To restate our mission - A 1999 meeting of the Folklore Society of Greater Washington (fsgw_dot_org) and the Mudcat online traditional music community (mudcat_dot_org). Characters in this crowd include Songster Bob Clayton, Sandy and Carolyn Paton, Big Mick, Roger from Baltimore, Ferrara, Westra, Charlie Baum and the like. This is the party I belong to. I was personally honored by Sandy Paton to perform a family version of 'Fox Went Out On a Chilly Night'. This was the first post to the Mudcat in 1999 - At a family reunion this summer my mother-in-law showed me a version of this folk song which had been in the archives for many years. As an amateur musicologist I was interested in the 'alternate lyrics' to this classic folk song. Thought list readers might be interested so here goes..... THE FOX The old fox stepped out one moonshining night Stood upon his hind feet just about right I'll have some meat for my supper this night Before I leave this townee (townee, townee) I'll have some meat for my supper this night Before I leave this townee He went on down to the blacksmith's gate, There he saw an old black drake Come on along old drake and go along with me You're the finest old fellow in this townee (REPEAT AS PER FIRST VERSE) The old drake sat still and the word cried NO Just sat still 'cause he didn't want to go If you eat no meat 'til you eat meat of mine You'll eat no meat in the townee (REPEAT) He went on down by the farmer's gate There he saw an old grey goose Come along old goose and go with me You're the finest old fellow in the townee (REPEAT) The old goose sat still and the word cried NO Just sat still 'cause he didn't want to go If you eat no meat 'til you eat meat of mine You'll eat no meat in the townee (REPEAT) He went on home to his den Out come the young ones 8-9-10 O father, O father when you again You've had no luck in this townee (REPEAT) He went on back on his back track He took the old grey goose by the neck Her wing went flip-flop over his back Her feet went dingle dangle down-ee (REPEAT) Old mother tipped up in the bed Out of the window she poked her head Old man, old man the grey goose is gone I thought I heard her go quack, quack-eo (REPEAT) The old man jumped up in his shirtail And with toe dogs on the trail They caught the fox at the end of the trail And that was the end of the fox-e-o (REPEAT) END voyager
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