The Lobster Quadrille

"Will you walk a little faster?"
Said a whiting to a snail
"There's a porpoise close behind us
And he's treading on my tail
See how eagerly the lobsters
And the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle
Will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you
Won't you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you
Won't you, won't you join the dance?

"You can really have notion
How delightful it will be
When they take us up and throw us
With the lobsters, out to sea!"
But the snail replied, "Too far, too far!"
And gave a look askance
Said he thanked the whiting kindly
But he would not join the dance
Would not, could not, would not
Could not, would not join the dance
Would not, could not, would not
Could not, could not join the dance.

"What matters it how far we go?"
His scaly friend replied
"There is another shore, you know
Upon the other side
The further off from England
The nearer is to France
Then turn not pale, beloved snail
But come and join the dance
Will you, won't you, will you
Won't you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you
Won't you, won't you join the dance?