Gnu Song, The

Here's another animal song



A year ago, last Thursday I was strolling in the zoo

When I met a man who though he knew the lot

He was laying down the law about the habits of Baboons

And how many quills a porcupine has got

So I asked him

What's that creature there?

He answered "Oh, H'it's a H'elk"

I might of gone on thinking that was true

If the animal in question hadn't put that chap to shame

And remarked, "I h'aint a H'elk, I'm a G-nu"

I'm a G-nu

I'm a G-nu

The g-nicest work of g-nature in the zoo

I'm a G-nu

How do you do

You really ought to k-now wa-who's wa-who

I'm a G-nu

Spelt G-N-U

I'm g-not a Camel or a Kangaroo

So let me introduce

I'm g-neither man nor moose

Oh g-no, g-no, g-no I'm a G-nu



I had taken furnished lodgings down at Rustington-on-Sea

Whence I travelled on to Ashton-under-Lyne it was actually

And the second night I stayed there I was wakened from a dream

That I'll tell you all about some other time

Among the hunting trophies on the wall above my bed

Stuffed and mounted, was a face I thought I knew

A Bison? No, it's not a Bison

An Okapi? 's'unlikely

Could it be a Hartebeest?

I seemed to hear a voice

I'm a G-nu

I'm a Gnu,

A g-nother g-nu

I wish I could g-nash my teeth at you

I'm a G-nu

How do you do

You really ought to k-now wa-who's wa-who

I'm a G-nu spelt G-N-U

Call me Bison or Okapi and I'll sue

G-nor am I in the least

Like that dreadful Hartebeest

Oh, g-no, g-no, g-no

G-no, g-no, g-no I'm a G-nu

G-no, g-no, g-no

I'm a G-nu