Skip to Content Skip to Navigation
Join the email list!

William Reedy: Music

The Fox

(Traditional, arrangement by William Reedy)
The fox went out one chilly night
Prayed that the moon would bring 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

He ran till he came to a great big pen
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"

He grabbed the grey goose by the neck
Threw that duck across his back
He didn't mind the "quack quack quack" and his legs all hanging down-o
Down-o, Down-o say he didn't mind the "quack quack quack" and his legs all hanging down-o

Old Mama flip-flop jumped out of bed
Out of the window she poked her head, said
"John! John! The grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o!"
Town-o, Town-o said, "John! John! the grey 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
Fox said, "I'd better run with my kill
They'll soon be on my trail-o!"
Trail-o, Trail-o" Fox said, "I'd better run with my kill, they'll soon be on my trail-o!"

Fox returned to his cozy den
There were the little ones eight, nine and ten
Said, "Daddy, Daddy better go back again
It must be a mighty fine town-o!"
Town-o, town-o, said, "Daddy, Daddy go back again
It must be a mighty fine town-o!"

Fox and his wife didn't have no strife
They cut up the goose with a fork and a knife
Never did have such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones-o
Bones-o, bones-o they never did have such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones