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!"
