The Zoological Gardens

Trad

Thunder and lightning is no lark
When Dublin City is in the dark
So if you’ve any money, go up to the park
And view the Zoological Gardens

We went up there to see the zoo
We saw the lion and the kangaroo
There was he-males and she-males of every hue
Up in the Zoological Gardens

We went out there by Castleknock
Says she to me “Sure, we’ll court on the lock”
Then I knew she was one of the rare old stock
From outside the Zoological Gardens

Oh, thunder and lightning is no lark
When Dublin City is in the dark
So if you’ve any money, go up to the park
And view the Zoological Gardens

We went up there on our honeymoon
Says she to me “If you don’t come soon
I’ll have to get in with the hairy baboon”
Up in the Zoological Gardens

Says she to me “It’s seven o’clock
And time for me to be changin’ me frock
For I’d love to see that old cockatoo”
Up in the Zoological Gardens

Says she to me “Me lovely Jack
Sure I’d love a ride on the elephant’s back
If you don’t get out of that I’ll give you such a crack”
Up in the Zoological Gardens

Oh, thunder and lightning is no lark
When Dublin City is in the dark
So if you’ve any money go up to the park
And view the Zoological Gardens

This song, full of earthy humour, comes from the Dublin of the late nineteenth century.