Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FOX^^
From:
Date: 25 Aug 99 - 05:44 AM

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

Tim Weil
Silver Spring, Maryland
^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Jeri
Date: 25 Aug 99 - 10:06 AM

Tim, Where did your version come from? First time I've heard one in which the fox got caught!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Sourdough
Date: 25 Aug 99 - 02:47 PM

Tim, Thanks for posting your "archive" version of The Fox. Was this something in your amily?

Sourdough

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 25 Aug 99 - 05:21 PM

A friend of mine has a version he says he got from a Canadian song book with the story the same as the usual version, but with much more colorful lyrics. Anyone know that version? If not, I'll try to get them from my friend and will post them. --seed

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FOX WENT OUT ON A CHILLY NIGHT
From: Lady_32
Date: 25 Aug 99 - 05:49 PM

My dad and I have been singing this song for years, but my version is much different. It goes like this:

The fox went out on a chilly night
And he prayed for the moon to give him light.
He had a many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o.
He had a many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o.

Well, the fox he ran till he came to the pen
Where the ducks and the geese were kept therein.
He said, "A couple of you are gonna grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o."
He said, "A couple of you are gonna grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o."

Well he grabbed the old grey goose by the neck,
Swung her up and across his back.
He didn't mind her quacky-quack, quack
And her legs all hangin' down-o, down-o, down-o.
He didn't mind her quacky-quack quack
And her legs all hangin' down-o.

Old mother flippy-flop jumped out of bed,
Looked out the window and cocked her head.
She said, "John, John, the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o."
She said, "John, hey John, the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o."

So John he scampered to the top of the hill,
Blew his horn both loud and shrill.
The fox said, "Hee! I better flee with my kill
'Cause they'll soon be on my trail-o, trail-o, trail-o.
The fox said, "Hee! I better flee with my kill
'Cause they'll soon be on my trail-o."

Well, the fox he ran till he came to the den.
There were the little ones 8, 9, and 10.
They said, "Daddy better go back again
'Cause it must be a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o."
They said, "Daddy better go back again
'Cause it must be a mighty fine town-o."

Now the fox and his wife without any strife
Cut up the goose with a spoon 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,
No, they never had such a feast in their life.
No, they never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones-o.

---

Line breaks (<br>) added -JoeClone

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FOX AND THE GOOSE and THE FALSE FOX
From:
Date: 25 Aug 99 - 06:17 PM

[Robbins' Secular Lyrics, 1955]

THE FOX AND THE GOOSE [14th or 15th century]

'Pax uobis' quod the ffox,
'for I am comyn to toowne'

It fell ageyns the next nyght
the fox yede to with all his myghte,
with-outen cole or candlelight,
    whan that he cam vnto the town.

When he cam all in the yarde,
soore te geys were ill a-frede;
'I shall macke some of youre berde,
    or that I goo from the toowne!'

when he cam all in the croofte,
there he stalkyd wundirfull soofte;
'for here haue I be frayed full ofte
    whan that i haue come to toowne.'

he hente a goose all be the heye,
faste the goos began to creye!
oowte yede men as they myght heye,
    and seyde, 'fals fox, ley it doowne!'

'Nay,' he said, 'soo mot I the-
sche shall go vnto the wode with me;
sche and I wnther a tre,
    e-mange the beryis browne.

I haue a wyf, and sche lyeth seke;
many smale whelppis sche haue to eke -
many bonys they must pike
    will they ley a-downe.'

THE FALSE FOX [14th or 15th century]

The fals fox came vnto our croft,
And so our gese ful fast he sought.
        With how fox, how; with hey fox, hey!
        Come no more vnto our howse to bere our gese aweye!

The fals fox came vnto our stye,
And toke our gese ther by an by.

The fals fox cam into our yerde,
And ther he made the gese aferde.

The fals fox came vnto our gate,
And toke our gese ther wher they sate.

The fals fox came vnto our halle-dore,
And shrove our gese ther in the flore.

The fals fox came into our halle,
And assoyled our gese both grete & small.

The fals fox came vnto our cowpe,
And ther he made our geese to stowpe.

He toke a gose fast by the nek,
And the goose thoo began to quek.

The good-wyfe came out in her smok,
And at the fox she threw hir rok.

The good-man came out with his flayle,
And smote the fox vpon the tayle.

He threw a gose vpon his back,
And furth he went thoo with his pak.

The goodman swore yf that he myght,
he wolde hym slee or it wer nyght.

The fals fox went into his denne,
And ther he was full mery thenne.

