Tis My Delight

Abstract

This article explores the background to a number of English poaching songs, looking at the natural, historical and social context in which they were composed and sung, and continue to be sung today. It suggests that the songs were based largely in a class struggle over ownership of the countryside, and access to what it produced. It also suggests that most past and recent singers of poaching songs identify with the poachers and do not consider poaching a crime. Within traditional song in English, there is a considerable body of songs about poaching. This article will consider those songs and their social background in an attempt to explain why such songs were popular and why some of them are still sung.