THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT
(written by Edward Lear in 1871; a popular nonsense and children's song)
The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat
Pussy said to the Owl, You elegant fowl, how charmingly sweet you sing!
Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring? Said the Piggy, I will.
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
They took some honey and plenty of money wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above and sang to a small guitar,
O lovely Pussy, o Pussy my love, what a wonderful Pussy you are.
You are, you are, you are, you are, what a wonderful Pussy you are.
O let us be married, too long we have tarried, but what shall we do for a ring?
So they sailed away for a year and a day to the land where the bongtree grows,
And there in a wood a Piggywig stood, with a ring at the end of his nose.
His nose, his nose, his nose, his nose, with a ring at the end of his nose.
So they took it away and were married next day by the Turkey who lives on the hill.
And they dined upon mince and slices of quince which they ate with a runcible spoon,
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, they danced by the light of the moon.
The moon, the moon, the moon, the moon, they danced by the light of the moon.