The Ozark Mountain Da… Read Full Bio ↴Alternative tag The Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils started in 1971 in Springfield, Missouri in an attempt by the singer/songwriter members to have a vehicle in which to display and promote their music. At first, they played in bars and on porches. However, a record executive from A&M records discovered the band, and they began their recording path.
The original members of the band consisted of:
John Dillion - (vocals, guitars, mandolin, fiddle, piano, harp, autoharp, dulcimer, jawbone, percussion, keyboards)
Mike "Supe" Granda - (vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, mandolin, percussion, chicken squawks)
Buddy Brayfield - (vocals, oboe, piano, harpsichord, organ, percussion, electric piano)
Randle Chowning - (vocals, lead electric & acoustic guitars, harp, national steel, mandolin)
Steve Cash - (vocals, harp, percussion, harpsichord)
Larry Lee - (vocals, drums, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, piano, percussion, saw, saw & board)
The Daredevils peaked commercially in 1973-1974 and were best known for "Jackie Blue" and "If You Wanna Get To Heaven", which both got national coverage. However, there was a wide range of music that the Daredevils produced that was widely missed. The influences of the locale and the talents of the band members produced some unique sounds that could be related to "rockabilly" influences. There was also a good body of music that could be classified as country, rock, ballads, folk or blues.
The band changed throughout the years, but played prevantly throughout the '70s and gained and lost members during that time. To this day, there is still a loyal and avid fan following. There are discs still being released by the group, mostly of past performances in the '70s. In addition, many of the members are currently still working on other interests including Randle Chowning, Larry Lee ("Beyond Reach") Mike "Supe" Granda, and possibly others.
A reunion concert was held in Springfield, Missouri at the refurbished Gilloiz Theatre, in May of 2007. The three nights they performed were entirely sold out, weeks in advance of the concert.
The Fox
Ozark Mountain Daredevils Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was livin' in a sad old story
The moon didn't shine but the train was on time
And the fox looked down on the glory
The fox looked down on the glory
The mare went lame and the fox got blame
There were tracks leadin' down from the trestle
But no one spoke of the devil
No one spoke of the devil
The winter turned spring the valley turned green
The fox burned red in the sunrise
The hawk got shot the thief got caught
And the fox stood still on the hillside
The fox stood still on the hillside
Then you broke up and I broke down
We're all in the soul of the stranger
And I know now what you knew then
The fox just laughed at the danger
The fox just laughed at the danger
The opening line of "The Fox" suggests a change in the story. Previously, it was gloomy and melancholy, but now the rain has stopped and the sun has set, offering a glimmer of hope. The singer alludes to living in a sad story, perhaps referring to a difficult time in their life. However, the fox is present as a witness who looks down on the events with an outsider's perspective.
The next few lines weave a mystery surrounding the blame of the fox for the mare going lame. Tracks on the ground suggest that the fox may have had some part to play, but no one speaks of the devil. The ambiguity surrounding the situation leaves many interpretations open to the listener.
As spring arrives, the valley turns green, but the fox remains red in the sunrise. The hawk gets shot, the thief gets caught, yet the fox remains still and unscathed on the hillside. The last stanza talks about a relationship that ended, leaving the singer feeling like a stranger in their own life. They come to realize that the fox represents a sense of detachment or humor in the face of danger.
Line by Line Meaning
The rain let up when the sun went down
The rain stopped pouring down as soon as the sun disappeared.
I was livin' in a sad old story
My life was full of unfortunate events and I couldn't escape from it.
The moon didn't shine but the train was on time
Despite the absence of moonlight, the train arrived on schedule.
And the fox looked down on the glory
The fox gazed down upon the greatness of the world from its vantage point.
The mare went lame and the fox got blame
The horse got injured and the fox was unfairly accused of causing it.
There were tracks leadin' down from the trestle
There were footprints indicating someone had walked across the bridge.
Then someone said that the fox was dead
Someone spread the rumor that the fox had died.
But no one spoke of the devil
Nobody mentioned anything sinister or evil that might be behind the rumor.
The winter turned spring the valley turned green
As the winter season ended and spring approached, the valley became lush and verdant.
The fox burned red in the sunrise
The fox glowed red in the light of the rising sun.
The hawk got shot the thief got caught
The hawk was killed and the thief was apprehended.
And the fox stood still on the hillside
The fox remained motionless on top of the hill.
Then you broke up and I broke down
You and I ended our relationship and I suffered emotionally.
We're all in the soul of the stranger
We are strangers to each other, even though we may have been close at one time.
And I know now what you knew then
I have finally come to understand what you understood previously.
The fox just laughed at the danger
The fox was not afraid of the risk and found it amusing.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVE CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind