Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Just Because This is Running Thru My Mind

The Tattooed Lady (Kingston Trio Lyrics)

We came to town to see that old tattooed lady.
She was a sight to see, tattooed from head to knee.
My uncle Ned was there. He came to gape and stare.
"I've never!" he declared, "Seen such a freak so fair."
And on her jaw was the Royal Flying Corp 

and on her back was the Union Jack, now could you ask for more?
All up and down her spine marched the Queen's own guards in line
and all around her hips sailed a fleet of battleships.
And over her left kidney was a bird's eye view of Sidney,
but what we liked best was upon her chest

my little home in Waikiki! (What did you say?)

Lyrics to "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" sung by Groucho Marx in the Marx Brothers movie "At the Circus"
[Interestingly, "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" was the favorite song of Jim Henson and was sung on the very first episode of "The Muppet Show." In addition, it was sung by muppet performers at his funeral.]


My life was wrapped around the circus.

Her name was Lydia.

I met her at the world's fair in 1900,
marked down from 1940.

Ah, Lydia.

She was the most glorious creature

Under the su-un.

Guiess. DuBarry. Garbo.

Rolled into one.

Oooooooh

Lydia oh Lydia, say have you met Lydia,

Lydia, the Tattooed Lady.

She has eyes that folks adore so,

And a torso even more so.

Lydia oh Lydia, that encyclopidia,

Oh Lydia the Queen of Tattoo.

On her back is the Battle of Waterloo.

Beside it the wreck of the Hesperus, too.

And proudly above waves the Red, White, and Blue,

You can learn a lot from Lydia.

La la la, la la la, la la la, la la la

When her robe is unfurled, she will show you the world,

If you step up and tell her where.

For a dime you can see Kankakee or Paris,

Or Washington crossing the Delaware.

La la la, la la la, la la la, la la la

Oh Lydia oh Lydia, say have you met Lydia,

Oh Lydia the Tattooed Lady

When her muscles start relaxin',

Up the hill comes Andrew Jackson

Lydia oh Lydia, that encyclopidia,

oh Lydia the queen of them all!

For two bits she will do a mazurka in jazz,

With a view of Niagara that nobody has.

And on a clear day you can see Alcatraz.

You can learn a lot from Lydia.

La la la, la la la, la la la, la la la

Come along and see Buff'lo Bill with his lasso.

Just a little classic by Mendel Picasso.

Here is Captain Spaulding exploring the Amazon.

Here's Godiva but with her pajamas on.

La la la, la la la, la la la, la la la

Here is Grover Whalen unveilin' the Trilon.

Over on the West Coast we have Treasure Island.

Here's Najinsky a-doin' the rhumba.

Here's her social security numba.

{whistles}La la la, la la la, la la la, la la la

Oh Lydia, oh Lydia that encyclopidia,

Oh Lydia the champ of them all.

She once swept an Admiral clear off his feet.

The ships on her hips made his heart skip a beat.

And now the old boy's in command of the fleet,

For he went and married Lydia.

I said Lydia

{He said Lydia}

They said Lydia

{We said Lydia}

La La!