The fox

I sing an old song to Emery as her nightly lullaby that my mom sang to me, her mom sang to her, and possibly her mom sang to her. I'm not sure how far back it goes. Here are the lyrics my family sings, maybe they are familiar:

Oh the fox went out one chilly night He prayed yo the moon to give him light He had many miles to go that night before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o He had many miles to go that night Before he reached the town-o He crept into the farmers pen Where the chicken and geese were kept therein He said, "one of you is gonna grease my chin Before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o Yes one of you is gonna grease my chin Before I leave this town-o" He grabbed the old gray goose round the neck The little ones he threw across his back He didn't mind the quack quack quack Or the legs all danglin down-o, down-o, down-o He didn't mind the quack quack quack Or the legs all danglin down-o The old farmer's wife she jumped outta bed She ran to The window, poked out her head She said "John, John, the gray goose is gone And the fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o" She said "John, John, the gray goose is gone And the fox is on the town-o" Old John he ran to the top of the hill He blew his horn both loud and shrill The fox said I better flee with my kill Cuz they'll soon be on my trail-o, trail-o,trail-o The fox said I better flee with my kill Cuz they'll soon be on my trail-o That old fox he crept in to his den Where he counted his little ones 8, 9, 10 They said, "daddy you better go back again Cuz it looks like a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o" They said, "daddy you better go back again Cuz it looks like a mighty fine town-o" That old fox and his wife without any strife Cut up that goose with a fork and a knife They'd never had such a supper in their life And the little ones chewed on the bones-o, bones-o, bones-o They'd never had such a supper in their life And the little ones chewed on the bones-o

It's a long one. Lately Gavin has taken a liking to this song and wanted to learn it. He also found some chords online and accompanies on the guitar now. It's a catchy tune and I could tell it was stuck in his head often because he would randomly ask me questions like, "Why are they quacking? CHicken and geese don't quack." (online versions say ducks and geese which admittedly makes more sense). Or "farms aren't in towns. Why is the fox going into a town if he's going to a farm? And why do the babies say to go back to the town?" Or "so do the baby foxes eat the goose too or do they just chew on the bones?" Gavin has totally over-analyzed every verse in this song. Maybe it's because I grew up hearing it, or maybe its because he's a man and needs things to make sense or be fixed, but I've never even thought about the things he questions. It makes me chuckle every time I sing it now.