Lyr ADD: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)

Subject: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the run
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 12:24 AM

This has been going through my head for weeks. I think it might've been done by Alabama. The only lyrics I can remember are something about "gave all the love that a good man could give her and she left him to die like a fox on the run"

Thanks!

katlaughing

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: campfire
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 12:31 AM

Kat - I "KNOW" this song - I just have to find it. I'll re-post when I do. I think it might be called Fox on the Run, but I'm not sure. I don't think it was Alabama, tho....??

campfire

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 12:36 AM

Thanks, I think that is the title, too, just too tired to do a search tonight and I'd like to get it out of my head!*big grin* (those darn voices!)

kat

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: FOX ON THE RUN (Tony Hazzard)
From: campfire
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 12:38 AM

Hey Kat - I found this at Cowpie - it was easier to cut and paste than to do a blue clicky.

Fox On The Run

written by Tony Hazzard

(Chorus)  G                 D           Am           C
  She walks through the corn leading down to the river
      Am              D           C           G
  Her hair shone like gold in the hot mornin' sun
      G            D           Am             C
  She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
      Am         D          C          G
  And left me to die like a fox on the run
         C                                    G
  Like a fox, (like a fox, like a fox) on the run
  
    

C                  G         D              G
  Out here everybody knows the reason for the fall
       C             G          A7        D
  When woman tempted me down in paradise hall
       C             G           D             G
  This woman tempted me then she took me for a ride
      C             G           D               G
  But like a lonely fox, boys I need a place to hide
  
    

(repeat chorus)
    


  C                      G            D            G
  We'll drink a glass of wine boys to fortify our souls
        C              G          A7                 D
  We'll talk about the world and friends we used to know
  C                 G              D             G
  I see a string of girls who have put me on the floor
      C              G            D                G
  The game is nearly over and the hounds are at my door
    

(repeat chorus)

I don't know how those chord formations are going to work, tho....

campfire

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: campfire
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 12:39 AM

ooops, chords didn't space out correctly over the lines, Oh well, Can you figure it out?

campfire

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 12:49 AM

Yea! Wow! Thanks for looking for me. My eyes are burning from being at the screen too long today. I will try it out tomorrow. I've got the tune in my head! Thanks, again. kat

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: campfire
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 12:56 AM

Hey, 14 minutes, With Chords! Is that a record? (Probably not, I'm just surprised Jumpin' Joe didn't beat me on this one, too!)

;)campfire

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 02:40 AM

"Fox on the Run" was THE bluegrass hit of the 70s and 80s. Bands got requests for it so many times it ended up on the all-time hate list for a lot of musicians. Oddly enough it was originally a rock song done by the band "Manfred Mann", but later became a signature tune for my favourite Bluegrass Band, "The Seldom Scene". The lyrics seem pretty dumb to me but the tune was irresistable. It hasn't been done much in the last 10 years, so it's fresh as a daisy now. Sing Kat, Sing!

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 02:43 AM

Also a hit for the British pop band the Sweet

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Ferrara
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 07:26 AM

The Oak Publications Bluegrass Songbook has slightly different words. Most of it doesn't make any difference, but the first verse starts like this:

Everybody knows the reason for the fall
When woman tempted man down in paradise's hall.

I think this is right, because I've always taken the "fall" here to be talking about the "Fall of Man," i.e. the expulsion from Paradise or Eden, that came about because Eve tempted Adam.

When it comes to alternative lyrics, you pays your money and you takes your choice. - Rita F

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Dale Rose
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 10:58 AM

Rick, slight amendment to your attributing Fox On The Run to the Seldom Scene. Actually, it was the Country Gentlemen, my favorite bluegrass group who converted it to a BG song. After that, EVERY bluegrass group, especially those below the first tier seemed to be doing it. I'm not saying the Scene never did it, it's just that the Gents got there first.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 11:54 AM

Still, I KNOW that some male group did it that had fantastic harmony and did a semi-country version. That's what is running through my head. If it wasn't Alabama, maybe the Statler Bros.?

