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Origins: Mr. Fox (John Pole) also (Bob Pegg)
DigiTrad:
MISTER FOX
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Subject: Mr.Fox From: JanSifra Date: 27 Mar 02 - 09:50 AM Greetings to all! I am looking for lyrics of the song "Mr.Fox" as recorded by the group Mr.Fox sometimes around year 1971. Thank you. Jano Sifra, Slovak republic |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr.Fox From: Sorcha Date: 27 Mar 02 - 10:27 AM Found this, maybe it will jog someone's memory. No lyrics found and I am out of time just now:
"Mr Fox was a folk-rock band formed in 1970 by Bob and Carolanne Pegg, to further their musical ideas, which were moving away from the traditional material that they had successfully employed to become a respected duo on the folk club circuit. The final song is the macabre masterpiece,"Mr Fox", a haunting, gruemome tale of a strange man, his grisly deeds and even nastier end. Sung by Carolanne, with a superb undercurrent of menace provided by cello, organ, violin and bass, with an electric guitar crashing in at moments of high excitement. This song personifies the whole strange character of Mr Fox,the group." |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr.Fox From: Hollowfox Date: 27 Mar 02 - 10:37 AM If it has the recurring phrase "the wall is high", it's in the DT under "Mister Fox" (not Mr. Fox). It's by John Pole, and Frankie Armstrong also performs ir. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr.Fox From: Watson Date: 27 Mar 02 - 10:39 AM I remember that was the first record (remember LPs?) that I borrowed from the local record library! I later bought it on CD, so if nobody comes up with anything, I'll search it out and jot down the lyrics. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr.Fox From: Sorcha Date: 27 Mar 02 - 10:41 AM Just in case, here is a clickie to Mistr Fox in the DT. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr.Fox From: Watson Date: 27 Mar 02 - 10:45 AM Good, but not the same one. This one starts: I'll sing you song of Mr. Fox, How he came courting me. He was the finest fellow You could ever hope to see. ...or something similar - I haven't heard it for years. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: MISTER FOX (John Pole) From: radriano Date: 27 Mar 02 - 11:44 AM Mister Fox Author: John Pole As sung by Sylvia Herold Outside Mr. Fox's garden, three maids playing with a golden ball Jenny threw it up and Susan caught it, Mary bounced it over the wall The wall is high - Mr. Fox has a little red eye In she ran to fetch it back again, the garden gate stood open wide It silently closed and locked behind her. Mr. Fox stood just inside The wall is high - his smile is cruel and his eyes are sly He says, "I'll keep this golden ball, Miss Mary. I shall have it and here you will stay. You will keep my house and be my servant, never stir out for a year and a day The wall is high - the grasses shiver and the tall trees sigh Spring and summer passed like shadows, she saw the green leaves fade and fall She walked alone in the empty garden, Mr. Fox said nothing at all The wall is high - never a soul came near nor by But three strange things he did forbid her, "Never touch my iron box Never go near the thirteenth bedroom, nor near the bed," said Mr. Fox The wall is high - "Mary, don't you dare ask why." Mary she rose up one morning, found an iron box on the shelf But of all the rooms at Mr. Fox's, bedrooms there were only twelve The wall is high - Mary, don't you peep and pry One day Mr. Fox went walking - in that box she found a key It fitted a door she'd never unfastened and when she opened it, what did she see? The wall is high - the door said run and the key said fly In Mr. Fox's thirteenth bedroom, a naked sword hung on the wall In a silver bowl on the beds black counterpane, there she saw her golden ball The wall is high - the bed said come and the sword said die In she ran to snatch her ball again, to fetch it off that great black bed Out jumped Mr. Fox and leapt at her, his teeth flashed white and his eyes burnt red The wall is high. Regards, Richard |
