THE RETURN OF ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR
(Frank Crumit)

Frank Crumit - 1930



By the sea of Sargossa I wandered one night
The moon it was shining quite clear
For no reason at all I heard someone call
For Abdul Abulbul Amir

Now Abdul Abulbul I knew to be dead
The story had spread near and far
How he lost his life while plunging his knife
Into Ivan Skavinsky Skavar

While I pondered the moonbeams descended quite low
Casting shadows suffusely, and then
I discovered that I was standing close by
The tombs of those two famous men

Then in the tombs shadows there rose from a grave
The form of a Russian Hussar
And my skin nearly peeled, as he stood there revealed
It was Ivan Skavinsky Skavar

'Twas he who was calling, I hardly dared breathe
My heart 'most stopped beating from fear
When out of a grave, in need of a shave
Arose Abdul Abulbul Amir

"Well, wouldst speak with me Ivan?", quoth Abdul quite low
"I wouldst", replied Ivan quite clear
"That quarrel we had, 'twas all to the bad
Friend Abdul Abulbul Amir"

"I've lain here for ages with that on my mind
And that's why I called you tonight"
"Well, I'm in the same state", quoth Abdul the great
"Twas foolish for we two to fight"

"Oh friend, thou art blameless", cried Ivan in haste
"The fault lies in my hands alone"
But Abdul said "Nay, 'twas never that way
The fault was no one's but mine own"

"Well, dost think I'm a coward?", quoth Ivan Skavar
"Step forth and I'll slice off thine ear"
"Oh, son of a cat, you'll never do that"
Quoth Abdul Abulbul Amir

So once more they battled and fought as before
The multitudes came from afar
And lauded with cheers these bold buccaneers
This Turk, and this Russian Hussar

The ghost of the Czar on a fiery black steed
Came rushing to witness the fray
While the Sultan sat there in his royal gold chair
It was just like a scene from a play

'Twas just at that moment each sword found its mark
And I heard a blood-curdling scream
I opened my eyes and to my surprise
I found it was only a dream