The Hippopotamus

From the musical “King of Cadonia”, 1910
Words by M. E. Rourke
Music by Jerome D. Kern

The sheet music:

The-Hippopotamus – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:

The_Hippopotamus – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. A happy hippopotamus living in the Zoo
    As they often do
    Was half inclined to have a fuss
    With a silly little bird he’d heard
    The bird hopped ’round his den all day
    With mad ambition burned
    She longed to drive the frown away
    That Hippo on her turned

Chorus
To the happy Hippopotamus
Sang the little bird tweet, tweet
How I wish dear Hippopotamus
To be at your feet
Said the hippo, “Take a tip, oh”
You’re so nice and sweet
You’re a dainty morsel fit to eat
Said the bird, “To eat” Tweet

  1. The sparrow on the hippo’s face
    In a little while saw a little smile
    The smile became a broad grimace
    Till the hippo’s heart she spied inside
    A heart so big I’d like to win
    With joy her wings she flapped
    “One Kiss,” she cried, then tumbled in
    Just as his two jaws snapped

Chorus
To the happy Hippopotamus
Sang the little bird tweet, tweet
How I wish dear Hippopotamus
To be at your feet
As the hippo closed each lip, oh
He said, “Oh, how sweet”
Sparrows when in love are indiscreet
But they’re nice “To eat” Tweet

Sung here by Laurence Rubenstein: