The Fox (folk song)

The Fox is a traditional folk song. It is also the subject of at least two picture books, The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night: an old song, illustrated by Peter Spier and Fox Went out on a Chilly Night, by Wendy Watson. According to 'Blugrass Picker's Tune Book' by Richard Matteson, the earliest version of this song appears to have been a Middle English poem, dating from the fifteenth century found in the British Museum.

Lyrics

Typical lyrics are as follows:

1. The fox went out for a chase one night
prayed to the moon to give him light
for he had many a mile to go that night
before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o
he had many a mile to go that night
before he reached the town-o.

2. He ran right up to the farmers pen
ducks and the geese were kept therein
he said "A couple of you gonna grease my chin
before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o
A couple of you gonna grease my chin
before I leave this town-o."

3. He grabbed the grey goose by the neck
slung the little one over his back
he didn't mind the quack quack quack
and the legs all dangling down-o, down-o, down-o
he didn't mind the quack quack quack
and the legs all dangling down-o.

4. Old Mother Pitter Patter jumped out of bed
out of the window she popped her head yelling
"John, John the grey goose is gone!
and the fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o
John, John the grey goose is gone!
and the fox is on the town-o."

5. John he ran to the top of the hill
blew his horn both loud and shrill
the fox said "I'd better flee with my kill
for he'll soon be on my trail-o, trail-o, trail-o"
the fox said "I'd better flee with my kill
for he'll soon be on my trail-o."

6. He ran right up to his cozy den
there were his little ones eight nine ten
they said "Daddy won't you please go back again
for it must be a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o
Daddy won't you please go back again
for it must be a mighty fine town-o."

7. The fox and his wife without any strife
cut up the goose with a fork and knife
they'd never had such a supper in their life
and the little ones chewed on the bones-o, bones-o, bones-o
They never had such a supper in their life
and the little ones chewed on the bones-o.

Versions

"The Fox" has been recorded or covered by:

1950s

• Odetta - Odetta at the Gate of Horn (1957)
• Burl Ives
• Harry Belafonte - Mark Twain and Other Folk Favorites RCA LPM-1022, LP (1954)
• Pete Seeger - Birds Beasts Bugs & Bigger Fishes Smithsonian Folkways, LP (1955)

1960s

• The Brothers Four - on the album "Rally 'Round!" (c. 1960)
• Bob Grossman Elektra EKL-215, LP (1961)
• The Smothers Brothers - on the comedy album "Think Ethnic!" (1963)
• Jon Pertwee - on the kiddies album "Children's Favourites" (1966) MFP 1175

1970s

• MacLean & MacLean, as a parody with vulgar lyrics on MacLean & MacLean Suck Their Way to the Top

1980s

• Tim Hart as "A Fox Jumped Up" on the album "The Drunken Sailor and other Kids Favourites" (1983)
• A cartoon made by Weston Woods (1988)
• Benjamin Luxon and Bill Crofut on the album "Simple Gifts" (1989)

1990s

• Charlie Zahm on his album "The Celtic Balladeer" (1999)
• Peter, Paul and Mary on the album "Peter, Paul and Mommy, Too" (1993)

2000s

• Nickel Creek (2000)
• Da Vinci's Notebook - parodied as "The Gates" about a disgruntled laptop PC user going after Bill Gates on Brontosaurus (2002)
• Tom Chapin - sung/narrated as an audio book with Chapin providing all the voices (2006)
• Little Mo' McCoury - Ronnie McCoury fronting the Del McCoury band for a children's bluegrass album (2007)

2010s

• Three Quarter Ale on their album "Shall We Gather by the Fire" (2010)
• Garrison Keillor and Guy's All Star Shoe Band on Prairie Home Companion, October 8, 2011.
• Laura Veirs on her album "Tumble Bee: Laura Veirs Sings Folk Songs For Children", in November 2011

References

• http://www.ibiblio.org/folkindex/gp07.htm