The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
On the day the duck was born
The fox was watching all along he said
â??Land Ho!â?? when he saw the duck
â??Land Ho!â?? and the duck saw him too
â??Shiny Pretty Foxâ?? thought the duck
The duck came up onto the land the
Fox was watching and he just laughed
â??I could show you some shiny tricksâ?? he said
â??Come along we'll get our kicks,â?? he said
â??Land Ho!â?? for shiny tricks
â??Land Ho!â?? for me
â??Oh fox! Is this love? Can you tell me? What is love?â??
That good looking fox only knew one trick
He could break hearts just lickety-split
The duck knew this game she had to quit
And her own pond she was headed to quick
â??I'll go, I'll go and there's no looking backâ??
Goodbye little fox
Goodbye my fox
The fox was watching all along he said
â??Land Ho!â?? when he saw the duck
â??Land Ho!â?? and the duck saw him too
â??Shiny Pretty Foxâ?? thought the duck
The duck came up onto the land the
Fox was watching and he just laughed
â??I could show you some shiny tricksâ?? he said
â??Come along we'll get our kicks,â?? he said
â??Land Ho!â?? for shiny tricks
â??Land Ho!â?? for me
â??Oh fox! Is this love? Can you tell me? What is love?â??
That good looking fox only knew one trick
He could break hearts just lickety-split
The duck knew this game she had to quit
And her own pond she was headed to quick
â??I'll go, I'll go and there's no looking backâ??
Goodbye little fox
Goodbye my fox
Lyrics submitted by ode2jeremy
The Fox Lyrics as written by Corin Lisa Tucker Carrie Rachel Brownstein
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Basically, the duck's first real relationship is with a kind of edgy guy. She's maybe attracted to him because he's dangerous. She falls in love with him, but she knows that he's a jerk and will probably end up hurting her, so she makes herself leave. Even though she makes the right decision, it's still kind of sad because she loves him. At least, that's what I think. It's a neat song.
The fox: an egoistic personality who just sees the duck as his next prey. The duck: a naive personality fascinated by the outer shell of this good lookin fox. The story: the fox tries to seduce that naive duck lady and in the beginning she doesnt realize the fox's true intention and follows his call. But fortunately before the fox could eat the duck//break her heart she realizes and leaves for good.
A love affair between a duck and a fox? Don't foxes usually eat ducks? Of course it's metaphor. I wonder who's the fox and who's the duck....Anyone have any insight?
Kill Rock Stars is the Fox, Sleater-Kinney is the Duck... just my theory. (They were an indie label who "only knew one trick," when they promised so much more.)
some of the best vibrato i have ever heard.
I agree with mockingsmile. And Yes, foxes do eat ducks. I also think the song sets the tone for the whole album- look out! there's trouble lurking here, don't assume you're safe.
God, Corin sounds awesome on this song. She is such a siren, in every sense of the word.
It is the song- version of the "Tales of Jemima Puddle Duck" by Beatrix Potter. Everybody heard it in his childhood!
I'm fairly certain this song, which is the first track from The Woods, is talking about going from the smallest, indiest label (Kill Rock Stars) that they'd been on for every album up to that point, to a (by comparison) much bigger, flashier label in Sub Pop -- still an indie label, but one with a bigger name and possibly the potential to get SK into a wider public consciousness. Probably scary, going from a small label where you know everyone there to a larger, slicker operation. A big chance, leaving their comfort zone, but one they felt they had to take.