[Chorus:]
Come and see them, only see!
Never did anyone look so funny!
Like a circus as can be,
Only it's amateur, not for money!
All the London men and maids,
[Men:]
Putting themselves into fancy dresses.
[Ladies:]
Some with pails and some with spades,
[Men:]
Dairy Maids, reapers and shepherdesses.
[All:]
Look there! See here! Look there! See here!
Never has been such a thing seen,
Not come Michaelmas fifty year!
Never has been such a thing seen since
Michaelmas, Michaelmas, fifty year.
[Male Guests:]
As countrymen we truly are
Uncommonly peculiar,
In what a town costumier
Informs us is a smock-frock,
We don't know what to do with it,
But still we're going through with it,
Although the prospect's gloomier,
Than anything we've met yet!
[All:]
Never has been such a thing seen,
Not since Michaelmas fifty year!
[Female Guests:]
Hither from Burlington Arcady straying,
Come we to work at the crook and the churn:
All the enjoyment of their employment
We are exceedingly anxious to learn.
How do you handle a fork when you're haying?
How do you manage when milking a cow?
Isn't it charming going a-farming,
If you have somebody telling you how!
[All:]
Telling you how! Telling you how!
If you have somebody, somebody telling you how!
[Ensemble:]
Hither from Burlington Arcady straying,
Come we to work at the crook and the churn:
All the enjoyment of their employment,
We are exceedingly anxious to learn.
How do you handle a fork when you're haying?
How do you manage when milking a cow?
Isn't it charming going a-farming,
When you have somebody telling you how!
Never has been such a thing seen,
Such a thing seen.