The Fox (folk song)

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This article is about the folk song. For other uses, see The Fox.

The Fox is an American traditional folk song. It is also the subject of a picture book, The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, by Peter Spier.

Typical lyrics of it are as follows.

The fox ran out on a chilly night
Prayin’ for 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
Many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o
He ran ‘til he came to the farmer’s pen
The ducks and the geese were kept therein
Said "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 gray goose by the neck
Slung the duck across his back
And 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
Well Old Mother Flipperflopper jumped out of bed
Out of the window she cocked her head
Crying "John, John the gray goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o"
Town-o, town-o
"John, John the gray goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o"
John he ran to the top of the hill
Blew his horn both loud and shrill
The fox, he said "I better flee with my kill
He’ll soon be on my tail-o"
Tail-o, tail-o
"Ooh, I better flee with my kill
He’ll soon be on my tail-o"
He ran ‘til he came to his nice warm den
There were the little ones 8, 9, 10
Sayin’ "Daddy, daddy better go back again
It must be a mighty fine town-o"
Town-o, Town-o
"Daddy, daddy better go back again
It must be a mighty fine town-o"
The fox and his wife without any strife
Cut up the goose with a fork and a knife
And 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