Day 11: The Fox Jumps Over The Parson's Gate

Album cover for The Fox Jumps Over The Parson's Gate

Song Information

A strange little song, that originated as a Victorian parlour song that was then printed as a picture book by Randolph Caldecott in 1883. According to the liner notes on the album this comes from, Bellamy said “The tune came from me mum”

Caldecott was originally from Chester but while working at the Manchester & Salford Bank attended night school at the Manchester School of Art - before being put in touch with the art editor for London Society and eventually moving to London to be a full time artist. Caldecott is most notable for his illustrations of children's book, and for 8 years there were two books of his illustrations available for a mere shilling.

I first heard this sung by Fay Hield and the Hurricane Party, on the album Orfeo - when that album was released I think I had this track on repeat for roughly a week, much to the dismay of my housemates.

Listen to the Song

Lyrics

The huntsman blows his horn in the morn,

And folks go hunting, oh!

And folks all hunting go.

But all my fancy dwells on Nancy

So I’ll sing, Tally-ho!, my boys,

So I’ll sing, Tally-ho!

The fox jumps over the Parson’s gate,

The hounds all after him go,

Yes the hounds all after him go.

But all my fancy dwells on Nancy

So I’ll sing, Tally-ho!, my boys,

So I’ll sing, Tally-ho!

The parson he had a pair to wed

When the hounds came full in view;

He just tossed his surplice over his head,

And bid them all adieu!

He just tossed his surplice over his head,

And bid them all adieu!

But all my fancy dwells on Nancy

So I’ll sing, Tally-ho!, my boys,

So I’ll sing, Tally-ho!

Now never despise the soldier lad

Though his station be but low,

His station be but low,

Though his station be but low.

For all his fancy dwells on Nancy

So I’ll sing, Tally-ho!, my boys,

So I’ll sing, Tally-ho!

Now pass the can around, my boys;

For we must homewards go,

For we must homewards go.

And if you ask me of this song

The reason for to show,

I say, I don’t exactly know-ow-ow,

I don’t exactly know.

But all my fancy dwells on Nancy

So I’ll sing, Tally-ho!, my boys,

So I’ll sing, Tally-ho!