engelbert the elephant

Singer:paxton, tom

when the king and queen decided

they would have a formal dance

invitations were delivered

and it happened quite by chance

through an oversight of someone's

whose it was i can't recall

engelbert the elephant

was invited to the ball

what excitement in the jungle

what a holy hullabaloo

what a race to find a costume

and to learn a step or two

you could feel the jungle shaking

and i bet it's shaking yet

while engelbert was learning

how to dance the minuet

all the palace lamps were lighted

as the sun was goin' down

and the music of the orchestra

was heard across the town

the dance was just beginning

when there came a mighty roar

your highness - there's an elephant

and he's standing by the door

then the guard turned out from everywhere

they came from every place

to where engelbert was standing

with a smile upon his face

he was dressed in latest fashion

on his trunk he wore a ring

he presented his invitation

with the seal of the king

so the soldiers formed an escort

and they led him to the ball

where the orchestra stopped playing

and a hush went through the hall

for the king and queen were speechless

and i'm sure they're speechless now

engelbert the elephant

made a very lovely bow

then the queen began to smile at him

the band began to play

and engelbert was dancing

in the very nicest way

the ladies were delighted

at the way he turned and spun

and before the night was over

he had danced with everyone

when they sat down to dinner

engelbert sat on the floor

he nibbled most politely

though he really wanted more

when the final dance was called for

such a sight you've never seen

for it was by the royal command

he danced it with the queen

and when the ball was over

and the guests began to go

they escorted him to the city gates

and he gave 'em quite a show

for the band had come along with them

and the band began to play

and the dance he did along the road

is talked about today

yes they talked about the dancing

and you know they're talkin' yet

of how engelbert the elephant

performed the minuet

Lyric Context: engelbert the elephant - paxton, tom