He came ayene yet the next weke,
And toke awey both henne & cheke.

The goodman saide vnto his wyfe,
'This fals fox lyveth a mery lyfe.'

The fals fox came vpon a day,
And with our gese he made affray.

He toke a goose fast by the nek,
And made her to sey 'wheccumquek.'

'I pray the, fox,' said the goose thoo,
'Take of my feders but not of my to.'

^^

[Unfortunately no music survives for these. The oldest traditional version, in the Harris MS, Scotland, c 1825, is being edited for publication in the near future.]

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD DADDY FOX WENT OUT ONE NIGHT
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 26 Aug 99 - 04:47 AM

Back in the early seventies in the Midlands (England), Phil Neald, aka Big Ernie, had a band called Pig's Pudding (That's "black" pudding if you live outside the region!). They did a version of The Fox I've never heard before or since, so they might have made it up, I suppose. I can't remember the whole lot, but it was almost the usual version, but with smaller verses and refrain lines:

Old Daddy Fox went out one night,
With a ding-dong dilly-dong kie-ro-lay
And he prayed for the moon for to give a little light,
With a ding-dong dilly-dong kie-ro-lay
Right falairo lairo lairo, right falairo lairo lay,
Up jumps John, ringing on his bell,
With a ding-dong dilly-dong kie-ro-lay

If anyone knows this version, I'd love to know the rest. The chorus harmonises wonderfully... tune available on request, but it's not much good without the rest of the words!

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 26 Aug 99 - 05:49 AM

The version Lady 32 quotes is the version I learned ?via Burl Ives? in the 1950s.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 26 Aug 99 - 11:53 AM

Steve: Could Pig's Pudding have combined a "Fox" lyric with the "Carrion Crow" text I've heard with that "Ding-dong, dilly-dong, kie-ro MAY" refrain, to create their own, unique version?

Tim: Is there some way you can get a tape of your mother-in-law singing that unusual version? I'd dearly love to hear that! Does she live near Silver Spring? Will you be at the Getaway?

Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From:
Date: 26 Aug 99 - 07:05 PM

Sandy: Re: the mother-in-law My wife's Mom lives in Colorado, is nursing a broken arm, and doesn't sing too much. I've sent her a copy of these remarks to pick up her spirits.

Re: FSGW Getaway - this might be a good song to present. Haven't attended a Getaway for about 10 years! My interests haven't waned, just my availability.

Cheers Tim Weil Silver Spring, MD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Susan A-R
Date: 26 Aug 99 - 09:53 PM

My cousin does a wonderful version where two foxes sneak into the chicken coop through a VERY narrow hole in the ground. One eats lots of chicken, but the other assesses the situation and doesn't eat much. The prudent fox gets out again. The hasty eater gets caught. The melody is fun and there is potentila for great harmony. Anyone heard of this rendition? I'll ask Howard for a tape, and post lyrics at least if I get them.

Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: CarlZen
Date: 26 Aug 99 - 11:30 PM

Steve Parkes version with "With a ding-dong dilly-dong kie-ro-lay" reminded me of the one of several frog songs which has the phrase "King Kong Kitchee Ki Mee-o" throughout. From Fox to Frog and "ding-dong dilly-dong" to "King Kong"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 27 Aug 99 - 01:02 AM

Tim: Can I count on you to sing it at the Getaway this year? If so, I'll make sure to have Caroline's little "one-eyed memorizer" with me, and with a fresh tape, if that's okay by you. Then we'll get Bruce O. to sing us a neat 14th century version! And Susan A-R can give us her cousin's version, which is something entirely new to me. The entire Washington contingent can do a rousing version of "Daddy Fox," I bet. Great one for harmonies. Sounds like a topic for an entire workshop. What say you?

Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 27 Aug 99 - 03:22 AM

Sandy, it's perfectly possible they did make it up that way.I think it's legitimate folk-processing if nobody actually knows who made it up!

Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Art Thieme
Date: 27 Aug 99 - 11:17 AM

In the "SONGS OF WORK" theread I took note of the fact that this is definitely a song about WORK.

The job of father, breadwinner and hunter in order to provide food for unappreciative kids who just yell for MORE is pretty much universal. (And the kids get the bones. Appreciative kids, of course, would get much more. (As Rodney Dangerfield was so fond of saying, "I don't get no respect!!")

