THE FOX
(learned in about 1956 from Harry Belafonte and Burl Ives)
The fox went out on a chase one night
He ran and ran till he came to the pen
He grabbed the gray goose by the neck,
Old Mother Flipper-flopper jumped out of bed,
Then John, he ran to the top of the hill,
Well, he ran and he ran till he came to his den,
Well, the fox and his wife without any strife
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
And he prayed to the moon to give him light,
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.
Where the ducks and the geese were kept therein,
Said, A couple of you gonna grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o,
Said, A couple of you gonna grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o.
Slung a duck across his back,
He didn't-a mind with the quack, quack, quack,
And the legs all danglin' down-o, down-o, down-o,
He didn't-a mind with the quack, quack, quack,
And the legs all danglin' down-o.
Out of the window she cocked her head,
Cryin', John, John, the gray goose is goin'
And the fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o
John, John, the gray goose is goin'
And the fox is on the town-o.
Blowed his horn both loud and shrill,
The fox said, I better flee with my kill,
Or they'll soon be on my trail-o, trail-o, trail-o,
The fox said, I better flee with my kill,
Or they'll soon be on my trail-o
There were the little ones, eight, nine, ten,
Sayin', Daddy, better go back again
'Cos it must be a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o,
Sayin', Daddy, better go back again
'Cos it must be a mighty fine town-o.
Cut up the goose with a fork and knife,
They 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, bones-o, bones-o,