The Gay Gondolier by Flanders and Swann and sung by Ian Wallace can be heard here. As it is about the Manchester Ship Canal I am wanting to add the lyrics to my here website. I have transcribed most of the words but cannot make out the rest. Any help or corrections welcome. Perhaps someone has the lyrics in an old book? Have I got the correct number of la's?

La la la la la la la la la la la la la laro
Gondolier, he he he, 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 Dodges is full of old podges
And by the St 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 sell 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 Thames is
And when I had reservations they threw in a licence
For vino consumed on the premises
When I sing and soberly La donna è mobile
People in houseboats complain
Of my gay baccarole
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 ha ha ha


A gay gondolier as I shoot every weir
And I shout as I stick in my ….
O who wants to honda again in my gondola
Up come the river politicia
O why …..inside the cabina
The Englishman travels in style
With a young senorita
My gondolin meter
Is clicking up three-pence a mile
So to tied to a jetty I eat my spaghetti
And drink 'til I'm properly plastered
Shouting bog off on ….. 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 …….