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Subject: Lyr Add: MR. FOX (John Pole) From: nutty Date: 27 Mar 02 - 01:13 PM Richard ... you beat me to it. BUT seeing as I've got it all typed out I'll post it anyway If anyone wants a MIDI of the tune .... let me know MR FOX Outside Mr Fox's garden Three maids were playing with a golden ball Jenny threw it up and Susan caught it Mary bounced it over the wall The wall is high Mister Fox has a little red eye In she ran to fetch it back again The garden gate stood open wide Suddenly it was shut and bolted Mr Fox was just inside The wall is high His smile is cruel and his eyes are sly He said "I shall keep your ball Miss Mary I shall have it and here you will stay You'll keep my house and be my servant And never go out for a year and a day" The wall is high The long grass shivers and the tall trees sigh
Spring and summer passed like shadows
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr.Fox From: Sorcha Date: 27 Mar 02 - 01:22 PM (Of course MMario wants the MIDI.....grin) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr.Fox From: MMario Date: 27 Mar 02 - 01:31 PM Isn't this the same as the one in the DT? (see link above) But yes, Nutty - if your tune is different - I'd love a midi or NWC file. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: MR. FOX (Bob Pegg) From: Phil Cooper Date: 27 Mar 02 - 02:36 PM Bob Pegg's "MR. FOX" Lyric is: MR. FOX (Bob Pegg) I'll tell you a tale of Mr. Fox, how he came courting me. He was the smartest fellow a girl could hope to see. Foxy came to our town in the springtime of the year And said I was the fairest of any young girl here.
My Dad said I should marry him, and I should be his bride,
This didn't suit old Mr. Fox. He said I'd rue the day.
I hadn't been there but awhile when I heard a scream and shout.
He dragged her through the bushes. He dragged her through the trees.
As they were going up the stair, the woman gave a wail.
The night was cold. The night was dark. No comfort could I find.
The very next day old Foxy came to see if we'd be wed.
Foxy turned his back on me. He turned as if to leave.
In the middle of the forest where the lark and linnet sing, |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr.Fox From: Phil Cooper Date: 27 Mar 02 - 11:25 PM I like the suspense that builds up in the Pole version of Mr. Fox and the straight forwardness of Bob Pegg's. I really enjoyed reading the version collected in Katherine Briggs' book of English Folk Tales. These days you could talk about Charles Manson or someone like him being a modern version of Mr. Fox. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr.Fox From: JanSifra Date: 28 Mar 02 - 05:17 AM Thanks to all of you, especially to Phil Cooper, his was the version I was looking for. It is really great song but I was not able to understand all the lyrics. Jano Šifra |
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Subject: Lyr Add: MR. FOX (Bob Pegg) From: Watson Date: 28 Mar 02 - 06:18 AM Well, all that work and Phil got in first! Still, I think it's worth posting this - I've listened, and this is word-perfect as sung by Carole Pegg (as her name appears in the credits). It was on the album Mr. Fox released in 1970 on Transatlantic Records. This track was written by Bob Pegg, others were by Bob and Carole with couple of tracks by one Ashley Hutchings. Musicians were Bob - vocals, organ, melodeon, tin whistle and terrapin (don't ask me - that's what it says!), Carole - vocals and fiddle, Alan Eden - drums, Barry Lyons - electric bass, Andrew Massey - cello and John Myatt - flute, clarinet, bass clarinet and bassoon. The band only made one more Album - The Gipsy in 1971. The two were re-released in the UK on one CD in 1996 by Castle Communications ESM CD 433. MR.FOX (Bob Pegg) I'll tell you tale of Mr. Fox, how he came courting me, He was the smartest fellow you could ever hope to see. Now Foxy came to our town in the springtime of the year, And he said I was the fairest of any young girl here. My Dad said I should marry him, that I should be his bride, And I saw me walking up the aisle with Foxy by my side, But Foxy was a bit too sly, and I didn't trust his smile, So I told him change the wedding day and put it by awhile. This didn't suit old Mr. Fox, he said I'd rue the day, He pulled his hat down over his eyes and went upon his way, But unbeknown to Foxy, I'd followed through the wood, Till I came across the clearing where his fine old mansion stood. I hadn't been there but a while, when I heard a scream and shout, It was Foxy with a woman a-knocking her about. I hadn't been there but a while when I heard a curse and swear, It was Foxy with a woman, held fast by her hair. He dragged her through the bushes, he dragged her through the trees, It tore my heart in two to see