Karaoké Engelbert the Elephant Tom Paxton

When the king and queen decided they would have a formal dance

Invitations were delivered and it happened quite by chance

Through an oversight of someone whose it was I can't recall

Engelbert the elephant was invited to the ball

What excitement in the jungle

What a holy hullabaloo

What a race to find the costume and to learn a step or two

You could feel the jungle shaking and I bet it's shaking yet

While Engelbert was learning how to dance the minuet

All the palace lamps were lighted as the sun was going down

And the music of the orchestra was heard across the town

The dance was just beginning when there came a mighty roar

Your Highness there's an elephant and he's standing by the door

Then the guard turned out from everywhere they came from every place

To where Engelbert was standing with a smile upon his face

He was dressed in latest fashion on his trunk he wore a ring

He presented his invitation with the seal of the king

So the soldiers formed an escort and they led him to the ball

Where the orchestra stopped playing and a hush went through the hall

For the king and queen were speechless and I'm sure they're speechless now

Engelbert the elephant made a very lovely bow

Then the queen began to smile at him the band began to play

And Engelbert was dancing in the very nicest way

The ladies were delighted at the way he turned and spun

And before the night was over he had danced with everyone

When they sat down to dinner

Engelbert sat on the floor

He nibbled most politely though he really wanted more

When the final dance was called for such a sight you'd never seen

For it was by the royal command he danced it with the queen

And when the ball was over and the guests began to go

They escorted him to the city gates and he gave 'em quite a show

For the band had come along with them and the band began to play

And the dance he did along the road is talked about today

Yes they talked about the dancing and you know they're talking yet

Of how Engelbert the elephant performed the minuet