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From:
Date: 27 Aug 99 - 02:30 PM

I am so pleased to have found this site - I remember this song (the more conventional version) being sung to me by Alan Lomax (a friend of my dad's) when i was small and i have been wracking my brains to find the lyrics to sing it to my grandson. He loves the little I did manage to remember. So, thank you all for the collective memory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From:
Date: 28 Aug 99 - 12:11 PM

Sandy: Please pencil me in for the FSGW GetAway weekend! I think a segment devoted to the FOXES would be a real crowd pleaser.

Tim Weil Network Consultant US Department of Education [e-mail] [phone]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 28 Aug 99 - 12:41 PM

Hey, Timothy! As a network consultant, do you make house-calls?

Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Susan A-R
Date: 29 Aug 99 - 09:32 PM

Glad that I came back and read my homework assignment. I'll get in touch with Howie and get a cassette out of him. Guess I'd better get my registration in as well

Susan A-R

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: GUEST,Burningviolin
Date: 17 May 00 - 12:40 AM

Dear Lyn:

You expressed my sentiments exactly. I recall this song from my fifth grade class (early 60s) and like you have been searching forever. What a miracle the internet is. I have found many needles in haystacks with it. Like you I have enchanted children with the little that I could remember... "Sing the one about the fox!" (Again?????) How easy it will now be, and easy to pass on.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From:
Date: 17 May 00 - 04:22 AM

Dear Lyn;

The version that "Lady-32" gave you is the same as I've heard, and that was by Peter,Paul and Mary. By the Way any-one need a new man on the block,(NC.)to perform any where???

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Barbara
Date: 17 May 00 - 02:07 PM

Sandy, the Pig Pudding version of Fox, I've also heard as Carrion Crow, only the chorus goes:
"Hey fal-air-o, gilt in a garrow
He fal-air-o, gilt in a gay
Up jumps John, a-ringin' on his bell,
With me in come kitty come Ky-mo-Ray>"

Ain't the folk process wonderful when it comes to nonsense words?
blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: kendall
Date: 23 Nov 00 - 03:55 PM

I wish I could remember where I read that this song dates back to the 11th century in England. I also read that it was mentioned by Shakespere, although I have never seen it in what little of his stuff I know. Anyway, I never worry about copyright infringement when I sing it..

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Haruo
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 01:07 PM

My ancestral version of this (nothing extraordinary, I'm afraid) is now accessible through my deceased dad's page.

Liland

Subject: Lyr Add: THE RETURN OF THE FOX
From: GUEST,Fred Burns
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 08:24 PM

For a Calgary Singers Circle session at a nearby reserve for the rehabilitation of the Swift Fox, I prepared my own answer to The Fox, which I will enclose and give permission for anyone to use. I'll have to rely on Joe to provide line breaks, as I still don't quite get how to do that.

THE RETURN OF THE FOX

The fox went out on a chilly night,
Prayed to the moon to give him light,
For he'd many a mile to go that night,
Before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o.
He'd many a mile to go that night,
Before he reached the town-o.

He ran till he came to the same old bin
Where the ducks and the geese were kept therein,
But he did not see the dogs on the chain
Nor the hunters all around the town-o, etc.

The grey goose jumped up upon his back
And gave his head a mighty whack,
While the ducks flew up with a quack-quack-quack
And their wings all-a beating down-o, etc.

Old Mother Flipper-Flopper jumped out of bed,
And out of the window she stuck her head,
Crying, "This time we'll make you wish you were dead
For daring to come back to our town-o," etc.

John blew his horn both loud and shrill,
And the hunters came riding over the hill.
The fox said, "I'm afraid I'm gonna be road kill
If I can't get them off of my trail-o," etc.

He ran till he came to his cozy den,
And there were the little ones, eight, nine, ten,
Screaming, "Daddy, you'll have to go back again
'Cause you didn't bring supper from the town-o," etc.

Then the fox and his wife had a great big strife,
And she chased him around with the carving knife,
And he never, never had such a night in his life,
While the little ones all threw stones-o," etc.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 4-Sep-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Haruo
Date: 01 Dec 00 - 12:18 PM

At the end of each line where you want the break, just type capital-comma b r capital-period (with no spaces between): <br> — and that will cause a line break to happen magically.

Liland standing in for Joe, I guess ;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 01 Dec 00 - 10:37 PM

Liland, I thought that might be the way but wasn't sure. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: MMario
Date: 01 Dec 00 - 10:45 PM

Fred - the newcomers FAQ at the top of the main forum page has a number of nigty HTML tricks that come in handy on the forum, including how to put in links.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE TWO FOXES
From: Susan A-R
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 11:13 AM

Well, some time later, I have actually learned the Two Foxes song I mentioned last year. Here it is.

