The Fox went out on a chilly night

A perfect read for this time of year especially, Peter Spier brings this folk song to life in his Caldecott Honor book THE FOX went out on a chilly night (c. 1961).  It's a circle of life song not at all for the fainthearted.

After the lively, amusing reading, I recommend listening to Nickel Creek's adaption.  You won't at all be disappointed!

Debra and Jessica, this one is especially dedicated to your families, with love!  I can't listen to this song (or read this book) without thinking of "Mimi" singing it to her children and then her grandchildren, as well as her Shanghai and Horizon audiences.

The fox went out on a chilly night,
And he prayed to the moon to give him light,
For he'd many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o,
For he'd many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o.

He ran 'til he came to the farmer's bin,
Where the ducks and the geese were kept therein
"A couple of you will grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o
A couple of you will grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o."

He grabbed a grey goose by the neck,
Then he swung a little one over his back
And he didn't mind their quack, quack, quack
Or their legs all dangling down-o, down-o, down-o
He didn't mind the quack, quack, quack
Or their legs all dangling down-o.

Old Mother Giggle-Gaggle jumped out of bed
Out of the window she popped her head
Crying, "John, John, the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o
Crying, "John, John the grey goose is gone
And the fox is on the town-o.

So John, he ran to the top of the hill,
Blew his horn both loud and shrill;
The fox, he said, "I better go on with my kill
Or they'll soon be on my tail-o, tail-o, tail-o."
The fox, he said, "I better go on with my kill
Or they'll soon be on my trail-o."

He ran till he came to his nice warm den
There were the little ones eight, nine, ten
Saying, "Daddy, Daddy, better go back again
For it must be a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o."
Saying, "Daddy, Daddy, better go back again for it
Must be a mighty fine town-o."

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