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
^^