THE TWO FOXES

On a cold frosty night
On a cold frosty night
I believe it was in the winter
Two foxes went out for prey
They trotted along with a frolick and song
To cheer their long lilly way way way
To cheer their long lilly way

They trotted along
They trotted along
In hopes to find
A rabbit or goose astray
Until they came to some better game
In the farmer's barn by the way way way
IN the farmer's barn by the way

On the roost there sat
On the roost there sat
Some chickens, very very fat
As a fox could wish for his dinner
They came til they found a hole in the ground
And they both crept in like sinners sinners sinners
And they both crept in like sinners

They both crept in
They both crept in
with a squeeeeze and a grrrin
And the chickens were quickly killed
And one fox lunched and he crunched and he munched
'til his belly was fair lilly filled filled filled
'til his belly was fair lilly filled

The other fox was wise
The other fox was wise
He looked all around with both of his eyes
And he hardly ate at all
For when he came in with a squeeze and a grin
He noticed that the hole was small small small
He noticed that the hole was small

The other fox, you see
The other fox, you see
Grew very very red from embarrassment
At the end of a farmer's pole
He got that way with a whick and a whack
With his bottom corked up in a hole hole hole
With his bottom corked up in a hole.

Subject: Lyr Add: A FOX WENT OUT IN A HUNGRY PLIGHT
From: Edmund Flynn (inactive)
Date: 11 Jan 01 - 07:16 PM

I'm reviving this old thread because I found another version of this old song, and the fox comes to a sad end in this one.

It is in a schoolbook: "New Music Horizons, Fourth Book" copyright 1945 by Silver Burdett Company.

The tune is quite different, though I haven't worked it out. I am unlearned (it takes me forever to figure out a tune) and I am happy with Burl Ives' version for singing. But I will snail-mail a photocopy to any one who is a serious student.

A fox went out in a hungry plight
And he begged of the moon to give him light
For he'd many miles to trot that night
Before he could reach his den-o
Den-o, den-o! For he'd many miles to trot that night
Before he could reach his den-o

The fox when he came to the farmer's style
He lifted his ears and he listened a while
"Oho!" said the fox, "'Tis but a short mile
From this to yonder town-o!"
Town-o.... etc.

The fox he came to the farmer's gate
> When whom should he see but the farmer's drake
"I love you well for your master's sake,
I long to be picking your bones-o
Bones-o... etc.

The gray goose came right around the haystack;
"Oho! said the fox, You're very fat;
You'll do very well to ride on my back
From this to yonder den-o!"
Den-o... etc.

Then old Mrs. Slipper-slopper jumper out of bed
And out of the window she popped her head
"John, John, the old gray goose is gone
And the fox is off to his den-o
Den-o... etc.

The farmer loaded his pistol with lead
And he shot the old fox right through the head;
"Aha!" said the farmer "You're now quite dead
And no more you'll trouble the town-o
Town-o... etc.

We see foxes behind our house quite often, and I'm on their side. I guess that is because I raise plants, not geese. But it sure is too bad we can't solve our deer overpopulation here with a load or two of lead!

Ed Flynn,
Rockville, Maryland

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Edmund Flynn (inactive)
Date: 11 Jan 01 - 07:20 PM

Sorry about that bold type ... unintended.
Can anyone tell me what I did to make it turn bold like that?

Ed

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Snuffy
Date: 11 Jan 01 - 07:25 PM

<B> is bold, and <BR> is a line break. I do it all the time.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Edmund Flynn (inactive)
Date: 11 Jan 01 - 09:04 PM

Thank you, Snuffy. I would never have figured that out.

Ed

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From:
Date: 27 Oct 01 - 06:22 AM

It just got posted today here:

Daddy Fox

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From:
Date: 19 May 06 - 06:06 PM

I am researching folk song variations for my Masters Degree Program (focusing on Kodaly), and this is wonderful, informative, and fun. Thank you so much!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Azizi
Date: 19 May 06 - 06:26 PM

GUEST,travelingirl37

Welcome!

You too can join in the fun as a guest or a member.

Membership is free and easy so why not join?!

