As we were out a-hunting
one morning in the spring
both hounds and horses running well
made the hills and the valleys ring
But to our great misfortune
no fox there could be found
and our huntsmen cursed and swore but still
no fox moved over the ground
And upspoke our master huntsman
at the head of hounds rode he
well we have ridden for a full three hours
but no fox have we seen
And there is strength still in me
and i will have my chase
and if only the devil himself'd come by
we'd run him such a race"
Well then there sprang like lightening
a fox from out of his hole
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 fields
they chased him down to the riverbank
but never would he yield
And he's jumped into the water
and he's swam to the other side
and he's laughed so hard that the greenwood shook
and then he's turned to the hunt and cried:
"ride on my gallant huntsmen when must i come again?
oh never shall you want for a fox to chase all over the plain
and when your need is greatest, just call upon my name
and i will come and you shall have the best of sport and game"
Well the men looked up in wonder
all the hounds run back to hide
for the fox had changed to the devil himself
as he stood on the other side
And the men, the hounds and horses
went flying back to town
and hot on their heels come a little black fox
laughing as he ran
"ride on my gallant huntsmen when must i come again?
for never shall you want for a fox to chase all over the glen
and when your need is greatest, just call upon my name
and i will come and you shall have the best of sportin' again"