Lyr Req: John John the grey goose is gone

Subject: John John the grey goose is gone
From: River
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 04:01 AM

I have a dim recollection of this song from my childhood. The full lyrics of the chorus are: John John the grey goose is gone And the little ones chewed on the bones'o bones'o, bones'o. John John the grey goose is gone And the little ones chewed on the bones'o. The melody is still firmly affixed in my mind but who did it and what are the rest of the lyrics?

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 04:09 AM

"The Fox went out on a chilly night" It's in the DT Click Here

Nigel

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 04:11 AM

There are a number of variants of the song in the database, see for instance here

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 09:50 AM

I grew up with my Dad singing this song to me. Recently, Nickel Creek has recorded an outstanding version of it on their self-titled debut CD (which is a great piece of work from a very talented group, especially considering their youth).

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 09:52 AM

I have a great version of this by Harry Belafonte, too. Fox went out on a chase one night... I always liked old Mother flipperflopper...

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: DMcG
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 10:36 AM

There's an excellent version by The Young Tradition, now available of re-issued CD

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Amos
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 11:57 AM

Actually, you have blended lines from two separate verses -- the "John, John" verse ends with "and the fox is on the town-o", while the line about chewing on the bones-o is from a later verse (The fox and his wife without any strife, cut up the goose with as carving knife...).

This is an old standard for kids, who love the 'quack quack quack' bit.

A

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: beadie
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 12:13 PM

Burl Ives recorded the version that I heard first, but it was the Smothers' Brothers (the one where Tommy goes nuts with the "QUACK QUACK QUACK" line right in the middle of Dicky's solo) that really sticks in the mind.

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 12:20 PM

this is one of the few traditional songs I can be sure my children have buried deep in their minds, they must have requested it a thousand times at bedtime. Quack quack quack is guaranteed a laugh everytime. The other most popular request, surprisingly, was Captain Kidd.Always went well at bath time with plastic boats(and ducks).

Subject: Lyr Add: EE-OH (variant of 'The Fox')
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 04:10 PM

Leafing through an old book I found yet another variation. possibly worth noting, as it is listed as "anon." in 1935, so pre-dates that. It is one of the versions where the fox loses, but that would have been the way prior to Disney's humanising efforts on behalf of animals.

EE-OH
(anon.)



The fox and his wife they had a great strife,
They never eat mustard in all their whole life;
They eat their meat without fork or knife,
And lov'd to be picking a bone, ee-oh!

The fox jumped up on a moonlight night;
The stars they were shining, and all things bright;
"Oho!" said the fox, "it's a very fine night,
For me to go through the town, ee-oh!"

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

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 bone, ee-oh!"

The grey goose she ran round the farmer's stack,
"Oh, ho!" said the fox, "you are plump and fat;
You'll grease my beard and ride on my back,
From this unto yonder wee town, ee-oh!"

The farmer's wife she jumped out of bed,
And out of the window she popped her head!
"Oh, husband! oh, husband! The geese are all dead,
For the fox has been through the town, ee-oh!"

The farmer he loaded his pistol with lead,
And shot the old rogue of a fox through the head;
"Ah, ha!" said the farmer, "I think you're quite dead;
And no more you'll trouble the town, ee-oh!"
^^

Notes: This version found in "The Children's Wonder Book" editors John R Crossland and J M Parrish. The book is a collection of poetry and stories for children, and published by "Odhams Press Ltd Long Acre, London WC2" with a copyright date of 1933

NP

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: GUEST,Jim McLean
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 05:01 PM

There's a Scottish version called The Tod (Scottish for the fox)

It starts E quo the tod it's a braw bricht nicht, The winds in the west and the mune shines bright, The wind's in the west and the mune shines bricht An' Ah'll awa' tae the toon o

Much more .....

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Susan of DT
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 05:10 PM

Search for foxout* to see 5 versions of the song. Jim - Let's see that Scots version.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE TOD (Scots version of 'The Fox')
From: GUEST,Jim McLean
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 06:15 PM

Here goes!

THE TOD (FOX)

"Eh", quo the tod, "It's a braw, licht nicht,
The win's in the wast an' the mune shines bricht.
The win's in the wast an' the mune shines bricht
An Ah'll awa' tae the toon, oh.

I was doon amang yon shepherd's scroggs
I'd like tae beeen worrit by his dogs,
But, by my sooth, I minded his hogs
The nicht Ah cam tae the toon, oh."

He's taen the grey goose by the green sleeve
"Eh ye auld witch! nae langer sall ye live,
Your flesh is tender, your bones I maun prieve
For that Ah cam tae the toon, oh."

Up gat the auld wife oot o' her bed
An' oot o' the windae she shot her auld head,
"Eh, gudeman, the grey goose is dead,
An' the tod's been in the toon, oh".

Cheers,
Jim McLean

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

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FOX AND THE GOOSE and THE FALSE FOX
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 06:52 PM

The only song that I know of that the rivals the "Riddle Song" (I gave my love a cherry) for age.

[Robbins' Secular Lyrics, 1955]

THE FOX AND THE GOOSE [14th or 15th century, i.e., before 1500]

'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: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 02 - 07:08 PM

For printed copies of the 19th century search on the Bodleian Ballads website for 'Fox came', and the Lester Levy sheet music collection for 'fox' and 'ran' (the latter with music).

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: open mike
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 02:19 AM

there is another song with a goose-- Aunt Rhody=="Go tell aunt Rhody. Go tell aunt Rhody, Go tell aunt Rhody, thed old grey goose is dead. He died in the millpond......repeat standing on his head... anyone else have any more on this one/?

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 03:59 AM

Open Mike: it's in the DT Here

Nigel

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 04:03 AM

Again (until I get it right!) Aunt Rhody

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Haruo
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 04:05 AM

Nigel, did you mean here?

Liland

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Haruo
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 04:09 AM

Like Whistle Stop, I grew up with my Dad singing "The Fox" to me (and accompanying himself on our Hammond electric organ). Here's his version as I recall it.

Liland

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: SeanM
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 04:34 AM

Just picked up the Nickle Creek album a while back and REALLY am impressed by it. Can't quite figure out how they were being marketed as the new WunderKinde of Country music - not that I wouldn't love to see them get as much fame and recognition as possible (Anyone doing Robert Burns, an instrumental 'inspired' by the original Lord of the Rings books, AND trad. folk on a CD is doing jes' fine by me).

Alison Krause (sp? It's late and I'm lazy) does production on it as well. Only really noticeable on a few VERY 'Alison' songs, but mostly it seems that the group shines through on their own work.

M

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FOX – NO MORE HUNTED (Nigel Parsons)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 12:46 PM

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

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 02:01 PM

For a more cheerful parody see here - Old Daddy Town Fox

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Compton
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 02:47 PM

Am I right, being an ancient british mudcatter, that they used to play a version by Jimmy Rogers (of Engish Country Gardens fame) on Saturday morning "Children's Favourites"

Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 02:57 PM

They frequently played the Burl Ives record, I can't remember a Jimmy Rogers version on the programme.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John John the grey goose is gone
From: GUEST,bernadette hull
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 12:19 PM

oh john , john , the grey goose has gone and the fox has gone off with my din oh din o
John went up to the top of the hill
and blew a blast both loud and shrill
said the fox that is good music but i've still got my din o din o

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John John the grey goose is gone
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 03:57 AM

Perhaps worth stressing that "town" in this song is used in the old sense of "farm" ~~ still I think surviving in parts of Scotland as "toon". Nothing ∴ to do with more recent phenomenon of the 'urban fox'.

♫~Michael~♫