Lyrics:

1971 album Aqualung
Writer(s): Ian Anderson

As I did walk by Hampstead Fair
I came upon Mother Goose
So I turned her loose --
But she was screaming.

And a foreign student said to me,
'Was it really true
There are elephants and lions too
In Piccadilly Circus?'

Walked down by the bathing pond
To try and catch some sun.
Saw at least a hundred schoolgirls
Sobbing into handkerchiefs as one.
I don't believe they knew
I was a schoolboy.

And a bearded lady said to me,
'If you start your raving
And your misbehaving
You'll be sorry.'

Then the chicken-fancier came to play
With his long red beard
And his sister's weird:
She drives a lorry.

Laughed down by the putting green
Now I popped 'em in their holes.
Four and twenty labourers were labouring
And digging up their gold.
I don't believe they knew
That I was Long John Silver.

Saw Johnny Scarecrow make his rounds
In his jet-black mac
Which he won't give back
Stole it from a snowman.

As I did walk by Hampstead Fair
I came upon Mother Goose
So I turned her loose
But she was screaming.

Walked down by the bathing pond
To try and catch some sun.
Must have been at least a hundred schoolgirls
Sobbing into handkerchiefs as one.
I don't believe they knew
I was a schoolboy.