We’ll drink a drink a drink
It’s almost spring, and St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner…It is time for…
…an “Irish” toast to the creator of a (spring) tonic
Lily The Pink · Irish Rovers · 1969
Play the song. Lyrics (Read the lyrics while you listen to the track.)
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a little bit happy, a little bit sad, of Lily the Pink and her Medicinal Compound And how it drove her to the bad.
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Different pubs call for different lyrics
Lily The Pink is a bar song that extolls the virtues of a miracle medicinal compound that has had profound effects on the lives of ordinary flawed people. It is easy to imagine that different pubs might have their own unique verses based on the unique characters in their neighborhoods. And so it was. (I remember, when my children were little, that we would sing the song on road trips. And we would make up new verses based on them and their friends.)
The same thing happened in charted versions of the song. In 1968, in the UK, the comedy group The Scaffold recorded a version of Lily The Pink that peaked at number 1 on the British singles chart. (Listen to “Lily The Pink” by the Scaffold.) The Scaffold had previously worked with film director, Stephen Frears. So in their version of the song there is this unique verse:
Mr. Frears had sticky out ears.
And it made him awful shy.
And so they gave him Medicinal Compound.
And now he’s learning how to fly.
That original singles version of Lily The Pink by The Scaffold, by-the-way, included the talent of some notable backup artists. Jack Bruce (of Cream) played bass guitar, and backup vocalists included none other than Elton John and also Graham Nash of The Hollies. Earlier in March, 1968, The Hollies’ song Jennifer Eccles had held the number 7 position on the UK singles chart. Then in May, it reached number 40 on the Billboard™ Hot 100. A reference to “Jennifer Eccles” thus ended up in Lily The Pink with the verse:
Jennifer Eccles had terrible freckles,
and the boys all called her names.
But she changed with Medicinal Compound.
Now he joins in all their games.
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Listen to Jennifer Eccles by The Hollies Play the song. |
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Jennifer Eccles shows up in this version of “Lily The Pink” by The Scaffold. Play the song.
Lily The Pink · The Scaffold
Lyrics (Read the lyrics while you listen to the track.) Download MP3: Lily The Pink (Scaffold)
Lily The Pink · Thank U Very Much - The Very Best Of The Scaffold (MP3 Album)
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The Irish-Canadian group The Irish Rovers recorded the song too. Their version reached #113 in February, 1969 (#15 on the Adult Contemporary chart). For the group, itself, it was one of their biggest hits. But their biggest hit, by far, was The Unicorn, peaking at #7 in April, 1968. |
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The Unicorn · Irish Rovers Play the song. Lyrics |
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Download MP3
| LILY THE PINK Lyrics The Scaffold (Listen to “Lily The Pink” by the Scaffold.) |
We’ll drink a drink a drink
to Lily the Pink the Pink the Pink,
the saviour of the human race.
For she invented Medicinal Compound.
Most efficacious in every case.
Mr. Frears had sticky out ears.
And it made him awful shy.
And so they gave him Medicinal Compound.
And now he’s learning how to fly.
Brother Tony, was known to be bony.
He would never eat his meals.
And so they gave him Medicinal Compound.
Now they move him around on wheels.
Old Ebenezer thought he was Julius Caesar,
and so they put him in a home.
Where they gave him Medicinal Compound.
And now he’s Emperor of Rome.
Johnny Hammer had a terrible st-st-st-st-stammer
He could hardly s-s-say a word.
And so they gave him Medicinal Compound.
Now’s he’s seen, but never heard.
Aunty Milly ran willy-nilly
when her legs they did recede.
And so they looked on Medicinal Compound.
Now they call her millipede.
Jennifer Eccles had terrible freckles,
and the boys all called her names.
But she changed with Medicinal Compound.
Now he joins in all their games.
Lily the Pink, she turned to drink. She
filled up with paraffin inside.
And despite her Medicinal Compound,
Sadly Picklelilly died.
Up to heaven her soul ascended.
All the church bells they did ring.
She took with her Medicinal Compound.
Hark The Herald Angels Sing.
| Go back to the story. |
| LILY THE PINK Lyrics Irish Rovers (Listen to “Lily The Pink” by the Irish Rovers.) |
We’ll drink a drink a drink
to Lily the Pink the Pink the Pink,
the savior of the human race.
She invented Medicinal Compound.
Most efficacious in every case.
Now here’s a story, a little bit gory,
a little bit happy, a little bit sad,
Of Lily the Pink and her Medicinal Compound
And how it drove her to the bad.
Well, Ebenezer thought he was Julius Caesar,
so they put him in a home.
And then they gave him Medicinal Compound.
And now he’s Emperor of Rome.
Freddie Klinger, the opera singer,
could break a glass with his voice ’tis said.
Rubbed his tonsils with Medicinal Compound.
Now they break glasses over his head.
Johnny Hammer had a t-t-terrible stammer.
He could hardly s-s-s-say a word.
And so they g-g-gave him Medicinal Compound.
Now he’s s-s-seen but never heard.
Uncle Paul, he was very small. He
was the shortest man in town.
Rubbed his body with Medicinal Compound.
Now he weighs only half a pound.
Lily died and went up to heaven.
All the church bells they did ring.
She took with her Medicinal Compound.
Hark The Herald Angels Sing!
CHORUS (repeated, with fadeout the third time)
| Go back to the story. |
| THE UNICORN Lyrics Irish Rovers (Listen to “The Unicorn” by the Irish Rovers.) |
A long time ago, when the Earth was green,
there was more kinds of animals than you’ve ever seen.
They’d run around free while the Earth was being born,
but the loveliest of them all was the unicorn.
There was green alligators and long-necked geese,
some humpty backed camels, and some chimpanzees,
some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born,
the loveliest of all was the unicorn.
Now God seen some sinning and it gave Him pain.
And He says, “Stand back, I’m going to make it rain.”
He says, “Hey brother Noah, I’ll tell you what to do:
build me a floating zoo,
“and take some of them
green alligators and long-necked geese,
some humpty backed camels, and some chimpanzees,
some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born,
don’t you forget my unicorn.”
Old Noah was there to answer the call.
He finished up making the ark just as the rain started fallin’.
He marched in the animals two by two,
and he called out as they went through,
“Hey Lord,
I’ve got you green alligators and long-necked geese,
some humpty backed camels, and some chimpanzees,
some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord, I’m so forlorn,
I just can’t see no unicorn.”
Then Noah looked out through the driving rain.
Them unicorns were hiding, playing silly games,
kicking and splashing while the rain was pourin’.
Oh, them silly unicorns!
There was green alligators and long-necked geese,
some humpty backed camels, and some chimpanzees.
Noah cried, “Close the door ’cause the rain is pourin’
And we just can’t wait for no unicorn.”
The ark started moving, it drifted with the tide.
Them unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried.
And the waters came down and sort of floated them away.
(That’s why you’ve never seen a unicorn to this very day.)
You’ll see green alligators and long-necked geese,
some humpty backed camels, and some chimpanzees,
some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born,
you’re never gonna see no unicorn.
