Lizukha

Run on little fox, cunning fox, red fox
Run on through the trees through the woods all night
Leave my love sweet love one love true love
To come home sweet home by the day’s first light
Winter night falls on the forest
Snow and silence, nothing stirs
Moonlight catches two bright eyes
A flash of white-tipped tail between the firs
Young man riding through the forest
Galloping on through the night
Man and horse approach the clearing
Suddenly the horse rears up in fright
Run on little fox, cunning fox, red fox
Run on through the trees through the woods all night
Leave my love sweet love one love true love
To come home sweet home by the day’s first light
Forest maiden stands before him
Loose long hair of flaming red
Swirling skirts the hue of cherries
Silken cloak of finest crimson thread
Young man rears the horse to standstill
Mesmerised by eyes so bright
Smells the honey on her lips
She smiles — and her teeth are oh so white…
Run on little fox, cunning fox, red fox
Run on through the trees through the woods all night
Leave my love sweet love one love true love
To come home sweet home by the day’s first light
She beckons him with bone-white fingers
He reaches out, lost in desire
Moonlight catches on his ring
He drops his hand, as if it is on fire
Young man knows now who he’s seeing
(Lizhukha)
Knows this is no maiden fair
(Krasnaya)
Knows the red fox from the stories
(Umnaya malenkaya lyssa)
Lizhukha, drawing young men to her lair
Run on little fox, cunning fox, red fox
Run on through the trees through the woods all night
Leave my love sweet love one love true love
To come home sweet home by the day’s first light
One hand reaches for his quiver
(Run on little fox, cunning fox, red fox)
One hand reaches for his bow
(Run on through the trees through the woods all night)
Moon slinks back behind a cloud
Comes back out but all that’s left
(Leave my love sweet love one love true love)
Is a track of fox prints
(Come home, come home)
Through the snow
(Come home…)
Run on little fox, cunning fox, red fox
(Lizukha)
Run on through the trees through the woods all night
(Krasnaya)
Leave my love sweet love one love true love
(Umnaya malenkaya lyssa)
To come home sweet home by the day’s first light
Winter dawn creeps on the forest
Sun is rising, pale moon gone
No sign of fox, no sign of maiden
Sound of hooves as horse and man ride on
Young man rides into the sunlight
Humble cottage stands alone
He finds his true love fast asleep
Kisses her lips, and knows that he is home…
Lizhukhshka, krasnaya, umnaya malenkaya lyssa