Well as we were out a hunting
One morning in the spring
Both hounds and horses were running well
Made the hills and the valleys ring
But to our great misfortune
No fox there could be found
Our huntsmen cursed and swore but still
No fox moved over the ground
And upspoke our master huntsman
At the head of the hounds rode he
"Well we have ridden for a good three hours
But no fox have we seen
"And there is strength in me
And I will have my chase
And if only the Devil himself came by
We'd run him such a race"
And then up there sprung like lightening
A fox from out of his hole
And his fur was the color of a starless night
And his eyes like burning coals
And they chased him over the valley
And they chased him over the field
And they chased him down to the riverbank
But never would he yield
And he's jumped into the water
and he's swum to the other side
And he's laughed so hard that the greenwood shook
And then he's turned to the huntsmen and cried
"Ride on my gallant huntsmen when must I come again?
Oh never shall you want for a fox to chase all o'er the plain
And when your need is greatest, just call upon My Name
I will come and you shall have the best of sport and game"
And the men looked up in wonder
And the hounds ran back to hide
For the fox had changed to the Devil himself
Where he stood on the other side
And the men, the hounds and horses
Went flying back to town
And hard on their heels came a small black fox
Laughing as he cried
"Ride on my gallant huntsmen when must I come again?
Oh never shall you want for a fox to chase all o'er the plain
And when your need is greatest, just call upon My Name
I will come and you shall have the best of sport and game"
-
recorded by Chris Foster
