The Gay Gondolierby Michael Flanders and Donald Swann |
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La la la la la la la la la la la la la laro Gondolier, he he he he, ha ha ha ha A gondola owner in Venice I had been since the age of discretion, thirteen But today gondoliering in Venice Is a most overcrowded profession You can't swing a cat sir around the piazza The Palace of Doges is full of old fogies And by the San Marco there's nowhere to park-o It wasn't for me So I went out to sea And caused a commotion by crossing the ocean Becoming the only original gondolier, gondolier On the Manchester Ship Canal On board my gondola I serve Coca-Cola In flagons which once held Chianti And for five bob a night I would sing or recite From a bowdlerised version of Dante The Transport Commission gave me their permission, One gondola, canal or Thamesis And when I made obeisance they threw in my licence For vino consumed on the premises When I sing unsoberly La donna è mobile People in houseboats complain Of my gay barcarolle So I stick in my pole And sing it again and again La la la la la la la la la la la la la laro Gondolier, he he he he ha ha ha A gay gondolier as I shoot every weir And I shout as I sit in Venezia O who wants to fondle a girl in my gondola Up come the river policia Oh, bacciare inside the cabina The Englishman travels in style With a young senorita My gondolin meter Is clicking up three-pence a mile So, tied to a jetty I eat my spaghetti And drink 'til I'm properly plastered Shouting "bog off on starches" to bargees on barges Who shouting reply "you're a *****" It's a lie For it's ever so much fun you will find On my Anglo-Venetian blind. |
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The words
have been transcribed from a record and there are likely to be errors.
If anyone can correct these I would be grateful. My thanks to the
members of the Mudcat Discussion Forum who helped in the transcription of this song. |
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