Thomas Dibdin: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Fox and the Grapes

Thomas Dibdin

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

Thomas Dibdin: Collected Lyrics Text 1 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

A hungry fox one day did spy,

Fa la la, fa la la la la,

Some nice ripe grapes that hung fall high,

Fa la la, fa la la la, la;

And as they hung they seem'd to say,

To him who underneath did stay,

If you can reach me down you may,

Fa la la, fa la la la la.

Verse 2

The fox he jump'd and jump'd again,

Fa la la, fa la la la la.

And tried to reach them but in vain,

Fa la la, fa la la la la;

He smack'd his lips for near an hour,

But found the prize beyond his power,

And then he said, The grapes are sour!

Fa la la, fa la la la la.

Credits

Written by Thomas Dibdin

Words by Thomas Dibdin. 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 Grapes”

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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