The Fox

Words and Music by :  Paul Campbell

Recorded by Harry Belafonte
Recording date: April 22, 1954 (14:00-18:00)
Master number: E4VB 3920-2
Playing time: 2:45
Producer: Henri Rene
Alan Greene: leader; Mac Ceppos: contractor/violin; Millard Thomas: guitar; Norman Keenan: bass; Nathan Foodman: drums: William Rodriguez: drums; Buster Davis: piano; Anthony Miranda: french horn; James DeMeo: reeds; Stanley Webbs: reeds; Maurice Brown: cello; Alan Shulman: cello; Howard Kay: viola; Isidore Zir: viola; Harry Melinkoff: violin; Raoul Poliakin: violin; David Sackson: violin; Sylvan Shulman: violin; Zelly Smirnoff: violin; Robert Cole, Carter Farriss, Joan Gilbert, Jay Harnick, Jane Martin, Rudy Williams, Lois Winters and Miriam Workman: vocal chorus

78 : 20-6782
45 : 47-6782, 20004, EPA-559, SPD-24, 3-20096,
LP : LSP1022, TA1015, SM3925, MP666001, BTA12596, 430.213, 32001, CR046, STAR-103, RCS3235, NA-514,
CD: CD97032, GOLD-072, MARC1054, 74321-62230-2, BCD16262, GSS5336,  GSS-5381, 8.120799, RGMCD006


Also recorded by:
The Brothers Four CS8270
Julie Felix LK4820    
Burl Ives SLP1, DL5080, DL8248, DL4390, CDL8008, JAS3524
Gordon Lightfoot      
Odetta  TLP1025, TLP1052, AVRS-9036, LSP3457,
Milt Okun BL1203
Pete Seeger FWX-52321    
Roger Whittaker RCA ANL1-1405, SRS5022  

Lyrics:

The fox went out to the chase one night
Prayed to the moon to give him light
He had many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o, town-o town-o,
Many a mile to go that night before he reached the town
Many a mile to go that night before he reached the town

He ran 'til he came to a great big pen
Where the ducks and the geese were kept there in
Said a couple of you gonna grease my chin
Before I leave this town o, town o, town o
Couple of you gonna grease my chin before I leave this town
Couple of you gonna grease my chin before I leave this town

He grabbed the grey goose by the neck
Throwed a duck across his back
He didn't amind with the quack, quack quack
And the legs all dang-ling down-o, down-o, down-o
Didn't amind with the quack, quack quack
And the legs all dang-ling down-o, down-o, down-o
Didn't amind with the quack, quack quack
And the legs all dang-ling down-o, down-o, down-o

Old mother Flipper Flapper jumped out of bed
Out of the window she cocked her head
Cryin' John, John the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o
John, John the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o
John, John the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o

Well, the fox he came to his own den
There were the little ones, eight, nine, ten
Saying Daddy you better go back again
'Cause it must be a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o
Saying Daddy you better go back again
'Cause it must be a mighty fine town
Saying Daddy you better go back again
'Cause it must be a mighty fine town

Well, the fox and his wife without any strife
Cut up the goose with a carving knife
They never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones-o, bones-o, bones-o
Never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones
Never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones