Songs and Lyrics (Lehrer)/Clementine

by Thomas Andrew Lehrer

For works with similar titles, see Clementine.

CLEMENTINE

words and music by Tom Lehrer

1. (Cole Porter)
   In a cavern, in a canyon, excavating for a mine,
   Far away from the boom-boom-boom of the city,
   She was so pretty,
   What a pity,
   Clementine.
   Oh, Clementine,
   Can't you tell from the howls of me?
   This love of mine
   Calls to you from the bowels of me.
   Are you discerning
   The returning
   Of this churning, burning, yearning for you?

2. (Mozart)
   Era leggiera, e come una fairy, e sue shoes numero nine,
   Herring boxes senza topses
   Sandale per Clementina, si, per Clementina, si,
   Per Clementina,
   Sandale per Clementina, sandale per Clementin'.
   Clementina, Clementina, Cle-e-me-en-ti-na.
   Herring boxes senza topses sandale per Clementina,
   Herring boxes senza topses sandale per Clementina,
   Che sciagura, Clementina, Che sciagura, Clementina,
   Cara Clementina, cara Clementina-na-na-na-na-na-na-na.

3. (Bop)
   Drove those ducklings to the water --- yep-roc!
   Every morning, nine o'clock sharp -- oop-bop! -- beedle-ee-ah!
   Stubbed her toe upon a splinter,
   Stubbed her toe upon a splinter -- kloo-ga-mop! -- ooh -ooh!
   Fell into the foamy brine,
   Dig that crazy Clementine! Man!

4. (Gilbert and Sullivan)
   That I missed her depressed her
   Young sister named Esther.
   This mister to pester
   She'd try.
   Now a pestering sister's a festering blister,
   You'd best to resist her,
   Say I.
   The mister resisted,
   The sister persisted,
   I kissed her, all loyalty slipped.
   When she said I could have her,
   Her sister's cadaver
   Must surely have turned in its crypt, yes, yes, yes yes!
   Now I love she and she loves me.
   Enraptured are the both of we,
   Yes, I love her and she loves I,
   And will through all eternitye.
   See what I mean?