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 12:18 PM

Dale, if we're talkin' about the "first" American band to do "Fox..." wouldn't that be "Cliff Waldron and The New Shades of Grass, with Bill Emerson"? I heard them do it before the "Gentlemen".
By the way, I shouldn't have said that "The ..Scene" were my favourite band. I have sooooo many! The "Gentlemen's" first recordings hit me like a thunderbolt. I think the amazing super-agressive energy put in by Adcock and Duffy balanced the solidness of Waller to make one of the most exciting bands ever. Also they had great bass playing from Tom, Ed, and Bill. I first saw them when I was a callow youth in 1967 at Berryville, and I was blown away.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 12:41 PM

Has anybody noticed that it's in DigiTrad, hidden cleverly as [fox on the run]?

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 01:21 PM

Sure is Dick. Also in one of my faves (the spelling's pretty funny too) plunk here

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Dale Rose
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 06:47 PM

Rick, you might be right that Emerson and Waldron were first, they were from about the same era, and just as good. Either way, I'd think Bill Emerson was the one responsible. By the way, Cliff Waldron has a new CD out on Rebel, and Rebel has also released a "Best Of" and a Waldron-Emerson sampler as well. .

Not too many years ago (I know, it was more than I think) I saw Charlie, Bill Y, Jimmy G, and a banjo player that I can't remember at a winter hotel type concert. The first set was what you'd expect, but the second one was truly wonderful. Charlie sez, "OK, whatta ya wanta hear?" So for the next hour we fired off requests (politely, of course) and Charlie and the boys came up with them. I remember I asked for Ages And Ages Ago. Charlie says, "Oh, yeah, that's a good one. We haven't done that in, well, ages!" So after a brief consultation with the banjo player who had never done it, out it came. Like I said, wonderful! I don't remember if I was the one who asked or not, but Bill did Lord Don't Leave Me Here, another one of those gospel songs that leave you wondering if you've made the right choices ~~ gives me chills every time I hear it, but to hear it live, welllll.

Oh, yeah, they did Fox On The Run that night too! Truly a night that belongs in the memorable performance thread.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: harpgirl
Date: 06 Jun 99 - 11:49 PM

Tom T. Hall wrote this song!...harpgirl

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Frank ofToledo
Date: 07 Jun 99 - 12:01 AM

Tom T Hall, one of my favorite country song writers, isn't the author of this song; it was writiten by Tony Hazzard. . To the best of my knowledge Tom T Hall introduced this to the bluegrass crowd in the mid seventies. He had an album on Mercury Reocord by that same name. Fox On The Run and he also did a great job of John Prine's "Paradise" in the same album. Tom T. Hall palys a pretty neat banjo when he wants to............

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Dale Rose
Date: 07 Jun 99 - 12:09 AM

Well, actually, Tom T. Hall DID introduce it to a broader audience than it had previously enjoyed, since he was big in country music at the time, but check back to what Rick and I said about The Seldom Scene/Country Gentlemen/Waldron & Emerson. These were the real beginnings of its life as a bluegrass tune. Many, many others have performed it since, but it dates back to these groups in the Washington DC area. I keep meaning to find the exact scenario and time frame, but have not done it yet.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Jun 99 - 05:22 PM

years ago, at the National Folk Festival, The Dry Branch Fire Squad were performing..and someone requested "Fox on the Run"...

"...well" said the spokesman..."I'm afraid we don't DO that one..we used to carry a list of ALL the songs we don't do, but our school bus burned down, so now, we just have a 'partial' list of the songs we don't do..such as 'Fox on the Run', 'Orange Blossom Special','Listen to the Mockingbird', 'Bringing Mary Home','The Rebel Soldier'...etc.."

that was Friday...then, Sunday afternoon, at their last appearance, the spokesman stepped up and said.."Folks, we have gotten SO many requests for 'Fox on the Run', that we have decided to do it.."..(loud hisses, boos, and groans from the purist members of the audience)..."..no, it's no use," he said, "..The Dry Branch Fire Squad has sold out...we HAVE to please the masses, so we are gonna do it...ok...ready, boys?".....whereupon they all stepped up to the mic, reached into their back pockets and whipped out kazoos!! and proceeded to play the entire song..all verses and choruses- in close harmony!! The purists in the audience were rolling on the ground with tears streaming...while others sort of stared and grumbled...one of the finest moments in music I have ever experienced!

