The Coconut Song
last week a poetry meme had coconut as the theme. Like several others I immediately though of this song I remembered from childhood/teen years
and here are the lyrics as I remember them: I hope the video plays.
Down at an English Fair, one evening I was there, when I heard a Showman
shouting underneath the
square
I’ve got a lovely bunch
of coconuts, there they are all standing in a row,
Big ones small ones
some as big as your head
Give ‘em a twist, a flick
of the wrist, that’s what the Showman said
I’ve got a lovely bunch
of coconuts, every ball you throw will make me rich,
There stands me wife,
the Idol of me life, singing roll or bowl a ball a penny a pitch
Roll or bowl a ball a
penny a pitch, roll or bowl a ball a penny a pitch,
Roll or bowl a ball,
roll or bowl a ball
Singing roll or bowl a
ball a penny a pitch
(Instrumental solo)
I’ve got a lovely bunch
of coconuts (they’re lovely)
There they are all
standing in a row (one two three four)
Big ones, small ones,
some as big as your head (and bigger)
Give them a twist, a
flick of the wrist (na na na na na na)
That’s what the Showman
said
Oh I've gt a lovely bunch of coconuts, (nanananana)
every ball you throw will make me rich ('ave a banana
There stands me wife,
the idol of me life, singing roll or bowl a ball a penny a pitch (altogether
now)
Roll or bowl a ball a penny a pitch, (harmony) roll or
bowl a ball a penny a pitch
Rrrrrroll or bowl a
ball, roll or bowl a ball,
Singing Roll or bowl a
ball a penny a pitch.
I hope you all get a laugh from this, we certainly could use it right now. Laughing that is.
Hahahah. I've never that I can recall, read these lyrics before. Laughing is the best!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a fun and wonderful 2026.
I've heard the chorus of this song but never the full song. I'm astonished that Merv Griffin was the vocalist but apparently Danny Kaye also had a hit with this, according to Wikipedia. Thanks for the laffs!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard this song ! and I don't know a Mr. Griffin ! It sounds funny !
ReplyDeleteI've never heard this in my life. I know Merv Griffin more as a talk-show host and TV producer than a singer. I wonder when this was recorded?! (Answer: 1950, according to Wikipedia.)
ReplyDelete