Mother Goose lyrics

As I did walk by Hampstead Fair

I came upon Mother Goose

So I turned her loose

She was screaming.

And a foreign student said to me:

Was it really true there are elephants and lions too

in Piccadilly Circus?

Walked down by the bathing pond

To try and catch some sun.

Saw at least a hundred schoolgirls sobbing

Into hankerchiefs as one.

I don't believe they knew

I was a schoolboy.

And a bearded lady said to me,

If you start your raving and your misbehaving,

You'll be sorry.

Then the chicken-fancier came to play

With his long red beard (and his sister's weird:

She drives a lorry).

Laughed down by the putting green,

I popped `em in their holes.

Four and twenty labourers were labouring,

digging up their gold.

I don't believe they knew

That I was Long John Silver.

Saw Johnny Scarecrow make his rounds

In his jet-black mac (which he won't give back)

Stole it from a snow man.

As I did walk by Hampstead Fair

I came upon Mother Goose

So I turned her loose

She was screaming.

Walked down by the bathing pond

To try and catch some sun.

Must have been at least a hundred schoolgirls sobbing

Into hankerchiefs as one.

I don't believe they knew

I was a schoolboy.

• Artist:Jethro Tull
• Album:Aqualung (1971)