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Fadac
Date: 07 Jun 99 - 05:45 PM

Kazoos!, A music purity. When I first got intrested in the bagpipe, I came to the conclusion that after buy a kilt, hose, jacket, shoes, hat, sporan, etc, and more etc, I would have to be a kilted kazoo player, because there would be no money left for pipes.

Fadac

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Jun 99 - 06:17 PM

...and, I don't doubt that a regiment of massed kazoos coming over the hill might bring fear to the the enemies hearts as much as a regiment of pipes...there IS the matter of volume, though..

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Left him to die like a fox on the ru
From: Dale Rose
Date: 07 Jun 99 - 06:59 PM

Yes, sounds like one of those magic moments in show biz. I remember Ricky Skaggs' reaction a good many years ago to a request to "Play Rocky Top!" Priceless.

I know this is another one of those right angle tangents, but it seems to fit. What is the difference between a fiddle and a kazoo?

(pause for effect) You don't need a bow to make funny noises on a kazoo! (banjo player's joke)

. . . and now, back to our regularly scheduled program, Fox On The Run.

Subject: Lyr CORR: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: Cluin
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 03:07 PM

These are the original lyrics as done by Manfred Mann, back in 1968 (when rock bands were getting back into more country-style material):

Fox on the Run
(Tony Hazzard)

(chorus)
She walked through the corn, leading down to the river
Her hair shone like gold in the hot morning sun
She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
And left me to die like a fox on the run
Like a fox... like a fox... like a fox...
On the run

Everybody knows the reason for the Fall
When Woman tempted Man down in Paradise's Hall
This woman tempted me, oh yes, and took me for a ride
But like the weary fox, I need a place to hide

(chorus)

Now take a glass of wine and fortify your soul
We'll talk about the world and friends we used to know
I'll illustrate a girl who put me on the floor
The game is nearly up, the hounds are at my door

(I saw her walk through...)
(chorus)


Tom T. Hall had a #9 country hit with it in 1976.

The Good Brothers had a big Canadian hit with it in 1981 with their live bluegrass-style version. Their different take on the lyrics include "like a lonely fox...", "we'll talk about the weather..." and "I see a string of girls..." and "the game is nearly over.." as previous country/bluegrass bands had done.

*a note about the "Paradise's Hall" line. It's always bugged me. Like it's a mondegreen that's been passed down with every cover of this song. As far as I remember, there was no kind of Hall (nor any building at all) in the Eden story. Listening to the original Manfred Mann recording, the delivery is a bit ideosyncratic. It could be "Paradise is all" because it's sung "Paradise suss haw". Such is the folk process at work.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: alanabit
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 05:20 PM

To correct Richard Bridge's post of over a decade ago, I should say there was indeed a Sweet hit called "Fox on the Run", but it was not the Tony Hazzard song, which had previously been done by Manfred Mann. I half suspect Richard's comment as being a little tongue in cheek. Paul Downes and Phil Beer used to do the Hazzard song as an encore in the folk clubs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: pdq
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 06:05 PM

The Manfred Mann version was not released until 29 NOV 1968.

Emerson and Waldron were doing a bluegrass version the following year.

The Country Gentlemen did not relsease one until 1971.

All long before some of the other versions mentioned such Tom T. Hall's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: Joe_F
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 01:49 PM

I find "I see a string of girls" & "I'll illustrate a girl" about equally unbelievable. Is it known which, if either, is the original?

