The Fox (folk song)


The Fox is a traditional folk song from England. It is also the subject of at least two picture books, The Fox Went out on a Chilly Night: An Old Song, illustrated by Peter Spier and Fox Went out on a Chilly Night, by Wendy Watson. The earliest version of the song was a Middle English poem, dating from the 15th century, found in the British Museum.

Modern lyrics

Typical lyrics are as follows:

History

The two earliest versions both date from the fifteenth century, and are written in Middle English. The first, usually called "The Fox and the Goose", goes as follows:
The second, called "The False Fox", is as follows:
In Joseph Ritson's Gammer Gurton's Garland, the song is recorded thus:

Modern covers

"The Fox" has been recorded or covered by:
;1950s
;1960s
;1970s
;1980s
  • Tim Hart, as "A Fox Jumped Up" on the album The Drunken Sailor and other Kids Favourites
  • Fred Penner, on Special Delivery, LP, later reissued as Ebeneezer Sneezer,, CD
  • A cartoon made by Weston Woods Studios
  • Benjamin Luxon and Bill Crofut, on the album Simple Gifts
;1990s
;2000s
;2010s