Step and Fetch Her

Source: Traditional, collected from Sam Bennett; published in English Dance & Song, November 1948. Vol XII. No. 5
Formation: Longways; Proper

Sam Bennett's Version
A1	Star Right (8); Star Left (8)
B1	#1s Lead Down, Turn Alone, Lead Back (8) #2s Lead Up, Turn Alone, Lead Back (8)
C1	Swing & Change: Polka/Swing 1 & 1/2 times around each other AC to progress (16)

Cecil Sharp's Version
A1	Second Corners Lead Down WHILE #1 Man Crosses and Casts to the Bottom (8), displaces #2 Man and Leads his Partner back to the Top, with #2 Man following sheepishly! (8)
A2	First Corners Lead Down WHILE #2 Man Crosses and Casts to the Bottom (8), displaces #1 Man and Leads his Partner back to Place, with #1 Man following sheepishly! (8) Presumably #1 Man nips sharply past #2 Man at the end of the figure to get home ready for:
B1	#1s Lead Down, Turn Alone, Lead Back (16)
C1	Swing & Change: Polka/Swing 1 & 1/2 times around each other AC to progress (16)

Music:
The tune is "Step and Fetch Her", 24 bars.

Notes:
The most common version of Step and Fetch Her these days is the Bampton Morris Dance.

In 1909, in The Country Dance Book Part 1, Cecil Sharp published the second version above as "Step and Fetch Her or Follow Your Lover". This older version has much more of the idea of "fetch her back" than the later, simplified form.

See also The Triumph.

Original page from English Dance & Song, November 1948

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