her pleading on her knees. He dragged her up the marble steps, he dragged her through the hall, I followed close behind them and hid against the wall. As they were going up the stairs, the woman gave a wail, She tore away from Fox and clasped her hand around the rail. Foxy took his knife with a blow both sharp and sweet, The hand was severed from the wrist and dropped down at my feet. The night was black, the night was cold, no pathway could I find, But I ran through the trees as if the Devil was behind. The forest it was dark and thick and pricked with many a thorn, But I ran through the trees as if I'd never see the dawn. The very next day old Foxy came to see if we'd be wed. I told that I'd had a dream as I lay in my bed, I told him that I'd seen a house in the middle of the wood, And anyone who went inside, could never come to good. Old Foxy turned his back on me, he turned as if to leave, But I took him by the arm and plucked the hand from out my sleeve. Foxy gave a yelp and then he gave a squeal, And he ran as if the hounds of hell were crying at his heel. In the middle of the forest where the lark and linnet sing, The dogs of the town got Fox inside a ring, They tore him limb from limb, they tore him hair from hair, And his flesh it was eaten by the birds of the air. AP |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr.Fox From: GUEST,T-boy Date: 28 Mar 02 - 07:57 AM Dead right, the Bob Pegg song is in the Lydian mode. I just love the corners that scale turns. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr. Fox (Bob Pegg) also (John Pole) From: Joe Offer Date: 08 Jun 18 - 12:06 AM It took me a while to find a recording of the Bob Pegg "Mr. Fox" song:
also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfMOSjIBcjY I've heard several versions of John Pole's song. I suppose my favorite is the one by Frankie Armstrong:
Also one by Sally Rogers & Claudia Schmidt: -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr. Fox (Bob Pegg) also (John Pole) From: GUEST,henryp Date: 08 Jun 18 - 08:46 AM In 1978 musician Bob Pegg was commissioned by Hebden Bridge Festival to write and perform a sequence of songs, inspired by the memories of older Hebden Bridgers – recollections of the days when the mills and the Methodist chapels were still in full swing. This event will bring together live performances of the songs, the original recordings of voices from the mid-1970s, and Bob’s own commentary. Bob will be joined by vocal trio INPO, Lynda Hardcastle and Helen Hockenhull, from the Bacca Pipes folk club in Keighley. You can also listen to Bob’s Calderdale Voices in the Town Hall map chair. June 23, 2:30 pm, £5 - £8, Hebden Bridge Arts Festival 2018, West Yorkshire, Northern England Bob Pegg is the master of the macabre. I've already got my tickets. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr. Fox (Bob Pegg) also (John Pole) From: GUEST,henryp Date: 25 Jun 18 - 05:46 AM Coming soon! "The Last Wolf" will be re-released by Talking Elephant on June 29, 2018. It contains material from all stages of Bob's life and career, starting with 'Fiddler's Cross', written in the early '70s when Bob was living in Leeds. The album was originally released on Rhiannon Records in the early nineties and Talking Elephant are pleased to have this little gem remastered and to include 4 special live performances as bonus material. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mr. Fox (Bob Pegg) also (John Pole) From: Phil Cooper Date: 25 Jun 18 - 01:22 PM I was just listening to The Last Wolf the other day in the car. The old release, not the new one. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Mr. Fox (Bob Pegg) also (John Pole) From: Joe Offer Date: 15 Nov 21 - 04:38 PM Digital Tradition Lyrics: MISTER FOX (John Pole) tune by Terry Yarnell Outside Mr. Fox's garden, Three maids playing with a golden ball Jenny threw it up and Susan caught it, Mary bounced it over the wall The wall is high; Mr. Fox has a little red eye In she ran to fetch her ball again, The garden gate stood open wide Suddenly, it was locked and bolted Mr. Fox stood just inside The wall is high; the grasses shiver and the tall trees sigh He says, "I'll keep your golden ball, Miss Mary I shall have it and here you shall stay You shall keep my house and be my servant Never stir out for a year and a day" The wall is high; His smile is cruel and his eyes are sly Spring and summer passed like shadows She watched the green leaves fade and fall She