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The Mad Gardener's Song - By Lewis Carroll

Running Time:2:07Release Date:
Appearing in a later and less well known work by Lewis Carroll, 'Sylvie and Bruno'. This is the most famous part of the book and ranks amongst his finest creations.

About The Video

The Mad Gardener's Song
Cover for The Mad Gardener's Song by Lewis Carroll
 
 
An elephant practising on a fife
He thought he saw an Elephant,
That practised on a fife:
He looked again, and found it was
A letter from his wife.
'At length I realise,' he said,
The bitterness of Life!'
 
 
A buffalo sitting on a chimney-piece
He thought he saw a Buffalo
Upon the chimney-piece:
He looked again, and found it was
His Sister's Husband's Niece.
'Unless you leave this house,' he said,
"I'll send for the Police!'
 
 
A pen and ink drawing of an astonished looking man
He thought he saw a Rattlesnake
That questioned him in Greek:
He looked again, and found it was
The Middle of Next Week.
'The one thing I regret,' he said,
'Is that it cannot speak!'
 
 
A hippopotamus climbing down from a bus
He thought he saw a Banker's Clerk
Descending from the bus:
He looked again, and found it was
A Hippopotamus.
'If this should stay to dine,' he said,
'There won't be much for us!'
 
 
A Kangaroo working a coffee-mill
He thought he saw a Kangaroo
That worked a coffee-mill:
He looked again, and found it was
A Vegetable-Pill.
'Were I to swallow this,' he said,
'I should be very ill!'
 
 
A comic image of a bear with no head
He thought he saw a Coach-and-Four
That stood beside his bed:
He looked again, and found it was
A Bear without a Head.
'Poor thing,' he said, 'poor silly thing!
It's waiting to be fed!'
 
 
A man looking at something close up
He thought he saw an Albatross
That fluttered round the lamp:
He looked again, and found it was
A Penny-Postage Stamp.
'You'd best be getting home,' he said:
'The nights are very damp!'
 
 
Close up of the mad gardener
He thought he saw a Garden-Door
That opened with a key:
He looked again, and found it was
A Double Rule of Three:
'And all its mystery,' he said,
'Is clear as day to me!'
 
 
The mad gardener scratching his beard
He thought he saw a Argument
That proved he was the Pope:
He looked again, and found it was
A Bar of Mottled Soap.
'A fact so dread,' he faintly said,
'Extinguishes all hope!'

Other Lewis Carroll Related Videos

The Rather Curious History Of Alice

The Rather Curious History Of Alice
Here we recount the fascinating real life story of Alice, meet the real people involved in its creation and discover the fate of the original handwritten book!

A Sea Dirge

A Sea Dirge
Most of us enjoy a trip to the seaside, but here Lewis Carroll gives some of the reasons why he hates it. After reading this you may look at the sea very differently!

The Jabberwocky

The Jabberwocky
The Jabberwocky first appeared in "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There" and is one of the greatest ever nonsense poems!

The Mock Turtle's Song

The Mock Turtle's Song
Also known as "The Lobster-Quadrille" this piece of nonsense poetry is all about a whiting and a snail who is very reluctant to go to the dance!

You Are Old Father William

You Are Old Father William
A really jolly little video featuring the poem that Alice recites to the caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland. All very bizarre and still great fun after all these years!

Interesting Links

General

Librivox - Reading Of The Mad Gardener's Song by Hattie