A                                            G
As we were out a-hunting, one morning in the spring
A                       Am  Em  F                            G       A
Both hounds and horses, running well, made the hills and the valleys ring
A                                                   G
But to our great misfortune, no fox there could be found
A                       Am    Em  F                  G        A
Our huntsmen cursed and swore but still no fox moved over the ground

[Verse]
A                                                   G
And up spoke our master huntsman, the master of the chase
A                     Am   Em   F                G      A
"If only the Devil himself come by, we'd run him such a race!"
A                                                        G
And up there sprung like lightning a fox from out of his hole
A                           Am  Em   F                   G            A
His fur was the colour of a starless night, and his eyes like burning coals

[Verse]
A                                                                 G
And they chased him over the valley, and they chased him over the fields;
A                           Am Em F               G        A
They chased him down to the river bank, but never would he yield
A                                                    G
And he jumped into the water, and he's swum to the other side
A                               Am    Em    F
And he laughed so loud that the green woods shook
                      G                 A
Then he turned to the huntsmen and he's cried:

[Chorus]
A                                               G
"Ride on, my gallant huntsmen! When must I come again?
A                    Am   Em    F                G        A
For you should never want for a fox to chase all over the glen
A                                                 G
And when your need is greatest, just call upon my name
A                    Am  Em    F                G         A
And I will come, and you shall have the best of sport and game!"

[Verse]
A                                                          G
And the men looked up in wonder and the hounds run back to hide
A                              Am    Em    F                         G     A
For the fox, it changed to the Devil himself where he stood on the other side
A                                                       G
And the men, the hounds, the horses went flying back to town
A                              Am     Em    F             G     A
And hard on their heels come a little black fox, laughing as he ran

[Chorus]
A                                               G
"Ride on, my gallant huntsmen! When must I come again?
A                    Am   Em    F                G        A
For you should never want for a fox to chase all over the glen
A                                                 G
And when your need is greatest, just call upon my name
A                    Am  Em    F                G         A
And I will come, and you shall have the best of sport and game!"