An South African variant of The Fox, from Marais and Miranda. This was to a quite different tune from the "classic" tune a la Burl Ives, Joan Baez, et al., but unfortunately I have no ability to post the tune.

THE FOX

The Fox went out on a moonlight night
And he begged for the moon for to give him light
He'd many a mile to go that night
Before he came back to his den, ho,
Den ho, Den ho
....He'd many a mile to go that night
....Before he came back to his den, ho!

He came at last to the farmer's yard,
Where the ducks and geese declared it hard
That their sleep he'd broken and rest bemarred
By the visit of Mr. Fox, ho!
....(Same treatment of last two lines)

He siezed the black duck by the neck
And he flung her right across his back
The duck, she cried, a quack-quack-quack
With her legs all dangling down, ho! ....(Same treatment of last two lines.)

He took the gray goose by the sleeve.
Says he, "Madam, goose, and by your leave
I'll carry you off, without reprieve
And I'll take you back to my den, ho!"
....(Same treatment of last two lines.)

Then old Mrs. Slipper-Slopper jumped out of bed,
And out of the window popped her head,
Saying, "John, John, the gray goose is gone,
And the fox is away to his den, ho!"
....(Same treatment of last two lines.

A South African version from "Ballads of Many Lands", Marais and Miranda, early 50s. No copyright claim or date shown on disk or sleeve.

DRO Dave Oesterreich