Henry Formby: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Fox and the Crow

Henry Formby

“The Fox and the Crow” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

Henry Formby: Collected Lyrics Text 6 1853 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from A First Series of Hymns and Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

In a dairy one day

There had ventured to stray

A prying and pilfering crow,

To get what she could,

And fly off to the wood,

To her nest on the top of a bough.

Verse 2

There looking about,

She soon spied out

A newly cut slice from a cheese;

"Ah, ah, now," said she,

"This will just do for me

So away she flew off with her prize.

Verse 3

A Fox who stood by,

And had noticed her fly,

Thought, "Come, Mistress Crow, let me see!

For a Crow this may do,

But I'm fond of cheese too!"

So he came and stood under the tree.

Verse 4

"Good day, Mistress Crow;

'Tis a long time ago

Since friends like ourselves have been found;

Old friends, when they meet,

One another should greet;"

But the Crow did not care to look round.

Verse 5

"'Tis true years have past

Since the time we met last,

But your good looks are just what they were;

The silvery tone

Of your sweet voice alone

Still sounds like a charm in mine ear.

Verse 6

Oh, how I would fain

Once to hear it again!"

Thought the Crow, we should all try to please;

I will just sing one note,—

So she open'd her throat;

When the Fox ran away with her cheese.

Credits

Written by Henry Formby

Words by Henry Formby. Historical text published in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853), “The Fox and the Crow”

Every text in this 1853 collection is by Henry Formby (1816-1884), who died more than 140 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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