by Edward Lear (1812 - 1888)
On the Coast of Coromandel
Language: English
On the Coast of Coromandel, Where the early pumpkins grow, In the middle of the woods Lived the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. Two old chairs, and half a candle, One old jug without a handle, These were all his worldly goods: In the middle of the woods, These were all the worldly goods Of the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. Of the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. Once, among the Bong-trees walking Where the early pumpkins grow, To a little heap of stones Came the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. There he heard a Lady talking, To some milk-white Hens of Dorking, "'Tis the Lady Jingly Jones! On that little heap of stones Sits the Lady Jingly Jones!" Said the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. Said the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. "Lady Jingly! Lady Jingly! Sitting where the pumpkins grow, Will you come and be my wife?" Said the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. "I am tired of living singly, On this coast so wild and shingly, I'm a-weary of my life; If you'll come and be my wife, Quite serene would be my life!" Said the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. Said the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. "On this Coast of Coromandel, Shrimps and watercresses grow, Prawns are plentiful and cheap," Said the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. "You shall have my chairs and candle, And my jug without a handle! - Gaze upon the rolling deep (Fish is plentiful and cheap) - As the sea, my love is deep!" Said the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. Said the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. Lady Jingly answered sadly, And her tears began to flow, "Your proposal comes too late, Mr. Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò! I would be your wife most gladly!" (Here she twirled her fingers madly) "But in England I've a mate! Yes! you've asked me far too late, For in England I've a mate, Mr. Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò! Mr. Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò! "Mr Jones - (his name is Handel - Handel Jones, Esquire, & Co.) Dorking fowls delights to send, Mr Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò! Keep, oh! keep your chairs and candle, And your jug without a handle, I can merely be your friend! - Should my Jones more Dorking send, I will give you three, my friend! Mr. Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò! Mr. Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò! "Though you've such a tiny body, And your head so large doth grow, Though your hat may blow away, Mr. Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò! Though you're such a Boddy Doddy - Yet I wish that I could modi- fy the words I needs must say! Will you please to go away? That is all I have to say - Mr. Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò, Mr. Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò!" Down the slippery slopes of Myrtle, Where the early pumpkins grow, To the calm and silent sea Fled the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. There beyond the Bay of Gurtle, Lay a large and lively Turtle; "You're the Cove," he said, "for me; On your back beyond the sea, Turtle, you shall carry me!" Said the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. Said the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. Through the silent-roaring ocean Did the Turtle swiftly go; Holding fast upon his shell Rode the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò, With a sad primaeval motion Towards the sunset isles of Boshen Still the Turtle bore him well, Holding fast upon his shell. "Lady Jingly Jones, farewell!" Sang the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò, Sang the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. From the Coast of Coromandel Did that Lady never go; On that heap of stones she mourns For the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. On that Coast of Coromandel, In his jug without a handle, Still she weeps, and daily moans; On that little heap of stones To her Dorking Hens she moans For the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò. For the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò.
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Text Authorship:
- by Edward Lear (1812 - 1888), "The Courtship of the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò", appears in Laughable Lyrics, first published 1877 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Martin Best , "The Yonghi Bonghi Bo", <1976. [voice and guitar] [text not verified]
- by Dudley Glass , "The Courtship of the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò", published 1933 [voice and piano], from Nonsense Songs [text not verified]
- by Walter Skolnik (b. 1934), "The Courtship of the Yonghy-Bònghy-Bò", published 1968 [SATB chorus a cappella], from Three Nonsense Songs of Edward Lear [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-03-06
Line count: 110
Word count: 543