Victoria Anderson-Throop Poet Light Verse

The Fox Down the Lane Drinking Song

THE FOX DOWN THE LANE
(based on a song I heard in Canterbury, England in 2006)

Here’s health to the boss
Who pays for this feast
And we wish he may find
A soft bed to rest.
May all his deeds prosper
That he may invest
For then we have work
And sweet maids to kiss
Drink, lads, drink
Take care not to spill
For if you do, you must drink two--
The boss pays the bill

Today’s work has ended
And supper is past
Here’s Health to the mistress
And no empty glass.
She’s a good woman
She’s prepared us good cheer
Heads up my brave lads
And drink all your beer
Drink, my lads, drink
This time you drink three
The longer we drink
The happier we’ll be.

In yon green wood there lies an old fox
Close by his den you may catch him or not
Ten thousand to one, you catch him or not
His beard and his bush are all of one color (singer drinks the glass of his neighbor’s beer)
Sorry my friend, that your glass is not fuller
Tis down the red lane, tis down the red lane
So merrily hunt the fox down the red lane.

(based on an old English drinking song)

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Darren Watson February 9, 2014 at 1:04 PM I loved this . I live in a tiny village named Wentbridge . Many of the fox hunts started here until fox hunting was banned in our country .We also have many very old real ale pubs . I'll look out for the original version hung on the wall of one of those pubs.