Best wishes,

Azizi

Subject: Tune Add: DADDY FOX (from Peter Bellamy)
From: GUEST,Little Robyn
Date: 19 May 06 - 11:23 PM

Nobody here has mentioned the Young Tradition version. I can just hear Peter Bellamy's voice.....
Snuffy posted the ABCs a few years back. The words are very similar to all those above but the tune (I reckon) is better, especially sung in 3 part harmony, a capella the way we used to do, late at night.
Robyn

X:1
X: 149
T:Daddy Fox
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:110
S:The Young Tradition
N:So Cheerfully Round, 1967
K:B
FF|
B2BB B2(AB)|c2(cA) F3F |
G2GG G2FE|D2F2 F2FF|
BBBB B2(AB)|c2(cA) F3F|
d2(de) f2fe|(d4 c4)|B8||
d8|c8|B8|c4- c2FF|
BBBB B2(AB)|c2(cA) F3F|
d2(de) f2fe|d4 c4|B6||

Subject: Lyr Add: FOX WENT OUT ON A CHILLY NIGHT (Christmas
From: GUEST,czandra
Date: 04 Dec 08 - 10:01 AM

Taking inspiration from all your versions and the 500-year old one, I've written a version I'll recite this weekend, Dec. 7 2008, in Montreal area at a Christmas concert. Thanks to all of you!


The daddy fox, on a winter's night,
Went out to town to heal his plight:
His wife was sick and the children slight
And Christmas around the bend-o, bend-o.
His wife was sick and the children slight
And Christmas around the bend-o!

He found the farmer's coop all warm
And thanked the moon for the farmer's farm;
With a yip, yip, yip and a yap, yap, yap,
For he'd come a long way to the town-o, town-o
With a yip, yip, yip and a yap, yap, yap
He'd come a long way to the town-o!

A goose and a hen were in the yard
Said the fox, "Which one will add the lard
To the stew of bones for my sweetheart?"
And the fowl cried not me, no, no, no!
And the fowl cried not me, no, no!

The fox grabbed the grey goose by the neck
And threw her up right over his back
And the ducks, they all cried quack, quack, quack
As the fox ran out of the town-o, town-o...

The farmer's wife jumped out of bed,
Threw a handkerchief over her head,
And raised her husband, loudly said,
That fox is in our barn-o, barn-o,
She raised her husband nicely instead,
"That fox is in our barn-o."

When the farmer came into the yard
The fox was yonder running hard
And the hen ran after yelling "Car, car, car!"
For the goose was her good friend-o, friend-o.
The hen ran after: "Car, car, car!"
For the goose was her good friend-o.

Well the fox he got into his den
And there were the little ones, 8-9-10
They ate that goose and for Christmas the hen
And they made a soup with the bones-o, bones-o!
They ate them up for Christmas and then
They made a soup with the bones-o.

Czam

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Dec 08 - 07:51 PM

Here's a version I rewrote a couple of years ago (and posted on the Cat), reflecting the way we seem to have got more foxes in towns these days:

Old Daddy Town Fox

Old Daddy Fox went out one night,
He crossed the road to a town so bright,
He spied a bin and he laughed with delight,
"I'm glad that I came to this town oh, town oh, town oh,
He spied a bin and he laughed with delight,
"I'm glad that I came to this town oh.

He opened the bin and he searched around,
And a tasty curry he quickly found,
And a half-of a chicken weighed a couple of pounds,
"Oh this is a mighty fine town oh..."

Old Mother Flipper Flopper climbed out of bed,
And out of the window she stuck her head,
Crying "John, John, there's a fox to be fed,
The fox who's come to the town oh."

So John came down and he opened up a tin,
And he gave him the meat that was within,
Saying "We can't have our Foxie a-getting too thin -
He's the best fox in this town oh."

Daddy Fox went home with a bag full of grub,
"Therell be some for the wife, there'll be some for the cub,
Then I think I'll go out for a stroll down the pub –
Yes, for sure it's a mighty fine town oh."

Old Daddy Fox and his cubs and his wife,
Ate up that food without any strife,
And they never had such a supper in their life,
And the little ones chewed on the bones oh.

Now Old Daddy Fox he lives in his den
It's under the holly bush back of number ten,
"Oh we're never going to go back to the country again,
It's a far better life in the town oh."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: GUEST,czandra
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 07:33 PM

Hello McGrath; you've really focussed on the mighty fine town-0, which is a great thing to do in a song. I regret the legs all dangling down-0, which I plan to add before I perform the version I posted as poem.

Now you could do a song about the deer in the mighty-fine town! Deer and beer should go well with the fox-den bar...

Best wishes,
Czam

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: voyager
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 10:56 AM

MudCatters -

When I went searching for this thread I had to laugh....
-My ISP 'clark.net' no longer exists
-I didn't have a MudCat alias yet (voyager)
-My conversation with Sandy Paton got me to the Getaway that year (1999) and we performed this tune alright.

