(Come in after 4 bar introduction)
As I walked home on a summer night,
When stars in heav'n were shining bright,
Far away from the footlights' glare
Into the sweet and scented air
Of a quaint old Cornish town;
(2 bar break)
Borne from afar on the gentle breeze,
Joining the murmur of summer seas
Distant tones of an old world dance
Played by the village band perchance
On the calm air came floating down
I thought I could hear the curious tone
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone,
Fiddle, cello, big bass drum,
Bassoon, flute and euphonium;
Far away as if in a trance,
I heard the sound of the Floral Dance
And soon I heard such a bustling and prancing,
And then I saw the whole village were dancing,
In and out of the houses they came,
Old folk, young folk, all the same,
In that quaint old Cornish town.
(2 bar break)
Every boy took a girl round the waist
And hurried her off with tremendous haste.
Whether they knew one another I care not
Whether they cared at all, I know not,
But they kissed as they danced along.
And there was the band with the curious tone
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone
Fiddle, cello, big bass drum,
Bassoon, flute and euphonium,
Each one making the most of his chance,
All together in the Floral Dance.
(Instrumental break)
I felt so lonely standing there,
And I could only stand and stare,
For I had no maid with me,
Lonely I should have to be,
In that quaint old Cornish town.
(2 bar break)
When suddenly hastening down the lane,
A figure I knew I saw quite plain,
With out-stretched hand I rushed along,
And carried her into that merry throng,
And fiddle and all went dancing down.
We danced to the band with that curious tone
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trombone
Fiddle, cello, big bass drum
Bassoon, flute and euphonium,
Each one making the most of his chance,
All together in the Floral Dance.
Dancing here, prancing there,
Jigging, jogging ev'rywhere
Up and down, and round the town,
Hurrah! for the Cornish Floral Dance