Lyr Req: John John the grey goose is gone

17 Jul 02 - 04:01 AM (#749493)
Subject: John John the grey goose is gone
From: River

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?

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17 Jul 02 - 04:09 AM (#749496)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Nigel Parsons

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

Nigel

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17 Jul 02 - 04:11 AM (#749497)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Brian Hoskin

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

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18 Jul 02 - 09:50 AM (#750370)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Whistle Stop

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).

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18 Jul 02 - 09:52 AM (#750372)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Mrrzy

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...

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18 Jul 02 - 10:36 AM (#750407)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: DMcG

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

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18 Jul 02 - 11:57 AM (#750479)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Amos

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

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18 Jul 02 - 12:13 PM (#750495)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: beadie

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.

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18 Jul 02 - 12:20 PM (#750499)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: greg stephens

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).

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28 Jul 02 - 04:10 PM (#756005)
Subject: Lyr Add: EE-OH (variant of 'The Fox')
From: Nigel Parsons

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

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28 Jul 02 - 05:01 PM (#756027)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: GUEST,Jim McLean

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 .....

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28 Jul 02 - 05:10 PM (#756030)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Susan of DT

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

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28 Jul 02 - 06:52 PM (#756057)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE FOX AND THE GOOSE and THE FALSE FOX
From: GUEST

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.]

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28 Jul 02 - 07:08 PM (#756064)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: GUEST

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).

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29 Jul 02 - 02:19 AM (#756200)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: open mike

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/?

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29 Jul 02 - 04:03 AM (#756230)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Nigel Parsons

Again (until I get it right!) Aunt Rhody

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29 Jul 02 - 04:05 AM (#756231)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Haruo

Nigel, did you mean here?

Liland

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29 Jul 02 - 04:09 AM (#756233)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Haruo

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

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29 Jul 02 - 04:34 AM (#756238)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: SeanM

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

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19 Sep 04 - 12:46 PM (#1275636)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE FOX – NO MORE HUNTED (Nigel Parsons)
From: Nigel Parsons

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

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19 Sep 04 - 02:01 PM (#1275680)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: McGrath of Harlow

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

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19 Sep 04 - 02:47 PM (#1275720)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: Compton

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"

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19 Sep 04 - 02:57 PM (#1275732)
Subject: RE: John John the grey goose is gone
From: McGrath of Harlow

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

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12 Dec 10 - 12:19 PM (#3051822)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John John the grey goose is gone
From: GUEST,bernadette hull

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

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13 Dec 10 - 03:57 AM (#3052273)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John John the grey goose is gone
From: MGM·Lion

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~♫

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