Here's a real cool flatpicked version from the Flatpick-L mailing list

The Fox - Jamey Pittman's Upbeat Flatplick Version (YouTube)

Cheers
voyager

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Reiver 2
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 01:11 PM

Fascinating to learn of all the variations to this song. Thanks to everyone for contributing. I learned the Burl Ives version that I used to sing to my kids when they were young.

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 02:36 PM

Steve Parks: Back in the early seventies in the Midlands (England), Phil Neald, aka Big Ernie, had a band called Pig's Pudding (That's "black" pudding if you live outside the region!). They did a version of The Fox I've never heard before or since, so they might have made it up, I suppose. I can't remember the whole lot, but it was almost the usual version, but with smaller verses and refrain lines:

Old Daddy Fox went out one night,
With a ding-dong dilly-dong kie-ro-lay
And he prayed for the moon for to give a little light,
With a ding-dong dilly-dong kie-ro-lay
Right falairo lairo lairo, right falairo lairo lay,
Up jumps John, ringing on his bell,
With a ding-dong dilly-dong kie-ro-lay

If anyone knows this version, I'd love to know the rest. The chorus harmonises wonderfully... tune available on request, but it's not much good without the rest of the words!

Steve
It's taken over a decade, but...also back in the early 70s, in the Midlands (Leicester area) "Bodger's Mate" (anyone remember them?) also did that version. Heard them do it a couple of times as an 8 or 9 piece, unaccompanied, lined up on the stage with their fingers (ironically, presumably!) in their ears.

Can't remember the full song as they did it, but I may have it on cassette somewhere.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FOX
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 07:06 PM

From A Pedlar's Pack of Ballads and Songs by William Hugh Logan (Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1869), page 291:

THE FOX.

This ballad is certainly upwards of forty years old. It appears to have been rescued from its fugitive form, and embodied in a small collection of songs printed at Edinburgh "for Joseph Skeafe, 3 South Hanover Street, 1832," under the title of "The Opera, or Cabinet of Song," and believed to have been edited by the Scotish poet, James Ballantyne, author of "the Gaberlunzie's wallet." There is a version of "the Fox" printed in the 10th volume of Notes and Queries, 4to, 1854, where it is given as "an old Cornish song," and is titled "The Fox's nightly foraging tour." Whether it is the original version is not very clear. The differences, which are chiefly verbal, are generally immaterial. The last stanza has not the repeated line; thus:—

"The fox and his wife they had such strife,
They never ate a better goose in all their life;
They tore it abroad without fork or knife,
And the little ones pick'd the bones, O!"


THE FOX

The fox he went out one cold winter night,
And he pray'd to the moon to give him some light,
For he had a long way to travel that night
Before he could reach the town, O!
Town, O! town, O!
For he had a long way, &c.

At length he arrived at the farmer's yard,
For the ducks and the geese he was not afeard,
He swore that the best of them would grease his beard
Before he would leave the town, O!
Town, O! &c.

He seized the grey goose by the neck,
He threw him astride across his back,
Which made the grey goose cry quack! quack!
And the blood it came trickling down, O!
Down, O! &c.

Old mother Slipperslopper jumped out of bed,
She opened the casement and popp'd out her head;
"Get up, John, get up! for the grey goose is dead,
And the fox has been into the town, O!
Town, O!" &c.

So John he got up to the top of yon hill,
He sounded his bugle-horn both loud and shrill;
"Blow on!" cried the fox, "that is better music still,
For I'm glad I've got clear out of town, O!
Town, O!" &c.

When Reynard he had arrived on the plain,
He threw down his burden to ease a load of pain;
He quickly took it up, and he travell'd on again,
For he thought he heard the sound of the hounds, O!
Hounds, O! &c.

When Reynard he had arrived at his den,—
Of young ones he had nine or ten,—
"You're welcome, father fox, you must travel back again,
For we think it's a lucky town, O!
Town, O!" &c.

The fox and his wife they had some strife,
They tore up the grey goose without fork or knife;
They tore up the grey goose without fork or knife,
And the young ones picked the bones, O!
Bones, O! &c.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Joybell
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 08:22 PM

Steve -- I've been singing that alternate version for about 30 years. Heard it on the radio -- Maybe from "The Albion Band".
Slight difference in the words. It begins each verse with similar words to the version above but drops the second part. Also slight changes in the refrain from your one. Takes a while to sing but it makes a good group song.
Here it is (phonetically rendered):
The Fox (alternate version)

1. The fox went out on a windy night
With a ling dong derry dong kyro me
Prayed to the moon to give him light
With a ling dong derry dong kyro me
Hey fo lal lee fol lar fol la lair-o
Hey fol la lair fol la lair-o me
Up jumped John ringing on his bell
With a ling dong derry dong kyro me.

