Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E) Key: F# Difficulty: Intermediate Played with capo 4 like "The Best Kept Secret" version on Youtube Intro: D D/C# G A (4X) Verse 1: D D/C# Bm G In the lowlands of Creggan, there lives a white hare, D D/C# Bm A As swift as the swallow that flies through the air. Bm D You may tramp the world over but none to compare G D Bm G To the pride of old Creggan, that bonnie white hare.
Verse 2: D D/C# Bm G One clear autumn morning, as you will suppose, D D/C# Bm A Ohh The red golden sun o’er the green mountain rose. Bm D Barney Conway came down and he did declare, G D Bm G “This day I’ll put an end to the bonnie white hare.” Verse 3: D D/C# Bm G So he searched through the lowlands and down through the glens, D D/C# Bm A All among the wild ditches where the white hare had ends, Bm D Till at last coming down over the heather so fair, G D Bm G From behind the wild thistle out jumps the white hare. Verse 4: D D/C# Bm G “Bang! bang!” went his guns and his dogs he slipped too. D D/C# Bm A As swift as the wind over the green mountain flew. Bm D But his dog soon came back, and it made Barney sigh, G D Bm G For he knew that the white hare had bid him goodbye. D D/C# G A (2X) Verse 5: D D/C# Bm G And we’re some jolly sportsmen down here from Pomeroy D D/C# Bm A From Cookstown, Dungannon, and likewise the Moy. Bm D With our pedigree greyhounds we’ve travelled from far G D Bm G And we’ve come down to Creggan in our fine motor car. Verse 6: D D/C# Bm G Well into the lowlands these huntsmen did go D D/C# Bm A In search of the white hare they'd look high and low, Bm D Till at last Barney Conway from a bog bank so rare G D Bm G Shouted out to the huntsmen, “There lies the white hare.” Verse 7: D D/C# Bm G So they called up their greyhounds from off the green lee D D/C# Bm A And Barney and the huntsmen all jumped high with glee, Bm D it was there on the bog bank all gathered around, G D Bm G Seven dogs and nine men did that poor hare surround. Verse 8: D D/C# Bm G Oh no wonder the white hare did tremble with fear D D/C# Bm A As she stood on her hind legs, she would raise her big ears, Bm D As she stood on her hind legs with one gallant spring, G D Bm G She jumped over the greyhounds and broke through the ring. Verse 9: D D/C# Bm G Well that chase it went on, it was beautiful view D D/C# Bm A As swift as the wind o’er the green mountain flew. Bm D But those pedigree greyhounds, they didn’t run far. G D Bm G They come back and went home in their fine motor car. Verse 10: D D/C# Bm G Then there came another man and you all know him well; D D/C# Bm A His name was Mick Kelly with the Bonnie Black Belle. Bm D Oh in search of the white hare, today “I’ll have fun. G D Bm G I'll bet fifty to one my Black Belle will her turn.” Verse 11: D D/C# Bm G Five turns the hare got then from Bonnie Black Belle, D D/C# Bm A And the sixth one was given around John Hardy’s well. Bm D It was there we lost sight of the hare and the dog, G D Bm G And then ten minutes later came o’er the black bog. Verse 12: D D/C# Bm G Well, that chase it went on. It was great for to see. D D/C# Bm A The white hare and the black dog both roamed light and free, Bm D Till she travelled to Esker where she knew the lands well, G D Bm G And to Bonnie Black Belle at there soon bid farewell. D D/C# G A (2X) Verse 13: D D/C# Bm G Oh and now to conclude and to finish this rhyme D D/C# Bm A I hope you’ll forgive me for singing all this while. Bm D If there’s any amongst you in Carrick more fair, G D Bm G Please drink up a health to that bonnie white hare. D D/C# G A (3X)
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