SOMEONE'S PINCHED MY WINKLES
(Rolf Harris)


Rolf Harris - 1962





Now lads, this is an old, old traditional Cockney folk song that 
I've just written. And the basic rhythm goes like this, 
"Ooh-wah-a-hooh, wah-a hooh, wah-a-hooh", try it
(Ooh-wah-a-hooh, wah-a hooh, wah-a-hooh)
Marvellous, let's get on with it then....

(Ooh-wah-a-hooh, wah-a hooh, wah-a-hooh)
The Cockney tribes in Britain were meeting for the games
Held annually, once a year, along the River Thames
The scene was quiet and peaceful, the snow lay on the ground
The Cockneys by their cooking pots were huddled all around
(The chief was in his tepee his face all lined with wrinkles)
(When up the river came the cry), "Someones pinched me winkles!"

Me winkles have been pinched, oobie-doobie
Me winkles have been pinched
Now some people say it's a load of old nonsense
But a winkle's got a lot of vitamin contents
Never win that race tomorrow 
I'll be a big disgrace tomorrow
I'll search the blinkin' place tomorrow
But tomorrow is too late
Some rotter's pinched me winkles off me plate
I turned round and whooshhh, they was gone

(Ooh-wah-a-hooh, wah-a hooh, wah-a-hooh)
The tears of sheer frustration started trickling down his face, well
He'd set his heart on winning in the gruelling barrow race
(Without his final winkle feed his training scheme was shot)
(He staggered round the camp ground shoutin'), "Someone's pinched 
the lot!"

Me winkles have been pinched, oobie-doobie
Me winkles have been pinched
Beef or carrots or a dash of cucumber 
As far as I'm concerned that's a load of old lumber
I'll never win the race tomorrow
He's got me in disgrace tomorrow
He'd better not show his face tomorrow
He'll end up in a fight
But me, I need them winkles here tonight.
Now, I want 'em, now, not tomorrow or the next day

(Ooh-wah-a-hooh, wah-a hooh, wah-a-hooh)
They called the wise old medicine man who shuffled up and said
"I'm levying a winkle tax, one winkle each per head"
(They made a grand collection from every tucker pot)
(Then stood around, the shells and all), "They made me eat the lot!")

I've got me winkles back, oobie-doobie
I've got me winkles back
Now I know I've been grumpin' and grousin'
But I never thought I'd get two or three thousand
I'll never win that race tomorrow
I can't go in that race tomorrow
I couldn't stand the pace tomorrow
I'm much to blinkin' fat
I'll never face a winkle after that

Phew! I think I'll go and try out something new
You know, just to see how it feels
I think I'll have a dash at some jellied eels
Excuse me a minute while I just get this newspaper off this bit 
of jellied eel here
Mmmmm - that's lovely
Here, you with the winkle barrow, ("ALLO")
As far as I'm concerned you can stick your perishin' winkles 
right back in the sea
It's jellied eels for me

Ya know, I think I can safely reveal now without fear of 
jeapardisation that I've managed to overcome my ......FADE






(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - August 2013)