2. He ran 'till he came to a great big bin
With a etc.
Where the ducks and the geese were kept there in
With a etc.
Hey etc.

3. He grabbed the grey goose by the neck.
With a etc
Threw a little duck right across his back.
With a etc
Hey etc.

4. Old Mother Slipper Slopper jumped out of bed.
With a etc.
Out of the window she popped her little head.
With a etc.
Hey etc.

5. John he ran to the top of the hill.
With a etc.
Blew on his horn both loud and shrill.
With a etc.
Hey etc.

6. Fox he ran to his own den.
With a etc.
There were the little ones eight nine ten.
With a etc.
Hey etc.

7. The fox and his wife without any strife.
With a etc.
Cut up the goose with a fork and a knife.
With a etc.
Hey etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: keberoxu
Date: 09 Jun 16 - 01:59 PM

I'm going to catch it, I suppose, for putting a Gaelic lyric in this thread when there are other threads for traditional Irish song. But this is a delightful thread, especially the broad Scots lyric, and all hewing to the theme of the hunted fox, so there is an argument for putting a Gaelic lyric about foxes here.

I'm only posting two verses. That's because the only recording I know of is by mezzo-soprano Máire Ní Scolaí, archived by Radio Éireann and re-issued on a vinyl LP by Gael Linn. She only sang these two verses on the recording.

two verses from FRINSEACH THÍR EÓGHAIN

[attributed to William Flaherty of Imoin, Caherlistrane]

Óbh Óbh ars' an sionnach, cad 'dheanfas mé féin
'seo iad na gadhair agus stróicfidh siad mé
caithfear amach mé 's béich 'n sioc faoi mo shróin
's mo ruball 'tráthnóna, ag Frinseach thír Eóghain

Dá bhfághainn-se ráithe nó cupla mí 'spás
rachainn 's an áit nach gcuirfidhe ionnam sgáth
rachainn thart-amach síos go pláinéid mhuigheó
's mo ruball 'tráthnóna, ag Frinseach thír Eóghain

Translation from Mrs. Eileen Costello's "Amhráin Mhuighe Seóla," pp. 60 -61

Uf! Uf! says the Fox, now what will I do?
Here are the hounds, and they will tear me asunder.
I shall be put out, and the frost will be under my nose,
And Ffrench of Tyrone will have my tail in the evening.

If I only got a quarter, or a few months' respite,
I'd go to the place where I would not be frightened.
I'd go away out to the plains of Mayo,
Nor Ffrench of Tyrone to have my tail to-night.

Finally: Ní Scolaí's recording dispenses with the tune to which Mrs. Costello sets this Gaelic text, and she sings a different melody.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 10 Jun 16 - 03:46 AM

Traditional singer Freda Palmer of Oxfordshire had a good version. You can hear it on the Musical Traditions CD "Up in the North and Down in the South".

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 10 Jun 16 - 03:59 AM

The song is now being used as a television advert for Cider recited badly by Michael Gambon
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 02:36 PM

Michael Gambon? Badly?

Decide for yourselves -

https://vimeo.com/127834972

Ross

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: voyager
Date: 07 Nov 16 - 03:16 PM

This thread (more so than others) has several themes for me -

1. Oldest Mudcat post (1999)
2. Family folklore (sharing a Tidewater version of 'The Fox').
3. Meet up with Sandy Paton (invite to FSGW Getaway)
4. Performance - we 'foxed it up' with the FSGW workshop
5. Mudcat versioning, history of the lyrics
5. Still like the song

Keep a goin'
voyager

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 10:02 AM

As this has been resurrected, one I posted in another discussion several years ago (Just after the hunting ban) as the government is again discussing a possible vote to overturn the ban:

A good time to refresh!

