As I did walk by Hampstead Fair
I came upon Mother Goose
So I turned her loose
She was screaming
And a foreign student said to me
Was it really true there elephants and lions too in Piccadilly Circus?

Walked down by the bathing pond to try and catch some sun
Saw at least a hundred schoolgirls sobbing into handkerchiefs as one
I don't believe they knew I was a schoolboy

And a bearded lady said to me
If you start your raving, and your misbehaving
You'll be sorry
Then the chicken-fancier came to play
With his long red beard and his sister's weird, she drives a lorry

Laughed down by the putting green
I popped 'em in their holes
Four and twenty laborers were laboring
And digging up their gold
I don't believe they knew that I was Long John Silver

Saw Johnny Scarecrow make his rounds in his jet-black 'mac
Which he won't give back
Stole it from a snowman

As I did walk by Hampstead Fair
I came upon Mother Goose
So I turned her loose
But she was screaming

Walked down by the bathing pond to try and catch some sun
Must of been at least a hundred schoolgirls sobbing into handkerchiefs as one
I don't believe they knew I was a schoolboy


Lyrics submitted by KidArt, edited by jdm2112, DanVitaleRocks

Mother Goose Lyrics as written by Ian Anderson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Word Collections Publishing

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Mother Goose song meanings
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    General Comment

    A young boy's day of adventure (I think he ditched school).

    Loraqson February 25, 2016   Link

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