Thomas Ravenscroft: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

To-morrow the Fox will come to Town

Thomas Ravenscroft

“To-morrow the Fox will come to Town” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

Thomas Ravenscroft: 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

To-morrow the Fox will come to town;

Watch! watch! watch him well!

To-morrow the Fox will come to town;

Oh, neighbours, watch him well!

I must desire you, neighbours all,

To halloo the Fox out of the hall,

And cry as loud as you can call,

Verse 2

Whoop! whoop! whoop! whoop! whoop!

And cry as loud as you can call;

Oh, watch him neighbours well!

Verse 3

He'll steal the hen out of the pen;

Watch! watch! watch him well:

He'll steel the hen out of the pen;

Oh, neighbours, watch him well!

I must desire, &c.

Verse 4

He'll steal the duck out of the brook;

Watch! watch! &c.

Verse 5

He'll steal the lamb from near the dam;

Watch! watch! &c.

Credits

Written by Thomas Ravenscroft

Words by Thomas Ravenscroft. 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), “To-morrow the Fox will come to Town”

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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