THE CATFISH SWIM HIGH ON THE BANKS OF THE BAYOU
THE WATER COMES RIGHT UP THE TRUNKS OF THE TREES
AND IT'S HERE A MYSTERIOUS HOVERIN' ESSENCE
COMES WISPING ALONG ON A RIPPLIN' BREEZE

THE NIGHT COMES ALIVE WHEN THE FIREFLIES ARRIVE
AND TRY TO REFUEL IN THE LUMINOUS GLOW
AN OWL HOLLERS, "WHOO THERE_ OH WHAT'S YOUR TO-DO THERE?
WHY THAT'S ONLY WILL O' THE WISP, DON'T YOU KNOW?"

DOWN ON THE BAYOU HE COMES FLASHING BY YOU
FISTS FULL OF PHOSPHOROUS SOUVENIRS
FIRST HE'S BESIDE YOU AND NOW HE'S BEHIND YOU
IT'S MISCHIEF WHEN WILL O' THE WISP_ APPEARS

YOUNG JACK O' LANTERNS COME DOWN FROM THE PHANTOMS
TO BASK IN THE SHIMMERING NIMBUS OF LIGHT
THEY FILL UP THEIR GLASSES WITH FIRECRACKER GASES
AND PRACTICE THEIR FACES FOR HALLOWEEN NIGHT

ZIG-ZAGGING GECKOS HITCHHIKE FROM THE MEADOWS
ON TOP OF A BOX TURTLE'S BUTTON-DOWN SHELL
THEY'VE COME TO INQUIRE WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A FIRE
BUT WILL O' THE WISP IS A MISCHIEVOUS ELF

(Chorus and Chorus vamp)

GIMCRACKIN' CRICKETS IN SNAP DRAGON THICKETS
PLAY JIGS ON THE BACKS OF THEIR FIDDLESTICK KNEES
A FROG GALAVANTS AND THE FISH SPIDERS DANCE
AND SWING THROUGH THE NIGHT ON A FLYING TRAPEZE___

MARSHWIGGLES CRUISE IN THEIR CATTAIL CANOES
AND DOCK IN THE BOUGHS OF THE WEEPIN' WILLOW
THEY WALK ON THE BRANCHES AND TAKE PICNIC LUNCHES
AND WATCH THE PARADE FLOATING BY RIGHT BELOW

IF YOU SEE THE RAYS OF A BONFIRE ABLAZE
CALL OUT THE BRIGADES, BRING THE WATER AND HOSE
BUT IF YOU SPY LUMENS AGLOW IN THE GLOAMIN'S
WELL, IT'S ONLY WILL O' THE WISP, I SUPPOSE

(Cho.)

AND THEY TELL US IT'S JUST_ IGNIS FATUUS
BUT THAT'S ALL MUCH TOO "SCIEN-TRU-TIFIC" I FEAR
CUZ IT'S SUCH A GOOD SHOW_ HEY, AND DON'T THEY KNOW?
IT'S REALLY THE WILL O' THE WISP_ AND IT'S REALLY THE WILL O' THE WISP
AND IT'S MISCHIEF WHEN WILL O' THE WISP_ APPEARS


(Chorus vamp)


COMETS AND OTHER CREATURES © Copyright Jas Hilsdon, 2010