The Escapade Songtext
von Mike Batt

It seems to me we have landed in a lonely place
Where the sun won′t shine of its own volition
And this crazy mission may be just a wild goose chase
We sail for years and we find ourselves upon this beach
Searching for some peace from the realms of fiction
It's a wild addiction for something we′ll never reach

Pay no heed to the faint of heart
Don't let these words of weakness fool you
Ignore these words of dismay
Don't let the chance slip away
This is the time to be strong
The chips are down, the hunt is on


There was one who was famed for the number of things
He forgot when he entered the ship
His umbrella, his watch, all his jewels and rings
And the clothes he had bought for the trip
He had forty-two boxes all carefully packed
With his name painted clearly on each
But since he omitted to mention the fact
They were all left behind on the beach

He came as a baker but owned when too late
And it drove the poor bellman half mad
He could only bake bride cake for which I may state
No materials were to be had

I came as the baker on this escapade
I knead the dough but I can′t look after the bread
The banker does it instead
And although I never feel afraid
Somehow I know it could be the single worst mistake I′ve ever made
To come as the baker on this escapade

I came as the butcher on this escapade
Without the heart for moving in for the kill
It makes me want to be ill
But my orders have to be obeyed
Though I take part I'm not the one
On whom the blame should all be laid
I′m only the butcher on this escapadeHe


Came as a butcher but gravely declared
When the ship had been sailing a week
He could only kill beavers
The Bellman looked scared
And was almost too frightened to speak
But at length he explained in a tremulous tone
There was only one beaver on board
And that was a tame one he had of his own
Whose death would be deeply deplored

I came as the beaver on this escapade
Though I must say I'm only here for the fun
An optimist on the run
I′m not lost, I've only been mislaid
I know one day I′ll find the sun
Though now I'm walking in the shade
I'm only the beaver on this escapade

They roused him with muffins
They roused him with ice
They roused him with mustard and cress
They roused him with jam and judicious advice
They set him conundrums to guess
When at length he sat up and was able to speak
His sad story he offered to tell
And the Bellman cried, "Silence! Not even a shriek!"
And excitedly tingled his bell

"I skip forty years," said the Baker in tears
"I proceed without further remark
To the day when you took me aboard of your ship
To help you in hunting the Snark
A dear uncle of mine, after whom I was named
Remarked when I bade him farewell—"
"Oh, skip your dear uncle!" the Bellman exclaimed
As he angrily tingled his bell

"He remarked to me then," said that mildest of men
"If your Snark be a Snark that is right
Fetch it home by all means; you may serve it with greens
And it′s handy for striking a light
But oh, beamish nephew, beware of the day
If your Snark be a Boojum, for then
You will softly and suddenly vanish away
And never be met with again."