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You Are Old Father William - By Lewis Carroll

Running Time:2:17Release Date:
This famous poem is taken from Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. It is one that she recites to the caterpillar. All very bizarre, but also great fun!

About The Video

You Are Old, Father William
Cover for You Are Old Father William by Lewis Carroll
"You are old, Father William," the young man said,
"And your hair has become very white;
And yet you incessantly stand on your head-
Do you think, at your age, it is right?"
Father William Standing On his Head
"In my youth," Father William replied to his son,
"I feared it might injure the brain;
But now that I'm perfectly sure I have none,
Why, I do it again and again."
A Phrenology Chart
"You are old," said the youth, "As I mentioned before,
And have grown most uncommonly fat;
Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-
Pray, what is the reason of that?"
Father William Somersaulting
"In my youth," said the sage, as he shook his grey locks,
"I kept all my limbs very supple
By the use of this ointment-one shilling the box-
Allow me to sell you a couple?"
Part of an old poster for quack medicine
"You are old," said the youth, "And your jaws are too weak
For anything tougher than suet;
Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak-
Pray, how did you manage to do it?"
A goose drawn by Milo Winter
"In my youth," said his father, "I took to the law,
And argued each case with my wife;
And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw,
Has lasted the rest of my life."
An Old Picture Of A Man And Wife Talking
"You are old," said the youth, "one would hardly suppose
That your eye was as steady as ever;
Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-
What made you so awfully clever?"
Father William Balancing An Eel At The End Of His Nose
"I have answered three questions, and that is enough,"
Said his father; "don't give yourself airs!
Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?
Be off, or I'll kick you down stairs!"
Father William's Son Looking Worried
 

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!

The Mad Gardener's Song

The Mad Gardener's Song
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.

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!

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!

Interesting Links

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Librivox - Reading Of You Are Old Father William by Lewis Carroll