Ballad Of The Gliding Swan

(The Swan On The River)

Traditional

  Madhouse on Castle Street, London - 30 Dec 1962 & 4 Jan 1963  

Tenderly William kissed his wife,
Then he opened her head with a butcher knife
The swan on the river went glidin' by
The swan on the river went glidin' by.

Lady Margaret's pillow was wet with tears
Nobody's been on it in twenty years
And the swan on the river goes glidin' by
The swan on the river goes glidin' by.

"I've got a sad surprise", the doctor says
"A twenty-pound baby without any head"
The swan on the river went on lookin' fine
The swan on the river went gliding by.

The preacher was yellin' and sellin' his hope
The price was too high so i said "Nope"
The swan on the river went laughin' by
The swan on the river went glinding by.

When will the swan begin to sing?
We're so weary of everything
The swan on the river goes glidin' by
The swan on the river goes glidin' by.