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On the Coast
of Coromandel Where the early pumpkins blow, In
the middle of the woods Lived the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
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-Bonghy-Bo, Of the
Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
Once, among the Bong-trees
walking Where the early pumpkins blow, To a little
heap of stones Came the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo. There he
heard a Lady talking, To some milk-white Hens of
Dorking, - "'Tis the Lady Jingly Jones! On the
little heap of stones Sits the Lady Jingly Jones!"
Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
"Lady Jingly! Lady Jingly! Sitting where the
pumpkins blow, Will you come and be my wife?" Said
the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo. "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-Bonghy-Bo,
Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
"On this Coast of
Coromandel, Shrimps and watercresses grow, Prawns
are plentiful and cheap," Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
"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-Bonghy-Bo, Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
Lady Jingly answered sadly, And her tears began
to flow, - "Your proposal comes too late, Mr
Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo! 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-Bonghy-Bo!
Mr Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
"Mr Jones -(his name is
Handel, - Handel Jones, Esquire, & Co.) Dorking
fowls delights to send, Mr Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo! Keep,
oh! keep your chairs and candle, And your jug without
a handle, - I can merely be your friend! - Should
my Jones more Dorkings send, I will give you three,
my friend! Mr Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo! Mr Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
"Though you've such a tiny body, And your head so
large doth grow, - Though your hat may blow away,
Mr Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo! Though you're such a Hoddy 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-Bonghy-Bo! Mr
Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!"
Down the slippery slopes of
Myrtle, Where the early pumpkins blow, To the calm
and silent sea Fled the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo. 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-Bonghy-Bo! Said the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo!
Through the silent-roaring ocean Did the Turtle
swiftly go; Holding fast upon shell Rode the
Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo. 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-Bonghy-Bo,
Sang the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
From the Coast of
Coromandel Did that Lady never go; On that heap of
stones she mourns For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo. On
that Coast of Coromandel, In his jug without a
handle, Still she weeps, and daily mourns, On that
little heap of stones To her Dorking Hens she moans,
For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, For the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo.
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