There once was a man, so the story ran That was pious and devout Who thought he would cross the sea And among the wicked shout So he bid adieu and shed a few And with this purpose grand He sailed away across the bay With a hymn book in his hand, Ah
Chorus List to the tale of a cassowary On the plains of Timbuctoo Who long had longed for a missionary Skin and bones and hymn book, too
On the desert sand, of a desert land Is the cassowary found No meat eats he, excepting The sand which is on the ground Alack! alas! But who should pass A missionary slim Alas! alack! a hymn book black Is all that’s left of him, Ah
Chorus List to the tale of a cassowary On the plains of Timbuctoo Who dined one day on a missionary Skin and bones and hymn book, too
Old Skaldi Ral the cannibal Sat down to dine with glee Bring forth the dish he cried Of missionary fricassee It’s a wary cassowary has The best of me, I’m blowed So serve him hot up on the spot With missionary a la mode, Ah
Chorus List to the tale of a cassowary On the plains of Timbuctoo Who stewed one day with a missionary Skin and bones and hymn book, too
