12 - Songs from Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

The poems of Alice’s world come alive as song in this musical interpretation of Carroll’s iconic verses. Enchanting and imaginative, these lyrical renditions delight all ages.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Recording as in the public domain. The walrus and the carpenter.
The sun was shining on the sea, shining with all
his might. He did his very best to make the
billows smooth and bright. And this was odd because it
was the middle of the night. The moon was shining sulkily,

(00:23):
because she thought the sun had got no business to
be there after the day was done. It's very rude
of him, she said, to come and spoil the fun.
The sea was wet as wet could be. The sands
were dry as dry. You could not see a cloud
because no cloud was in the sky. No birds were

(00:44):
flying overhead. There were no birds to fly. The walrus
and the carpenter were walking close at hand. They wept
like anything to see such quantities of sand. If this
were only cleared away, they said, it would be grand
if seven maids with seven mops swept it for half

(01:06):
a year. Do you suppose the walrus said that they
could get it clear? I doubt it, said the carpenter,
and shed a bitter tear. O oysters, come and walk
with us. The walrus did beseech a pleasant walk, a
pleasant talk along the briny beach. We cannot do with

(01:26):
more than four, to give a hand to each. The
eldest oyster looked at him, but never a word, he said.
The eldest oyster winked his eye and shook his heavy head,
meaning to say he did not choose to leave the
oyster bed. But four young oysters hurried up, all eager

(01:46):
for the treat. Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
their shoes were clean and neat, And this was odd,
because you know, they hadn't any feet. Four other oysters
followed them, and yet another four, And thick and fast
they came at last, and more and more and more,

(02:07):
all hopping through the frothy waves and scrambling to the shore.
The walrus and the carpenter walked on a mile or so,
and then they rested on a rock conveniently low, and
all the little oysters stood and waited in a row.
The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of

(02:28):
many things, of shoes and ships, and sealing wax of
cabbages and kings, and why the sea is boiling hot,
and weather pigs have wings. But wait a bit, the
oysters cried, before we have our chat, For some of
us are out of breath, and all of us are fat.
No hurry, said the carpenter. They thanked him much for that.

(02:52):
A loaf of bread, the walrus said, is chiefly what
we need. Pepper and vinegar besides are very good. Indeed,
now if you're ready, oysters, dear, we can begin to feed,
But not on us. The oysters cried, turning a little blue.
After such kindness, that would be a dismal thing to do.

(03:13):
The night is fine, the walrus said, do you admire
the view? It was so kind of you to come,
and you are very nice. The carpenter said, nothing but
cut us another slice. I wish you were not quite
so deaf. I've had to ask you twice. It seems
a shame, the walrus said, to play them such a

(03:35):
trick after we've brought them out so far and made
them trot so quick. The carpenter said nothing, but the
butter's spread too thick. I weep for you, the walrus said,
I deeply sympathize with sobs and tears. He sorted out
those of the largest size, holding his pocket handkerchief before

(03:57):
his streaming eyes. Oh, oyster, said the carpenter. You've had
a pleasant run. Shall we be trotting home again? But
answer came there none, And this was scarcely odd, because
they'd eaten every one. End of Section twelve, recording by

(04:18):
Evans Smith,