walked alone in the empty garden Mr. Fox said nothing at all The wall is high; never a soul came near or by Three strange things he did forbid her "Never touch my iron box Never go near the thirteenth room Nor near the bed," said Mr. Fox The wall is high; Mary don't you dare ask why Mary she rose up one morning Found an iron box on the shelf But of all the rooms There were only twelve The wall is high; Mary don't you peep and pry One day Mr. Fox went walking In that box she found a key It fitted the door she'd never unfastened And when she opened it, what did she see? The wall is high; the key said "run" and the door said "fly" In Mr. Fox's thirteenth bedroom A naked sword hung on the wall In a silver bowl on the bed's black counterpane There she saw her golden ball The wall is high; the bed said "come" and the sword said "die" In she ran to fetch her ball again To snatch it from that great black bed Out jumped Mr. Fox and lept at her His teeth flashed white and his eyes burned red The wall is high Copyright John Pole @myth @ballad @animal filename[ MRFOX TUNE FILE: MRFOX CLICK TO PLAY SOF
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Subject: ADD: Mr. Fox (trad English fairytale) From: Joe Offer Date: 07 Nov 22 - 12:15 AM Here's the story from Jacobs' English Fairytales. Mr. FoxLady Mary was young, and Lady Mary was fair. She had two brothers, and more lovers than she could count. But of them all, the bravest and most gallant, was a Mr. Fox, whom she met when she was down at her father’s country-house. No one knew who Mr. Fox was; but he was certainly brave, and surely rich, and of all her lovers, Lady Mary cared for him alone. At last it was agreed upon between them that they should be married. Lady Mary asked Mr. Fox where they should live, and he described to her his castle, and where it was; but, strange to say, did not ask her, or her brothers to come and see it.
So one day, near the wedding-day, when her brothers were out, and Mr. Fox was away for a day or two on business, as he said, Lady Mary set out for Mr. Fox’s castle. And after many searchings, she came at last to it, and a fine strong house it was, with high walls and a deep moat. And when she came up to the gateway she saw written on it:
Be Bold, Be Bold.
But as the gate was open, she went through it, and found no one there. So she went up to the doorway, and over it she found written:
Be Bold, Be Bold, But Not Too Bold.
Still she went on, till she came into the hall, and went up the broad stairs till she came to a door in the gallery, over which was written:
Be Bold, Be Bold, But Not Too Bold, Lest That Your Heart’s Blood Should Run Cold.
But Lady Mary was a brave one, she was, and she opened the door, and what do you think she saw? Why, bodies and skeletons of beautiful young ladies all stained with blood. So Lady Mary thought it was high time to get out of that horrid place, and she closed the door, went through the gallery, and was just going down the stairs, and out of the hall, when who should she see through the window, but Mr. Fox dragging a beautiful young lady along from the gateway to the door. Lady Mary rushed downstairs, and hid herself behind a cask, just in time, as Mr. Fox came in with the poor young lady who seemed to have fainted. Just as he got near Lady Mary, Mr. Fox saw a diamond ring glittering on the finger of the young lady he was dragging, and he tried to pull it off. But it was tightly fixed, and would not come off, so Mr. Fox cursed and swore, and drew his sword, raised it, and brought it down upon the hand of the poor lady. The sword cut off the hand, which jumped up into the air, and fell of all places in the world into Lady Mary’s lap. Mr. Fox looked about a bit, but did not think of looking behind the cask, so at last he went on dragging the young lady up the stairs into the Bloody Chamber.
As soon as she heard him pass through the gallery, Lady Mary crept out of the door, down through the gateway, and ran home as fast as she could.
Now it happened that the very next day the marriage contract of Lady Mary and Mr. Fox was to be signed, and there was a splendid breakfast before that. And when Mr. Fox was seated at table opposite Lady Mary, he looked at her. “How pale you are this morning, my dear.” “Yes," said she, “I had a bad night’s rest last night. I had horrible dreams.” “Dreams go by contraries,” said Mr. Fox; “but tell us your dream, and your sweet voice will make the time pass till the happy hour comes.”
