Story Behind The Song

A SONG WRITTEN FOR AN IRREVERENT SHAKESPEAREAN GROUP WILLIE AND THE WASSAILERS. WE WANTED A KIDS SONG THAT COULD ALSO APPEAL TO ADULTS. THE PERFORMANCE HERE CONTAINS HINTS AT BAWDIER LANGUAGE THAT OF COURSE WAS TONED DOWN FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES

Song Description

A SONG OF SIMILIES - IN THIS CASE ANIMALS A MAN THINKS HE'S A BUNCH OF THEM

Lyrics

ONE MAN ZOO

AS I WAS WALKING TO THE TOWN
ON A SPRITELY APRIL DAY ? O
A LITTLE OLD MAN CAME UP TO ME
AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAY ? O

I DRINK LIKE A FISH ? I EAT LIKE A HORSE
I AM QUIET AS A MOUSE OF COURSE
I ROAR LIKE A LION ?LIKE A BIRD I SING
RUN LIKE THE RABBITS IN THE SPRING
I?M GENTLE AS A LAMB AND STRONG AS AN OX
WISE AS A OWL AND SLY AS A FOX
LET ME GIVE MY NAME TO YOU
I AM KNOWN AS THE ONE MAN ZOO

(CHORUS)
ONE MAN ZOO ONE MAN ZOO
SINGLE ANIMAL WILL NOT DO
EVERY DAY IT?S SOMETHING NEW
WHEN YOU ARE A ONE MAN ZOO

SO ON AND ON HE WENT AND WENT
FOR HE HAD A HOLD OF ME ? O
WITH HIS TINY VOICE AND TINY HAND
AND LARGER MENAGERIE ? O
HE SAID

I?M PROUD AS A PEACOCK HAPPY AS A CLAM
BUSY AS A BEE IS WHAT I AM
FUSSY AS A HEN BOUT MY APPAREL
FUNNY AS A MONKEY IN A BARREL
EAGLE EYED FROM DUSK TIL DAWN
ALWAYS GRACEFUL AS A SWAN
KNOCK ME DOWN IF IT?S NOT TRUE
I AM KNOWN AS THE ONE MAN ZOO

(CHORUS)

I MUST CONFESS HE DID POSSESS A STRANGE AND COLORFUL BROOD-O
BUT AS I LISTENED TO HIS WORDS THERE?S OTHERS I?D INCLUDE ? O - O

HE WAS MAD AS A MARCH HARE CRAZY AS A LOON
STUBBORN AS A MULE ? HE?D MAKE YOU SWOON
HE WAS THE ELEPHANT THAT FORGOT
THE LEOPARD THAT COULD CHANGE HIS SPOTS
WITH THE BRAINS OF A CHICKEN WITH IT?S HEAD CUT OFF
HE RATTLED ON BUT BEFORE YOU SCOFF
HE ASKED FOR A SOVERIGN -------I GAVE HIM TWO
CUZ YOU?VE GOTTA FEED THE ANIMALS IN THE ZOO

(CHORUS)




Words and music Ross Douglas SOCAN