The Hunt Is Up

1. The east is bright with morning light,
And darkness it is fled, 
And the merry horn wakes up the morn
To leave his idle bed.

2. Behold the skies with golden dyes
Are glowing all around ; 
The grass is green, and so are the treen
All laughing at the sound.

3. The horses snort to be at the sport,
The dogs are running free, 
The woods rejoice at the merry noise
Of hey tantara tee ree!

4. The sun is glad to see us clad
All in our lusty green, 
And smiles in the sky as he riseth high
To see and to be seen.

5. Awake all men, I say again,
Be merry as you may; 
For Harry our king is gone hunting,
To bring his deer to bay.


“Any song intended to arouse in the morning, even a love-song, was formerly called a hunt’s-up.” So, in French, we have Aubade (music to be performed a I’aube duj’our), and in German, Morgenmusik.

From “The Song Book” – music selected and arranged by John Hullah, 1884.  Most of its songs are from “Popular Music of the Olden Time, a Collection of Ancient Songs, Ballads, and Dance Tunes, illustrative of the National Music of England, &c.” by William Chappell, published in 1856.