The Spider and the Fly (Alfred James Caldicott)

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• (Posted 2023-09-29)  CPDL #75878:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-09-29).   Score information: Letter, 16 pages, 997 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: The Spider and the Fly
Composer: Alfred James Caldicott
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong, Nursery-rhyme, Humorous Song

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1893 Metzler & Co.
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

“Will you walk into my parlour,”
Said the spider to the fly.
“Will you walk in?
Will you walk in?”
Said the spider to the fly.
“’Tis the prettiest little parlour
That ever you did spy.”

He put on his knowingest look,
As he peep’d from his cobwebby nook,
’Twas that sort of a glance
The police throw askance
When they’re ogling up at a cook!

“Will you, will you,
Will you, will you
Walk in pretty fly?”
“Will you, will you,
Will you, will you
Walk in pretty fly?”

“Will you join our little party?”
Said the spider to the fly.
“Will you join us?
Will you join us?”
Said the spider to the fly.
“We’ve the choicest little company
That ever met your eye.”

’Twas the kind invitation one sees
From spiders who pocket the fees
Of flies whom they hocus
With schemes that are bogus,
While taking the hands which they squeeze.

“Will you, will you,
Will you, will you
Walk in silly flies?”
“Will you, will you,
Will you, will you
Join us silly flies?”

“Will you peep into my larder?”
Said the spider to the fly.
“Will you peep in,
Will you peep in?”
Said the spider to the fly.
“Full of cakes and fruit, my larder,
Such as money cannot buy.”

Beware of the spider’s suggestion,
Whose motives are open to question,
For cakes such as those
Interfere with repose,
And often produce indigestion.

“Will you, will you,
Will you, will you
Walk in pretty fly?”
“Will you, will you,
Will you, will you
Gastronomic fly?”

You’ve applauded and express’d a wish
To hear another verse,
You’ve applauded and you wish us
To sing another verse;
What became of those poor flies,
And how they went from bad to worse.
When they tasted the sweets, in they ran,
And then to feel odd they began,
For they found that old Spider
A precious deal wider awake than a flypaper man.

“Will you, will you,
Will you, will you
Walk in silly flies?”
“If you get in,
You’ll be let in,
Silly, silly flies?”