The Broom and the Shovel, the Poker and...

I

The Broom and the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs,
    They all took a drive in the Park,
And they each sang a song, Ding-a-dong, Ding-a-dong,
    Before they went back in the dark.
Mr. Poker he sate quite upright in the coach,
    Mr. Tongs made a clatter and clash,
Miss Shovel was all dressed in black (with a brooch),
    Mrs. Broom was in blue (with a sash).
        Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
        And they all sang a song!

 
II

'O Shovel so lovely!' the Poker he sang,
    'You have perfectly conquered my heart!
'Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong! If you're pleased with my song,
    'I will feed you with cold apple tart!
'When you scrape up the coals with a delicate sound,
    'You enrapture my life with delight!
'Your nose is so shiny! your head is so round!
    'And your shape is so slender and bright!
        'Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
        'Ain't you pleased with my song?'

 
III

'Alas! Mrs. Broom!' sighed the Tongs in his song,
    'O is it because I'm so thin,
'And my legs are so long -- Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
    'That you don't care about me a pin?
'Ah! fairest of creatures, when sweeping the room,
    'Ah! why don't you heed my complaint!
'Must you needs be so cruel, you beautiful Broom,
    'Because you are covered with paint?
        'Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
        'You are certainly wrong!'

 
IV

Mrs. Broom and Miss Shovel together they sang,
    'What nonsense you're singing to-day!'
Said the Shovel, 'I'll certainly hit you a bang!'
    Said the Broom, 'And I'll sweep you away!'
So the Coachman drove homeward as fast as he could,
    Perceiving their anger with pain;
But they put on the kettle and little by little,
    They all became happy again.
        Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
        There's an end of my song!

by Edward Lear (1812-1888) , "The Broom and the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs", from Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets, published 1871

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Gary Bachlund , "The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and Tongs", 2009. [medium voice and piano]
by Dudley Glass , "The Broom and the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs", published 1933 [voice and piano], from Nonsense Songs, no. ?
by George Ingraham , "The Broom and the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs", published <<1906 [voice and piano], from Nonsense Songs, no. ?

Date added to the website: 2009-03-05.

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