Whiffenpoof Song
Enoch Light · Other Songs - Enoch Light
To the tables down at Mory's
To the place where Louie dwells
To the dear old Temple bar we love so well
Sing the Whiffenpoofs assembled with their glasses raised on high
And the magic of their singing casts it's spell
Yes, the magic of their singing of the songs we love so well
"Shall I Wasting" and "Mavourneen" and the rest
We will serenade our Louie while life and voice shall last
Then we'll pass and be forgotten with the rest
We're poor little lambs who have lost our way
Baa, baa, baa
We're little black sheep who have gone astray
Baa, baa, baa
Gentleman songsters off on a spree
Doomed from here to eternity
Lord have mercy on such as we
Baa, baa, baa
To the place where Louie dwells
To the dear old Temple bar we love so well
Sing the Whiffenpoofs assembled with their glasses raised on high
And the magic of their singing casts it's spell
Yes, the magic of their singing of the songs we love so well
"Shall I Wasting" and "Mavourneen" and the rest
We will serenade our Louie while life and voice shall last
Then we'll pass and be forgotten with the rest
We're poor little lambs who have lost our way
Baa, baa, baa
We're little black sheep who have gone astray
Baa, baa, baa
Gentleman songsters off on a spree
Doomed from here to eternity
Lord have mercy on such as we
Baa, baa, baa
Whiffenpoof Song
The Whiffenpoof Song is a spirited American folk tune composed by Enoch Light in 1911, originally written as a school song for the Whiffenpoof Club at the University of Pennsylvania. Its catchy melody and simple lyrics about a 'whiffenpoof' bird have made it a staple of the American folk revival, frequently performed by artists such as Enoch Light himself and later covered by groups like The Beatles and The Mamas & The Papas. As a quintessential example of early 20th-century collegiate music, the piece remains a beloved part of the American musical canon, celebrated for its infectious energy and enduring appeal across generations.