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A Transport of Delight
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Flanders:
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"Omnibus", my friend Mr Swann informs me, comes from the Latin, "omnibus", meaning to or for, by, with, or from everybody - which is a very good description! This song is about a bus, it's wittily subtitled - (I thought of this) - "A Transport of Delight".
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Both:
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Some people like a motorbike, some say, "A tram for me!",
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Or for bonny army lorry, they'd lay them down and dee.
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Such means of locomotion seem rather dull to us,
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Swann:
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The driver...
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Flanders:
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... and conductor of...
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Both:
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... a London omnibus!
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Hold very tight please, ting ting.
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Hold very tight please, ting ting.
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Flanders:
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When you are lost in London, and you don't know where you are,
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You'll hear my voice a-calling, "Move further down the car!".
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Both:
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And very soon you'll find yourself inside the terminus,
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In a London transport, diesel engine, ninety-seven horsepower omnibus.
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Swann:
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Along the Queen's great highway, I drive my merry load,
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At twenty miles per hour in the middle of the road.
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Both:
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We like to drive in conveys, we're most gregarious,
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The big six-wheeler, scarlet painted, London transport, diesel engine, ninety-seven horsepower omnibus.
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Earth has not anything to show more fair,
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Flanders:
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Mind the stairs, please,
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Swann:
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Mind the stairs...
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Flanders:
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Mind the stairs...
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Both:
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Earth has not anything to show more fair,
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Swann:
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Any more fares?
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Flanders:
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Any more fares, any more fares?
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Swann:
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When cabbies try to pass me before they overtakes,
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I sticks me flippin' hand out and I jams on all me brakes.
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Flanders:
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Those jackal taxi drivers can only swear and cuss,
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Behind that monarch of the road,
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Swann:
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Observer of the highway code,
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Flanders:
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That big six-wheeler,
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Swann:
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Scarlet painted,
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Flanders:
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London transport,
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Swann:
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Diesel engine,
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Both:
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Ninety-seven horsepower omnibus.
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Swann:
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I stops when I'm requested, although it spoils the ride,
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So we can shout,
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Flanders:
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"Get out of it! We're full right up inside".
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Both:
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We don't ask much for wages, we only want fair shares,
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So cut down all the stages, and stick up all the fares.
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If tickets cost a pound apiece, why should you make a fuss?
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Flanders:
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It's worth it just to ride inside,
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Swann:
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That thirty-foot long by ten-foot wide,
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Flanders:
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Inside that monarch of the road,
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Swann:
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Observer of the highway code,
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Both:
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The big six-wheeler,
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London transport,
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Diesel engine,
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Ninety-seven horsepower,
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Ninety-seven horsepower omnibus!
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Flanders:
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Hold very tight, please!
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Swann:
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(On piano) Ting ting!
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