The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book/The Floral Dance
60—THE FLORAL DANCE
As I walked home on a Summer night.
When stars in Heav'n were shining bright,
Far away from the foot-lights glare,
Into the sweet and scented air—Of a quaint old Cornish town.
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 trom-bone,
Fiddle, 'cello, big bass drum
Bassoon, flute and euphonium—Far away, as 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 was dancing,—
In and out of the houses they came,
Old folk, young folk, all the same,—In that quaint old Cornish town.
Ev'ry boy took a girl round the waist,
And hurried her off in 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 that curious tone,
Of the cornet, clarinet and big trom-bone
Fiddle, 'cello, big bass drum
Bassoon, flute and euphonium,
Each one making the most of his chance—All together in the Floral dance.
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.
When suddenly hast'ning down the lane,
A figure I knew, I saw quite plain
With out-stretched hands 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 trom-bone,
Fiddle 'cello, big bass drum,
Bassoon, flute and euphonium,
Each one making the most of his chance,
Altogether in the Floral dance.
Dancing here, prancing there,
Jigging, jogging ev'ry where,
Up and down, and round the town, Hur-rah for the Cornish Floral dance.