The Fox, often known as The Fox Went Out On A Chilly Night or Daddy Fox, is a fabulous tale of a Fox successfully feeding his family. This is a favourite of my kids, so had to lay this down and release is as a single.
This version is an amalgamation of various traditional version of the song from the US and UK.
lyrics
The Fox (Went Out On a Chilly Night)
Traditional
The Fox went out on a chilly night
Prayed to the moon to give him light
For he’d many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town o
Town o, town o,
He’d many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town o
He ran till he came to the great big den
Where the ducks and the geese were kept there in
A couple of you are gonna grease my chin
Before I leave this town o
Town o, town o,
A couple of you are gonna grease my chin
Before I leave this town o
He grabbed the grey goose by the neck
And threw the duck across his back
He didn’t mind the quack quack quack
Or the legs a dangling down o
down o, down o
He didn’t mind the quack quack quack
Or the legs a dangling down o
Then old mother flipper flopper jumped out of bed
Out of the window she popped her head
Crying John, John, the grey goose has gone
And the fox is on the town o
town o, town o
Crying John, John, the grey goose has gone
And the fox is on the town o
John he went to the top of the hill,
Blew his horn both loud and shrill,
The fox he said I’d better run with my kill
Or they’ll soon be on my trail o
trail o, trail o
The fox he said I’d better flee with my kill
Or they’ll soon be on my trail o
He ran till he came to his nice warm den
And there were his little ones, eight, nine, ten
Crying daddy, daddy, better go back again
‘cus it must be a mighty fine town o
town o, town o
Crying daddy, daddy, better go back again
‘Cus it must be a mighty fine town o
Then the fox and his wife without any strife
Cut up the goose with a fork and a 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’d never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones o
Alex Cumming is a traditional Singer, Accordionist, Pianist and dance caller hailing from England, now living in Brattleboro
VT, USA. He performs songs and tunes from around the United Kingdom and America with a great depth of knowledge of the tradition. Alex has made his mark on the folk scene with his rhythmic dance-able accordion style, strong voice and his fun and engaging stage presence....more
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