The Reverend Rawston Wright by W. S. Gilbert

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The Reverend Rawston Wright

Fun, III - 28th April 1866

Oh! the centre-divided hair,
	And the boots that shine so bright,
And the linen prepared with care, And the stole and the surplice fair,
	Of the REVEREND RAWSTON WRIGHT.

A popular priest was he,
	And appreciated quite,
And eternally asked to tea By the whole of his curacee,
	Was the REVEREND RAWSTON WRIGHT.

The bishop he said, said he,
	"There's no such shining light
In the whole of my holy see (Excepting only me),
	As the REVEREND RAWSTON WRIGHT!"

And the vicars they said, said they,
	"Our duty would be but slight
If we could get, some day, For the moderate sum we pay,
	Such a REVEREND RAWSTON WRIGHT."

But though he was stern all day,
	He'd a singular habit at night
Indeed, I may fairly say, An exceedingly singular way
	Had the REVEREND RAWSTON WRIGHT.

He'd strike a gigantic gong,
	And then, the eccentric wight,
Would sing to a wondering throng; And this was the singular song
	Of the REVEREND RAWSTON WRIGHT:

Oh, fan an aesthetical flame,
	And sing to the moon so bright,
For piggy-wigs worry and maim, And my highly respected name
	Is the REVEREND RAWSTON WRIGHT."

And the wondering throng would say,
	"What a strange proceeding quite;
Will any one tell us, pray, What means this singular way
	Of the REVEREND RAWSTON WRIGHT?"

But he said, "I find it pays
	To sing it with all my might.
You needn't stand in amaze; It's only one of the ways
	Of the REVEREND RAWSTON WRIGHT."

And he banged at the gong once more,
	And he danced till the broad daylight;
Then his delicate locks he tore, And he yelled with a yelping roar,
	Did this singular RAWSTON WRIGHT.

And though he's a serious gent,
	And a popular curate quite,
No man can guess his intent, Or tell us whatever is meant
	When the REVEREND RAWSTON WRIGHT

Says, "Fan an aesthetical flame,
	And sing to the moon at night,
For piggy-wigs worry and maim, And my highly respected name
	Is the REVEREND RAWSTON WRIGHT!"

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