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The Fox

from The Deep Woods by Red Yarn

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about

Adapted by Red Yarn from the traditional "The Fox," "Midnight Special," and "Go Tell Aunt Rhody." I learned this old English folk song from family and referenced Burl Ives' version as published in 'Rise Up Singing' (1988).

lyrics

Well, Fox went out on a chilly night
He prayed for 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
Many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o

He ran till he came to a great big bin
The ducks and the geese were put therein
He said, “A couple like 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 little ones over his back
He didn't mind the quack, quack, quack
And the legs all danglin down-o, down-o, down-o
He didn't mind the quack, quack, quack
And the legs all danglin down-o

Old mother Flipper Flopper jumped out of bed
Out of the window she cocked her head
She cried, “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
He blew his horn, both loud and shrill
Fox he said, “I better flee with my kill
Or they'll soon be on my trail-o, trail-o, trail-o”
Fox he said, “I better flee with my kill
Or they'll soon be on my trail-o”

Well, he ran back home to his cozy den
There were his little ones, eight, nine, ten
They said, “Daddy, better go back again
‘Cause it must be a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o
Daddy, daddy, better go back again
‘Cause it must be a mighty fine town-o”

Fox and his wife without any strife
Cut up the goose with a fork and a 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

Fox went out on a chilly night
He prayed for the moon to give him light…

Let the midnight special shine a light on me
Let the midnight special shine a light on me
Let the midnight special shine a light on me
Let the midnight special shine its everloving light on me

Go tell Aunt Rhody
Go tell Aunt Rhody
Go tell Aunt Rhody
The old gray goose is dead

credits

from The Deep Woods, released October 15, 2013
Andy Furgeson/Red Yarn: vocals, guitars, banjo
Jessie Eller-Isaacs: vocals
Dustin Dybvig: drums
Will Trevor: fiddle, vocals
Perry Pfister: upright bass
Brian Garvey: trumpet
Community Singers: vocals

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Red Yarn Portland, Oregon

Red Yarn is a Texas-born, Oregon-based family performer who weaves folksongs & puppetry into engaging shows for all ages. With his energetic performances and lush folk-rock recordings, Red Yarn reinvigorates American folklore for younger generations.

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