The Fox (folk song)
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
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
Peter Spier
Peter Spier is a Dutch-born American author and illustrator who has published more than thirty children's books.-Biographical information:...
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.
1950s
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- Harry BelafonteHarry BelafonteHarold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
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RCA LPM-1022, LP (1954) - Pete SeegerPete SeegerPeter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
- Birds Beasts Bugs & Bigger Fishes Smithsonian Folkways, LP (1955)
1960s
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- on the album "Rally 'Round!" (c. 1960) - Bob Grossman Elektra EKL-215, LP (1961)
- The Smothers Brothers - on the comedy album "Think Ethnic!" (1963)
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- on the kiddies album "Children's FavouritesChildren's FavouritesChildren's Favourites was a BBC Radio programme from 1954 broadcast on the Light Programme on Saturday mornings from 9:00. A precursor had been called Children's Choice after the style of Housewives' Choice....
" (1966) MFP 1175
1980s
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as "A Fox Jumped Up" on the album "The Drunken Sailor and other Kids FavouritesThe Drunken Sailor and other Kids FavouritesThe Drunken Sailor and other Kids Favorites is an album by Tim Hart and Friends.This album is even more fun than Tim Hart's first collection "My Very Favorite Nursery Rhymes". There is a greater variety in treatment - "Hush Little Baby" is sung as a calypso, with the tune of "Island in the Sun" on...
" (1983) - A cartoon made by Weston Woods (1988)
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and Bill Crofut on the album "Simple Gifts" (1989)
1990s
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on his album "The Celtic Balladeer" (1999) - Peter, Paul and MaryPeter, Paul and MaryPeter, Paul and Mary were an American folk-singing trio whose nearly 50-year career began with their rise to become a paradigm for 1960s folk music. The trio was composed of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers...
on the album "Peter, Paul and Mommy, Too" (1993)
2000s
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on Brontosaurus (2002) - Tom ChapinTom ChapinTom Chapin is a Grammy Award-winning American musician, entertainer, singer-songwriter and storyteller.-Biography:Chapin attended State University of New York at Plattsburgh and graduated in 1966. From 1971-1976, he hosted a TV show called Make a Wish...
- 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
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and Guy's All Star Shoe Band on Prairie Home Companion, October 8, 2011.