“I dreamed,” said Lady Mary, “that I went yestermorn to your castle, and I found it in the woods, with high walls, and a deep moat, and over the gateway was written:
Be Bold, Be Bold.
“But it is not so, nor it was not so,” said Mr. Fox.
“And when I came to the doorway over it was written:
Be Bold, Be Bold, But Not Too Bold.
“It is not so, nor it was not so,” said Mr. Fox.
“And then I went upstairs, and came to a gallery, at the end of which was a door, on which was written:
Be Bold, Be Bold, But Not Too Bold, Lest That Your Heart’s Blood Should Run Cold.
“It is not so, nor it was not so,” said Mr. Fox.
“And then–and then I opened the door, and the room was filled with bodies and skeletons of poor dead women, all stained with their blood.”
“It is not so, nor it was not so. And God forbid it should be so," said Mr. Fox.
“I then dreamed that I rushed down the gallery, and just as I was going down the stairs, I saw you, Mr. Fox, coming up to the hall door, dragging after you a poor young lady, rich and beautiful.”
“It is not so, nor it was not so. And God forbid it should be so," said Mr. Fox.
“I rushed downstairs, just in time to hide myself behind a cask, when you, Mr. Fox, came in dragging the young lady by the arm. And, as you passed me, Mr. Fox, I thought I saw you try and get off her diamond ring, and when you could not, Mr. Fox, it seemed to me in my dream, that you out with your sword and hacked off the poor lady’s hand to get the ring.”
“It is not so, nor it was not so. And God forbid it should be so," said Mr. Fox, and was going to say something else as he rose from his seat, when Lady Mary cried out:
“But it is so, and it was so. Here’s hand and ring I have to show," and pulled out the lady’s hand from her dress, and pointed it straight at Mr. Fox.
At once her brothers and her friends drew their swords and cut Mr. Fox into a thousand pieces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBYA4j3qCiY |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Mr. Fox (John Pole) also (Bob Pegg) From: Dave the Gnome Date: 07 Nov 22 - 03:58 AM I have both Mr Fox and The Gypsy albums, as recorded by the band Mr Fox, on MP3. I can pop them on a share if anyone is interested. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Mr. Fox (John Pole) also (Bob Pegg) From: GUEST Date: 07 Nov 22 - 05:05 AM I believe the CD reissue of the two albums was one track short, due to running time. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Mr. Fox (John Pole) also (Bob Pegg) From: GUEST,Malcolm Date: 07 Nov 22 - 08:20 AM The Jacobs’ version above is actually quoted by Benedict in Much Ado About Nothing. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Mr. Fox (John Pole) also (Bob Pegg) From: GUEST,North Country Primitive Date: 10 Nov 22 - 03:59 PM I think there was a reissue of the albums as a 2 on 1 CD that criminally missed out Mendle, one of their best songs. However the Castle music reissue, Join Us in Our Game, remedied that: Discogs Where you can pick a copy up for £4.50 |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Mr. Fox (John Pole) also (Bob Pegg) From: GUEST,North Country Primitive Date: 10 Nov 22 - 04:02 PM Mendle not Mendel! Weird autocorrect… Apparently Carol Pegg was reading Mist Over Pendle, spoonerised it to Pissed Over Mendle, and wrote the song… |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Mr. Fox (John Pole) also (Bob Pegg) From: The Sandman Date: 17 Nov 22 - 03:37 PM I met John Pole last moth when i played Birmingham Folk club and he sang the song, I had an intersting chat with him, A FASCINATING SONG |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Mr. Fox (John Pole) also (Bob Pegg) From: Phil Cooper Date: 19 Nov 22 - 08:11 AM Here is a live version of Mr. Fox that I did with Margaret Nelson and Kate Early in 2007 for a Halloween concert. You may need to turn the volume up a bit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4DclSqY9qo |
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