Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis - A Duty Done - 1935 lyrics

The swallows are back, and I'm tuning my lyre, For today 'tis my duty to sing A melodious lay that is graciously gay To welcome - officially - spring Ting-a-ling So let's have a song with a swing. Bing! High co*kalorum and fal-de-rah, whack! Young Spring's in the offing! The swallows are back! To put sense in the song matters little so long As the lift and the lilt of it ring. And a mention be made of the wattle-hung glade Where the blithering birds are a-wing Ting-a-ling And the clamorous honey-bees cling. Z-z-z-ing! Tho' I'm scarce in the humor, alas and alack! Ho, merry-down-derry! The swallows are back! So - officially - Hi! Oh, salubrious sky! What a dear and delectable thing To behold such a blue as old Arcady knew When - er - Strephan or someone was king Ting-a-ling And life held nor arrow nor sling. Ping! Ah, the fervor is forced; but I mustn't get slack, Tho' the rhymes may run low, for the swallows are back! But - privily - oh, my vitality's low, And a sneer at the season I fling For I gasp and I wheeze in the weary unease Of the plagues that the pollen days bring Ting-a-ling I'm insipid as second-hand string. Ring. Ah, ring down the curtain! I've gone to the pack! But, a last word in closing: the swallows are back.