Go Wash An Elephant 1927

by James Pitt-Payne, London UK - 16May2025
2025

"Papa, Papa, Papa" said
little Willie McGurk
"I'm big and strong and healthy, Pop
Get me a job of work"
"Willie, Willie, Willie,"
said Papa winking his eye
"If you've got big ambitions
Here's a job you oughta try

Go wash an Elephant
if you wanna do something big
Go wash an elephant
till he squeals just like a pig
Dip the brush into the pail
and make the water fly
Wash him in December
and by April he'll be dry
Go wash an Elephant
if you wanna do something big
Scrub him till he does an Irish jig
Don't settle down to married life
For after all what is a wife
Oh go wash an Elephant
if you wanna do something big

Go wash an Elephant
if you wanna do something big
Go wash an elephant
till he squeals just like a pig
Elephants are fragile things
they have such tender skins
If you hang a bucket on him
please use safety pins
Go wash an Elephant
if you wanna do something big
Spray him till he's sweeter than a fig
Don't try to lengthen women's skirts
Or figure out why grapefruit squirts
But go wash an Elephant
if you wanna do something big

"Papa, Papa, Papa I'm going down to the Zoo
And start in washing right away
Oh! what a job I'll do"
"Willie, Willie, Willie,
look out don't tickle his trunk
If he's annoyed he'll step on you
And you'll feel awf'lly punk

Go wash an Elephant
if you wanna do something big
Rub him with alcohol
while you're at it take a swig
Rub him North and rub him South
then rub him East and West
It may take a week to rub
the landscape off his chest
Go wash an Elephant
if you wanna do something big
Scrub him till he rattles like a rig
Babe Ruth can surely swat a ball
But after all a ball is small
So, go wash an Elephant
if you wanna do something big

Go wash an Elephant
if you wanna do something big
If he objects to it
you can put him in the brig
Manicure his dainty fingers,
bless his little soul
Use the Mississippi river
for his finger bowl
Go wash an Elephant
if you wanna do something big
Box his little ears should he renege
Don't ever try to get too rich
Or learn what makes a pimple itch
But go wash an Elephant
if you wanna do something big

Soft karaoke
Words
piano 1
piano 2
piano 3
piano 4
lyric
pizz str bass
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Go Wash An Elephant 1927
Lyrics by Art Terker
Music by J. Russel Robinson
© 1927 by Villa Moret Inc.  San Francisco, Calif.
*
sequence & karaoke by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Friday 16 May 2025 at 08.56
in association with Fred Feild, The Sheet Music Singer
*
James Pitt-Payne