As to "Paradise's hall", I suspect that "hall" is there for the rhyme. I can even imagine that Mr Hazzard had never read the story.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: Tig
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 11:23 AM

Strange coincidence. We've just picked up an LP called Fox on the Run by The Nadens. Recorded Whitley Bay in 1982 by a small company it's got such gems on it as She's a friend of a friend, Does she wish she was single again and You left the water running.

John is intending putting it up on ebay soon.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: open mike
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 11:48 AM

i love how the chorus is often sung as an arpeggio...
(not sure how else to describe it...)
Like a fox, (like a fox, like a fox)
each "fox" note would be one note of a chord,
and one band member sings one note and holds it
and the next note in the chord is sung by the
next band member....(there must be a short word
that describes this singing style...)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: Joe_F
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 04:13 PM

Oh, and another thing. When I first heard this song sung (by some people in my commune in 1972), I heard the first line as "She walked through the cornfield and down to the river", which makes more sense to me than "corn leading down". However, the latter is what appears in every version I have seen, here & on the Web at large, so I suppose it must be for real.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Oct 11 - 07:29 PM

I have listened carefully to the Manfred Mann recording. Since they were the first band to record this song, I figure their version probably comes closest to what the songwriter intended.

I notice they sing "walked" in the first line of the chorus, where nearly everybody else sings "walks." "Walked" actually makes a bit more sense, because it is consistent with the past-tense "shone" in line 2.

I have pondered the first part of line 3 in verse 2, and I'm not satisfied with either "I see a string of girls" or "I'll illustrate a girl" (although I wouldn't be surprised if some artists have actually sung those words). Manfred Mann's words are not clear, but I favor "I'll fill a straight of girls." I think he's using a poker metaphor here. That would be consistent with the following line "The game is nearly up."

I have also listened to the recording by Emerson & Waldron. They were the first to perform the song in a bluegrass style. It certainly sounds like they're singing "I'll fill a straight of girls."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: GUEST,SRD
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 03:52 PM

I've still got my 45rpm of Manfred Mann's version of 'Fox on the Run'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: Paul Burke
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 05:51 PM

Tripe. I illustrate (my point by) a girl who...

Pharmaceutical raw materials, as the CGI meerkat said.

Subject: ADD Version: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Feb 15 - 07:27 PM

I'm working on a version of the lyrics for the Rise Again songbook, using the Country Gentlemen and Manfred Mann recordings as benchmarks. I see some serious disagreements above. While I can buy the idea that "Paradise's hall" may be a mondegreen, I can't see anything that makes more sense. One suggestion, "Paradise, his home," isn't bad. And while "fill a straight of girls" may be what they're singing on the Manfred Mann recording, I don't think it will make sense to anyone.
So, here's what I have to submit to the book. Any suggestions?
-Joe-


Fox On the Run

She walks thru the corn leading down to the river
Her hair shone like gold in the hot morning sun
She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
And left me to die like a fox on the run
Like a fox, like a fox, like a fox, on the run
A E Bm D / Bm E D A :// D - - - A - - -
[C G Dm F / Dm G F C :// F - - - C - - -

Everybody knows the reason for the fall
When woman tempted man down in Paradise, his home
This woman tempted me & took me for a ride
Like the weary fox, I need a place to hide
D A E A / D A B7 E / 1st /    /
[F C G C / F C D G / 1st /    /

Well, take a glass of wine and fortify your soul
We'll talk about the world & friends we used to know
I see a stream of girls who'll put me on the floor
The game is nearly over, the hounds are at my door
Tony Hazzard.
Rec by The Country Gentlemen, Manfred Mann.

