Fox On The Run
Tom T. Hall Lyrics


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[Chorus]
She walks through the corn leadin' down to the river
Her hair shone like gold in the hot mornin' sun
She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
And left me to die like a fox on the run
Like a fox, like a fox, like a fox on the run

Now everybody knows the reason for my fall
A woman tempted me down in paradise hall
This woman tempted me and she took me for a ride
Like a lonely fox, boys, i need a place to hide

[Chorus]

Oh, we'll drink a glass of wine, boys, to purify our soul
We'll talk about the world and the friends we used to know
I see a string of girls who have put me on before
The game is nearly over and the hounds are at the door





[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

In Tom T. Hall's song Fox On The Run, the singer reflects on his past mistakes and the consequences that follow. The song opens with the description of a woman walking through a cornfield, shining like gold in the hot sun. She takes all the love a poor boy could give her, only to leave him behind, feeling like a fox on the run. The chorus repeats this phrase, emphasizing the sense of entrapment and fear that the singer feels.


The second verse reveals the reason for the singer's downfall. He was tempted by a woman down in paradise hall, and she took him for a ride. The metaphorical language of the fox on the run continues to signify his sense of being hunted and chased. He needs a place to hide, and the woman's betrayal has left him feeling alone and abandoned.


In the final verse, the singer reflects on the past, drinking wine and talking with friends about the world and the girls who have put him on before. However, the game is nearly over, and the hounds are at the door. The sense of impending doom and the idea of the hunters catching their prey mirrors the overall theme of the song.


Overall, Fox On The Run explores the themes of betrayal, temptation, and the consequences that follow. The imagery of the fox on the run creates a sense of urgency and danger, emphasizing the emotional turmoil that the singer feels.


Line by Line Meaning

She walks through the corn leadin' down to the river
She strolls through the cornfields and heads towards the river


Her hair shone like gold in the hot mornin' sun
Her hair, reflecting the early morning sun, reminded me of shimmering gold


She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
She accepted all the love I had to offer despite my financial poverty


And left me to die like a fox on the run
And abandoned me to face the consequences of my mistakes, just like a fox fleeing from the hounds


Like a fox, like a fox, like a fox on the run
Similar to a fox on the run, trying to escape danger


Now everybody knows the reason for my fall
Now my downfall is a widely known fact


A woman tempted me down in paradise hall
A woman lured me to a place of temptation in Paradise Hall


This woman tempted me and she took me for a ride
This lady seduced me and took me for a wild ride


Like a lonely fox, boys, I need a place to hide
Just like a lonely fox, I need somewhere to hide from the hunters


Oh, we'll drink a glass of wine, boys, to purify our soul
We'll consume wine to cleanse our souls


We'll talk about the world and the friends we used to know
We'll engage in conversation about the world and the friends we previously had


I see a string of girls who have put me on before
I see a series of ladies who previously took advantage of me


The game is nearly over and the hounds are at the door
Time is running out, and the danger is almost upon me


Like a fox, like a fox, like a fox on the run
Just like a fox fleeing danger, I must also run in order to survive




Lyrics ยฉ Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN FRANCIS CONNOLLY, STEPHEN NORMAN PRIEST, MICHAEL THOMAS TUCKER, ANDREW SCOTT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

CAROLVS

@Tony Hazzard Thank you. And as a songwriter my own self I confess to being a bit star struck.

Tom T was one of my best friends and paid you quite the compliment by recording this. As you know he recorded very few songs that he didnโ€™t write.

I do think, however, that the definitive bluegrass version (though not the first bluegrass version, which many do not realize) was the Country Gentlemen cut circa 1971. After Charlie Waller sang that song it stayed sung.

Anyway I think Iโ€™m qualified to say that Rocky Top and Fox On the Run are the two most requested bluegrass songs ever.

Take care and good to see youโ€™re still around. Iโ€™ve heard your name forever it seems and never dreamed Iโ€™d communicate with you. My heroes have always been songwriters.

Take care.



All comments from YouTube:

Don Howard

Rest in peace, Tom. You were a great singer and songwriter and all the stories you told in your songs will stand the test of time.

Joel Kuiper

This is so damn good I can't stand it. The lyrics in the chorus are magic. Brilliant.

Joram van der Vorst

Joel Kuiper agree, the whole album is a gem

Ld

@Joram van der Vorst brings my magical second wife back to me

joe mcmillan

Never a disappointment from Tom T Hall.

Ripdbtp OO

Never any punctuation either.

2009metisman

This is one of my all-time favorites, Tony, a great song!

ACcountryFan

R.I.P. Tom T. Hall.. "Fox on the Run" is one of my all time favorite recordings of yours. I first heard of Tom T. through his guest appearances on the television show, 'Nashville Now'. I also recall that Tom T. did commercials for Tyson chicken. This was in the mid 1980s. I was born in the mid 1970s so I was still a child...when I'd see him on television I'd always wonder why he held his guitar in such a unique way. I have several CDs of his and a 1995 box set. Almost all of his songs are online so I rarely play the CDs anymore.

roy wayne

When he dabued here in the sixties in north Hollywood he created quiet a stir! RIP you and Dixie.

Rene Stover

Tom and Marty robins both held their guitars that way!

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