This is by way of a New Year's present to the kind folks who kept the "Pooh" thread going in my absence. Hope y'all enjoy it --- t'sa HOOT!

THE OLD SAILOR
By A. A. Milne
From Now We Are Six

(Sing to the jig: "The Irish Washerwoman")
Tune (2nd melody) available: http://ingeb.org/folksons.html
Tempo: Allegro con Molto, unbroken throughout
(Take a DEEEEEP breath!)

There was once an old sailor my grandfather knew
Who had so many things that he wanted to do
That, whenever he thought it was time to begin,
He couldn't because of the state he was in.

He was shipwrecked and lived on an island for weeks,
And he wanted a hat, and he wanted some breeks;
And he wanted some nets, or a line and some hooks
For the turtles and things which you read of in books.

And, thinking of this, he remembered a thing
Which he wanted (for water) and that was a spring;
And he thought that to talk to he'd look for, and keep
(If he found it) a goat, or some chickens and sheep.

Then, because of the weather, he wanted a hut
With a door (to come in by) which opened and shut
(With a jerk, which was useful if snakes were about),
And a very strong lock to keep savages out.

He began on the fish-hooks, and when he'd begun
He decided he couldn't because of the sun.
So he knew what he ought to begin with, and that
Was to find or to make, a large sun-stopping hat.

He was making the hat with the leaves from a tree,
When he thought, "I'm as hot as a body can be,
And I've nothing to take for my terrible thirst;
So I'll look for a spring, and I'll look for it FIRST."

Then he thought as he started, "Oh, dear and oh. dear!
I'll be lonely tomorrow with nobody here!"
So he made in his notebook a couple of notes:
"I must first find some chickens," and "No, I mean goats."

He had just seen a goat (which he knew by the shape)
When he thought, "But I must have a boat for escape.
But a boat means a sail, which means needles and thread;
So I'd better sit down and make needles instead."

He began on a needle, but thought as he worked,
That, if this were an island where savages lurked,
Sitting safe in his hut he'd have nothing to fear,
Whereas now they might suddenly breathe in his ear!

So he thought of his hut...and he thought of his boat,
And his hat and his breeks, and his chickens and goat,
And the hooks (for his food) and the spring (for his thirst)...
But he NEVER could think what he ought to do first.

(Sing last verse twice)
And so in the end he did nothing at all,
But basked on the shingle wrapped up in the shawl.
And I think it was dreadful the way he behaved ---
He did nothing but basking until he was saved!

Love,

Shula

Since the tune allows for ONE MORE VERSE, why not exercise our wits and rhyming dictionaries to compose final verse alternates to singing the last verse twice; sort of a personal summation or moral coda to put t' th' tail o' th' tale. Oh Ala-a-a-a-an!... (whose name I call, not to prefer one wordsmith to another, -- we've talent here a'plenty --, but because his hyperlink was such a nifty surprise.)

(Anyone out there with the breath control to do the song AND the jig?! Could bring down a house right smart, doncha reckon?)

RE-E-E-E CESSSSS!

Shula

LYR.COR. (Last verse, 2nd line: "a" shawl, not "the" shawl.

Tried your tune. Really like mine better, but it's nice to know a different possibility exists. You didn't say if you tried it to "The Irish Washerwoman." Did you? Not your cup o' tea?

BTW, is Mrs McGrath usually played as slowly as it is in the MIDI in the DT? Maybe that's the trouble. This verse is upbeat and lighhearted; M.M. -- not so much, nu?

Like "Larry O'Gaff" VERY WELL for "The Dormouse and The Doctor." Thanks, and I'd love to know the name of the second jig when it occurs to you.

How about a tag verse of your own for "The Old Sailor"?

Many thanks,

Shula

And so in the end he did nothing at all,
But basked on the shingle wrapped up in a shawl.
When it rained he got wet but when it was fine
He sat all day long in the blazing sunshine.

And when he grew hot he would sit in the shade
And bask for a time in the coolness it made,
And I think it was dreadful the way he behaved ---
He did nothing but basking until he was saved!

PS As Milne played cricket for England he was a better cricketer than I am too!

Cheers,
Alan

Splendid! Just the ticket! Will enjoy singing the extended ending. Think you may have been right to retain the last two lines of the Milne as is; wouldn't want to spoil the punchline.

Any other brave, or shameless souls want to take a run at it? This is fun! May take a crack, m'sel'!

Shula