RUNNING ROUND THE FOUNTAINS IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE
(John Cottrell)
as recorded by George Formby
with Jack Hylton & his Orchestra
January 29th 1933
Now I 'ave got a story and believe me folks, it's true,
So if you listen for a while, I'll tell my tale to you.
Now if you go to London, there's a thing you mustn't miss,
It's quite a simple matter, all you 'ave to do is this:
Go runnin' round the fountains in Trafalgar Square,
That's a thing that everybody's doin' down there!
Just take a peep into the Palace yard,
You'll find all the gates are locked and barred,
And the soldiers that should be on guard
Are runnin' round the fountains in Trafalgar Square!
And then there's Madam Tussauds, that's a well known waxworks show,
Now that's the place where all the country trippers like to go.
The figures that you heard about, now they're no longer there,
There's only one place you will find 'em, I will tell you where!
They're runnin' round the fountains in Trafalgar Square,
That's a thing that everybody's doin' down there!
Henry the Eighth, chasin' Anne Boleyn,
Old Doctor Crippen lookin' haggard and thin,
And Charlie Pearce with his old violin,
Are runnin' round the fountains in Trafalgar Square!
Now when I took a trip to London some few weeks ago,
To see the 'Ouse Of Parliament I thought I'd like to go.
The Speaker simply looked at me with such an icy stare;
I said, "Where are the others?" and he said, "I'll tell you where!"
"They're runnin' round the fountains in Trafalgar Square,
That's ta thing that everybody's doin' down there!
Lloyd George, Baldwin, dear old Ramsey Mac,
Early every mornin' you will find them on the track
With Lady Astor, June and Amy Johnson at the back,
They're runnin' round the fountains in Trafalgar Square!"
Runnin' round the fountains in Trafalgar Square,
That's a thing that everybody's doin' down there!
The finest sport in all the land,
When you've tried it you'll understand,
That's why Jack Hylton and his band
Go runnin' round the fountains in Trafalgar Square!
(Transcribed by Peter Akers - June 2017)
