The Fox: Lyrics

Traditional

• CD The Folkways Years

The fox went out on a chilly night
Prayed to the moon for to give him light
He had many a mile to go that night
A-fore he reached the town-o
Town-o the town-o
He'd many a mile to go that night
A-fore he reached the town-o

He ran til he came to a wooden den
Where the ducks and the geese were put therein
He said, a couple of you will grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o
Town-o well town-o
Well a couple of you will grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o

He grabbed the grey goose by the neck
Throwed the ducks acrost his back
And he didn't mind their quack, quack, quack
And their legs all dangling down-o
Down-o well down-o
No he didn't mind their quack, quack, quack
And their legs all dangling down-o

Then old mother Flipper-flopper jumped out of bed
Out of the window she cocked her head
Crying, John, John the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o
Town-o well town-o
Crying John, John the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o

Then John he went to the top of the hill
Blowed his horn both loud and shrill
And the fox, he said, I better flee with my kill
They'll soon be on my trail-o
Trail-o well trail-o
And the fox, he said, I better flee with my kill
They'll soon be on my trail-o

Well he ran till he came to his cozy den
Inside were the little ones, eight, nine, ten
And they said Daddy better go back again
'Cause it must be a mighty fine town-o
Town-o well town-o
And they said Daddy better go back again
'Cause it must be a mighty fine town-o

Then the fox and his wife, without any strife
Cut up the geese with a fork and knife
And they never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones-o
Bones-o bones-o
And they never had such a supper in their life
And the little-ones chewed on the bones-o

Of note:

An unreleased song, very old and well known in other performances, The Fox comes off a bit lackluster here. Maybe there's a reason Cisco never put it on an LP. SI/Folkways has put this on YouTube. See for yourself Here.

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