"The Walrus and the Carpenter" is a song from the 1951 Disney animated feature film Alice in Wonderland. It is sung and narrated by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. It was originally a poem by Lewis Carroll.
Lyrics[]
Tweedle Dum: The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might.
Tweedle Dee: He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright.
Tweedle Dum: And this was odd because it was...
Both: The middle of the night!
Tweedle Dee: The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand.
Tweedle Dum: The beach was wide
From side to side,
But much too full of sand!
Carpenter: Mr. Walrus!
Tweedle Dee: Said the Carpenter.
Carpenter: My brain begins to perk,
We'll sweep this clear
In 'alf a year,
If you don't mind the work!
Walrus: Work?
The time has come...
Tweedle Dee: The Walrus said.
Walrus: To talk of other things,
Of shoes and ships and sealing wax,
And cabbages and kings!
And why the sea is boiling hot,
And whether pigs have wings,
Calloo-Callay,
No work today!
We're cabbages and kings!
Oh, uh, Oysters, come and walk with us,
The day is warm and bright!
A pleasant walk,
A pleasant talk,
Would be a sheer delight!
Carpenter: Yes, and should we get hungry on the way,
We'll stop and, uh, have a bite.
Walrus: Ahem!
Tweedle Dum: But Mother Oyster winked her eye,
And shook her heavy head,
She knew too well this was no time
To leave her Oyster bed.
Mother Oyster: The sea is nice,
Take my advice,
And stay right here.
Tweedle Dee: Mum said.
Walrus: Yes, yes, of course, of course, but, uh, ha, ha!
The time has come, my little friends,
To talk of other things,
Of shoes and ships and sealing wax,
Cabbages and kings!
And why the sea is boiling hot,
And, uh, whether pigs have wings, ha ha!
Callo-Callay,
Come, run away
We're the cabbages and the kings!
Well, now, uh, let me see... Ah!
A loaf of bread is what we chiefly need!
Carpenter: Listen, how 'bout some pepper and salt and vinegar, eh?
Walrus: Well, yes, yes, splendid idea, ha ha!
Very good, indeed!
Now, if you're ready, Oysters, dear,
We can begin the feed!
Oysters: Feed?
Walrus: Oh, yes...
The time has come, my little friends,
To talk of food and things...
Carpenter: Of peppercorns and mustard seeds,
And other seasonings!
We'll mix 'em all together
In a sauce that's fit for kings!
Calloo-Callay,
We'll eat today
Like cabbages and kings!
Walrus: I, uh...
I, I weep for you. I (hic), oh, excuse me...
I deeply sympathize...
For I've enjoyed your company,
Oh, much more Than you realize...
Carpenter: Little Oysters? Little Oysters?
Tweedle Dee: But answer, there came none.
Tweedle Dum: And this was scarcely odd because...
Both: They'd been eaten!
Every one!
Walrus: Hm... Well, uh... Ha, ha. Ha, ha. Ha, ha. Ahem, uh... The time has come...
All: With cabbages and kings!!!
O Oysters, come and walk with us
Most humbly did beseech.
A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach.
O joy, o bliss, o jolly day!
We're going to have a holiday!
We cannot do with more than four
To give a hand to each.
O joy, o bliss, o jolly day!
We're going to have a holiday!
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word she said:
The eldest Oyster winked her eye,
And shook her heavy head--
Which meant to say she did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
But four young Oysters then hurried up,
eager for the treat
Our coats are brushed, our faces are washed
Our shoes are clean and neat
And this was odd, because, you know
We haven't any feet!
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
We haven't any feet!
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
Oh wait a bit, please wait a bit,
Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!
No hurry!
...said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
Oh thank you, thank you, thank you
Thanks, kind sir, for that!
The time has come, the time has come,
To talk of many things:
Of shoe and ships and sealing-wax
Of cabbages and kings
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings!
The time has come, the time has come,
To talk of many things:
Of shoe and ships and sealing-wax
Of cabbages and kings
And why the sea is boiling hot
And whether pigs have wings!
The time has come, the time has come, to talk of many things!
"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Salt and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed
An oyster fork, tabasco sauce
And we'll begin to feed."
But not on us!
the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
The night is fine.." the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?
"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!
It seems a shame, indeed a shame
To play them such a trick
After we've brought them out so far
And made them trot so quick
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!
I weep for you, I weep for you
I deeply sympathize.
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
Carpenter:
O Oysters, little oyster friends,
You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?
But answer came there none...
And this was scarcely odd, because...
Yes, this was scarcely odd, because...
That greedy, greedy Walrus
Had eaten every one!
Trivia[]
- In the original poem written by Lewis Carroll, the Carpenter had also eaten some of the oysters.
