"Trip a Little Light Fantastic" is a song sung by Angus, Jack, Mary Poppins, and Mr. Dawes Jr. in the film Mary Poppins Returns.
Lyrics[]
Jack:
Let's say you're lost in a park
Sure, you can give in to the dark
Or you can trip a little light fantastic with me
When you're alone in your room
Your choice is just embrace the gloom
Or you can trip a little light fantastic with me
For if you hide under the covers
You might never see the day
But if a spark can start inside your heart
Then you can always find the way
So when life is getting dreary
Just pretend that you're a leerie
As you trip a little light fantastic with me
John:
What's a leerie?
Jack:
Why, it's what we lamplighters call ourselves, of course. Time to send out the call to arms. Leeries, trip the lights and lead the way!
Now when you're stuck in the mist
Sure, you can struggle and resist
Or you can trip a little light fantastic with me
Now say you're lost in the crowd
Well, you can stamp and scream out loud
Or you can trip a little light fantastic with me
And when the fog comes rolling in
Just keep your feet upon the path
Mustn't mope and frown or, worse, lie down
Don't let it be your epitath
So when life is getting scary
Be your own illuminary
Who can shine a light for all the world to see
As you trip a little light fantastic with me
A leerie loves the edge of night
Though dim, to him the world looks bright
He's got the gift of second sight
Leeries:
To trip a little light fantastic!
Jack:
A leerie's job's to light the way
Leeries:
To take the night and make it day
Jack:
We mimic the moon, yes, that's our aim
Jack and Leeries:
For we're the keepers of the flame!
Jack:
And if you're deep inside a tunnel
And there is no end in sight
Well, just carry on until the dawn
It's darkest right before the light
As you trip a little light fantastic
Won't you trip a little light fantastic
Come on, trip a little light fantastic with me!
Angus:
Come along! Join us in a bit of kick and prance!
John:
What did he say?
Jack:
Kick and prance. It means dance. It's leerie-speak. You don't say the words you mean. You say something that rhymes, only - here, I'll show you how it works. Angus, give us your weep and wail. To the rest of ya, that means tale.
Angus:
I was short of a sheet
Jack:
He was in the street
Angus:
Just a tumble down the sink
Jack:
Just to get himself a drink
Angus:
Then I pinched what's fatter
Jack:
He grabbed his ladder
Angus:
To smile and smirk
Jack and Angus:
To work!
Jack:
You see, there's nothing to it.
Annabel:
Can you speak leerie, Mary Poppins?
Mary Poppins:
Can I speak leerie?
Jack:
Course she can! She's Mary Poppins!
Georgie:
Can we do it with you?
Annabel & John:
Please?
Mary Poppins:
Oh, very well then.
Jack:
Children, tell us your sorry tale
Leeries:
Give us your weep and wail!
John:
Well, we had this bowl
Mary Poppins:
Rabbit in the hole
Annabel:
That fell and broke
Mary Poppins:
Bicycle spoke
John:
So we took it to a shop
Mary Poppins:
Like a lollipop
Georgie:
And went upside down
Mary Poppins:
That's a circus clown
John:
Then went to the bank
Mary Poppins:
Rattle and clank
Annabel:
Got lost in a fog
Mary Poppins:
Lump on a log
John:
Till we found a friend
Mary Poppins:
To stand and defend
Annabel:
Who took us on a trip
Mary Poppins:
Snap a horse's whip
Children:
And we tripped a little light fantastic!
Mary Poppins:
Now that sounds a little bit bombastic
Jack:
But they tripped the light
Children:
We tripped the light
All:
Let's trip a little light fantastic!
Leeries:
Join us, Mary Poppins!
Jack:
You've got it! Now let's get you all back home!
All:
Now if your life is gettin' foggy
That's no reason to complain
Jack:
There's so much in store
Inside the door
All:
Of 17 Cherry Tree Lane
Jack:
So when troubles are incessant
Simply be more incandescent
For your light comes with a lifetime guarantee
As you
All:
Trip a little light fantastic
Jack:
Won't you
All:
Trip a little light fantastic
Jack:
Come on!
All:
Trip a little light fantastic
Jack:
With me!
Children and Leeries:
Went to the bank! Rattle and clank!
Met with the boss! Pitch and toss!
Got lost in a fog! Lump on a log!
All:
Trip a little light fantastic!
Mr. Dawes, Jr.:
I may be circling the drain, but I've got a few steps left in me.
So when they tell you that you're finished
And your chance to dance is done
That's the time to stand
To strike up the band
And tell them that you've just begun
So when life's a real pea-souper
You must choose to be a trooper
For your light comes with a lifetime guarantee
As you... (Dances on the desk) ...with me
Georgie, John, Annabel:
Went to the bank!
Rattle and clank!
Met with the boss!
Pitch and toss!
Got lost in a fog!
Lump on a log!
Mary Poppins:
Trip a little...
Jack:
Trip a little...
Michael:
Trip a little...
Georgie, John, Annabel:
Trip a little...
Mr. Dawes, Jr.:
Trip a little...
All:
Light fantastic!
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- The slang used was created specifically for this song.
- The song is used as a reminiscent of the first film's musical number "Step in Time", though performed differently with lamplighters instead of chimney sweeps.
