Jerseywocky (Paul Kieffer) 'Twas Bergen and the Erie road Did Mahwah into Paterson; All Jersey were the Ocean Groves And the Red Bank Bayonne. "Beware the Hopatcong, my son! The teeth that bite! The nails that claw! Beware the Bound Brook bird, and shun The Kearney Communipaw!" He took his Belmar blade in hand, Long time the Folsom foe he sought, Till rested he by a Bayway tree And stood awhile in thought. And as in Nutley thought he stood, The Hopatcong, with eyes of flame, Came Whippany through the Englewood And Garfield as it came. One two! one two! and through and through The Belmar blade went Hackensack! He left it dead, and with its head He went Weehawken back. "And hast though slain the Hopatcong? Come to my arms, my Perth Amboy! Hohokus day! Soho! Rahway!" He Caldwell in his joy. 'Twas Bergen and the Erie road Did Mahwah into Paterson; All Jersey were the Ocean Groves And the Red Bank Bayonne. Note: Reportedly, this was set to music and sung at New York's Century Club in the 50s or 60s; the tune has been lost. The words, however, like Lewis Carrol's original, sing well to Beethoven's Ode to Joy. Or, for that matter, Deutschland Uber Alles, or Men of Harlech. RG
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!