Maybe I should stick with Peter Cady's rendition. I understand all HIS lyrics...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: Rex
Date: 03 Mar 15 - 11:57 PM

Joe, I thank you for bringing up this old song. I used to play it all the time in a bluegrass group back in the 80's and never tired of it. Well after seeing it here after so many years it's been goading me. Folks like to say it is simple and not much for words. But it gets lodged in your head and won't leave. There are much worse songs to get lodged in your head mind you. I think it is a good, compelling song. Let it be simple. Anyway I've been listening to the Country Gentlemen version. That's who we learned it from. This is what I remember then and hear now. It is pretty much what you posted but "We'll" appears in both of the lines of the last verse. Then there's just a couple corrections I inserted (). Yep, it is a worthy song to remember and sing.
Thank'ee

Rex


Fox On the Run

She walks through the corn leading down to the river
Her hair shone like gold in the hot morning sun
She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
And left me to die like a fox on the run
Like a fox, like a fox, like a fox, on the run
A E Bm D / Bm E D A :// D - - - A - - -
[C G Dm F / Dm G F C :// F - - - C - - -

Everybody knows the reason for the fall
When woman tempted man down in Paradise, his home
This woman tempted me & took me for a ride
Like the weary (lonely) fox, I need a place to hide
D A E A / D A B7 E / 1st /    /
[F C G C / F C D G / 1st /    /

We'll, take a glass of wine and fortify your (our) soul
We'll talk about the world & friends we used to know
I see a stream of girls who'll put me on the floor
The game is nearly over, the hounds are at my door

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Mar 15 - 05:29 PM

I listened again to the recordings made by Manfred Mann, Emerson & Waldron, and The Country Gentlemen, and I see no reason to alter what I wrote on 25 Oct 11.

"I'll fill a straight of girls" might not mean anything to those who don't know poker, but it's a striking metaphor, and I think it'd be a shame to lose it. "I see a stream of girls" is pretty weak by comparison.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: GUEST,BigDaddy
Date: 10 Mar 15 - 08:45 PM

It's "Paradise Hall." Don't know why, it just is. I always assumed it was a similar place to the "House of the Rising Sun," only in Kentucky instead of New Orleans. So it's "A woman tempted me down in Paradise Hall." and "I see a string of girls that have put me on the floor." BtW, Tom T. Hall did a definitive version on his "The Magnificent Music Machine" album. On it he has guest artists like J. D. Crowe and Bill Monroe and I'll bet if he was singing it wrong, they'd have set him straight. If the words don't make sense to you, just chalk it up to "Wildwood Flower" syndrome.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 15 - 10:39 AM

In the Bluegrass Songbook by Peter Wernick, Oak Publications, the lyrics given are very similar to those given by Cluin on 27 Jan 2011. (Ferrara referred to this in 1999 and gave an explanation of Paradise's Hall referring to the Garden of Eden, which I agree with)).

It's shown as copyright 1968 Mann Music Publishers Limited of 29/31 Oxford Street London W1 England. All rights for United States of America and Canada controlled by Dick James Music, Inc., 119 West 57th Street, New York, 10019. Permission was granted to reprint the lyrics only, not the tune:

Fox on the Run

Tony Hazzard

Medium tempo

She walked through the corn leading down to the river
Her hair shone like gold in the hot morning sun.
She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
And left me to die like the fox on the run
Like the fox (like the fox, like the fox) on the run.

Everybody knows the reason for the fall
When woman tempted man down in paradise's hall.
This woman tempted me, alright, then took me for a ride
But like the lonely fox, I need a place to hide

Come take a glass of wine and fortify your soul
We'll talk about the world and friends we used to know.
I'll illustrate, a girl who put me on the floor
The game is nearly up, the hounds are at my door.

Tony Hazzard has his own website at Tony Hazzard


LFF

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: Joe_F
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 06:21 PM

P.S. If "hall" really was there just for the rhyme, Mr Hazzard might have gone farther down the alphabet & made it "down by Paradise's wall". Paradise, I believe, did have a wall around it. I seem to remember pictures of Adam & Eve being driven out thru a gate.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: Janie
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 06:34 PM

I always thought it was fall. As in fall from Paradise.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fox on the Run (Tony Hazzard)
From: Janie
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 07:00 PM

Duh. Ignore my post above and this one. If a clone has nothing better to do, delete both.