the morn
The merry, merry huntsman blows his silver bugle horn

[Verse 7]
Right speedily a tray was brought with eatables galore
And by the very chambermaid he'd kissed the year before
But nothing loth, he raised the cloth where on a heap was piled
Instead of eatables there was a big fat bumping child

[Chorus]
All around the greenwood so early in the morn
The merry, merry huntsman blows his silver bugle horn

[Verse 8]
Enraged at seeing the others laugh, "For what's this here?" said he
"Come sit you down beside me and I'll tell you, sir," said she
"Last Christmas you were generous, pray do not look so strange
You gave to me a guinea, now I've brought to you your change"

[Chorus]
All around the greenwood so early in the morn
The merry, merry huntsman blows his silver bugle horn
And all around the greenwood so early in the morn
The merry, merry huntsman blows his silver bugle horn