THE FOX – NO MORE HUNTED
(Nigel Parsons)(November '03)

The fox went out on a chilly night
Gave thanks to the moon for its gracious light,
And that cruel men had lost the right
To hunt his family down-o down-o down-o
Cruel men had lost the right
To hunt his family down-o

He came at last to a chicken farm
Where the inmates he could cause alarm
He made his way, both cool and calm
Now men could do him no harm-o harm-o harm-o
He made his way, both cool and calm
Now men could do him no harm-o

Fox dug his way in the chicken run,
Thought that he would have some fun
Heard a bang from the farmer's gun,
And slunk away from the town-o town-o town-o
Heard a bang from the farmer's gun,
And slunk away from the town-o

Fox fed at last on a chickens egg,
Limped along on a broken leg
To the moon above he'd have to beg
That a huntsman might put him down-o down-o down-o
To the moon above he'd have to beg
That a huntsman might put him down-o

Fox died at length in his hidden earth,
Of food for days there'd been a dearth
To the moon above, he cursed his birth
And his blood-matted fur was all brown-o brown-o brown-o
To the moon above, he cursed his birth
And his blood-matted fur was all brown-o


It's a long time since I've sung this, looking again, the last but one verse might be better with a swap in the first two lines:
Fox limped along on a broken leg,
Fed at last on a chickens egg,
To the moon above he'd have to beg


Hm
Maybe tonight at Cardiff's 'Open Mic'

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 01:06 PM

Fox went out on a chilly night
And they played to the loons and the radical right
For they'd many a lie to go that night
Before they shut it down-o

They ran 'til they put on a great big spin
Where the legs of the babes were shown therein
Each one's blonde and feminine
And they all wear a very short gown-o

They blabbed the day's news yakety-yak
They raked some muck they could not back
They didn't mind their quack, quack, quack
And their legs all danglin' down-o

Well, old channel flipper-flopper jumped out of bed
Out of the window she cocked her head
Cryin' John, John did you hear what they said
And Fox is on the town-o
                
O'Reilly came with his poison pen
He's on and on at 8, 9, 10
He says it twice and he says it again
He must be a mighty fine clown-o, clown-o, clown-o

Then Fox went on to create more strife
They cut up the news with a fork and a knife
They never had such ratings in their life
So they kept on casting stones-o

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 01:22 PM

That last parody is lovely!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 25 Oct 18 - 04:30 PM

A thirteen verse version from 1894

More English Fairy Tales 
by Joseph Jacobs

Old Mother Wiggle-Waggle

THE fox and his wife they had a great strife,
They never ate mustard in all their whole life;
They ate their meat without fork or knife,
?And loved to be picking a bone, e-ho!

The fox went out, one still, clear night,
And he prayed the moon to give him light,
For he'd a long way to travel that night,
?Before he got back to his den-o!

The fox when he came to yonder stile,
He lifted his lugs and he listened a while!
"Oh, ho!" said the fox, "it's but a short mile
?From this unto yonder wee town, e-ho!"

And first he arrived at a farmer's yard,
Where the ducks and the geese declared it was hard,
That their nerves should be shaken and their rest should be marred
?By the visits of Mister Fox-o!

The fox when he came to the farmer's gate,
Who should he see but the farmer's drake;
"I love you well for your master's sake,
?And long to be picking your bones, e-ho!"

The grey goose she ran round the hay-stack,
"Oh, ho!" said the fox, "you are very fat;
You'll grease my beard and ride on my back
?From this into yonder wee town, e-ho!

Then he took the grey goose by her sleeve,
And said: "Madam Grey Goose, by your leave
I'll take you away without reprieve,
?And carry you back to my den-o!"

And he seized the black duck by the neck,
And slung him all across his back,
The black duck cried out "quack, quack, quack,"
?With his legs all dangling down-o!

Old Mother Wiggle-Waggle hopped out of bed,
Out of the window she popped her old head;
"Oh! husband, oh! husband, the grey goose is gone,
?And the fox is off to his den, oh!"

Then the old man got up in his red cap,
And swore he would catch the fox in a trap;
But the fox was too cunning, and gave him the slip,
?And ran through the town, the town, oh!

When he got to the top of the hill,
He blew his trumpet both loud and shrill,
For joy that he was safe and sound
?Through the town, oh!

But at last he arrived at his home again,
To his dear little foxes, eight, nine, ten,
Says he "You're in luck, here's a fine fat duck,
?With his legs all dangling down-o"!

So he sat down together with his hungry wife,
And they did very well without fork or knife,
They never ate a better duck in all their life,
?And the little ones picked the bones-o!

https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/More_English_Fairy_Tales/Old_Mother_Wiggle-Waggle 

Joseph Jacobs  (29 August 1854 – 30 January 1916)
was an Australian folklorist, translator, literary critic, social scientist, historian and writer of English literature who became a notable collector and publisher of English folklore. 
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Jacobs 

Abe books
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=22733087009&cm_mmc=gmc-_-nonisbn-_-PLA-_-v01&gclid=Cj0KCQjw08XeBRC0ARIsAP_ga