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The Fox
I learned this tune from a Harvey Reid record many years ago, and have often performed it solo in a bluegrass style. My dad used to play guitar before I was born, and I found out from an old friend of his that this was a staple of his repertoire, but I never knew he knew it. The talking blues lullaby style was Chance’s idea – as the commercial says – “Brilliant!”
AM – vocals, acoustic guitar (dropped D)
Chance McCoy – banjo
Jim Baird – bass
Stephanie Thompson – harmony vocal
Traditional
The fox went out on a chilly night, 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
many a mile to go that night, before he reached the town
He ran til he came to the great big pen, the ducks and the geese were kept therein
couple of you gonna grace my chin before I leave this town-O, town-O, town-O
couple of you gonna grace my chin before I leave this town
He grabbed the grey goose by the neck, tossed a duck upon his back
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
Ol’ Mother Flapjack leaped out of bed, ran to the window, cocked her head she said,
“John, the goose is gone and dead and the fox is on the town-O, town-O, town-O
John, John, the goose is gone and the fox is on the town”
So John he ran to the top of the hill, blew his horn both loud and shrill,
The fox he said “I’d best flee with my kill they’ll soon be on my trail-O, trail-O, trail-O,”
The fox he said “I’d best flee with my kill they’ll soon be on my trail"
He ran til he came to his cozy den, there was the little ones 8, 9, 10
"Daddy daddy best go back again, it musta been a mighty fine town-O, town-O, town-O,
Daddy daddy best go back again, it musta been a mighty fine town"
So the fox and his wife without any strife, sliced that goose with a carving knife
they never had such a feast in their life and the little ones crunched the bones-O, bones-O, bones-O
they never had such a feast in their life and the little ones crunched the bones
Repeat verse 1
