The Jeffrey Lewis, Peter Stampfel Band - On We Went (Come on Board) lyrics

There was a sound in the town
And it followed us around
It was loud, it was proud
It was coming from a crowd they were glad
And they had a scene that was really mad
There were loons playing tunes
On inflatable balloons
There were goons with harpoons
Waiting in adjacent rooms
We were masked & we asked "what's
The purpose of this task?"
Someone smiled at her child
And she said "this is a trial
It's a test and the best will
Be judged by all the rest
Now my dear, lookee here
See the fellow with the spear?
It's his job now to lob
It above the happy mob
It will fly through the sky
’til it penetrates the eye
Of the beast to the east
Then we'll eat it for a feast
I've got dibs on the ribs
But the rest is up for grabs"
Then she ran to a man with
A hammer in his hand
And he said "now it's dead" and
He hit it on the head
And it fell down a well
And it plummeted to hell
And we heard not a word
But the chirping of a bird
Was the sign it was time and
The bells began to chime

On they went, on they went
On they went and went and went
On they went, on they went
On they went and went and went
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)

Then the dude with the food
Kept the audience subdued
And the rear gave a cheer as
They opened up the beer
So we sat, just like that
And we ate a plate of fat
It felt good like it should so
We went and got some wood
For the fire, it grew higher
And I had a strange desire
Just to peek down the beak of
A bird that couldn't speak
What I saw in it's maw
Went against all natural law
Yes of course, it was a horse
The bird had ate without remorse
Quite a shame
For the mane was the obstacle to blame
Quite a wreck in it's neck the
Little bird did not expect
And it died and we cried and
We all went back inside
Where the folks wearing cloaks all
Looked up as we approached
There were cults of adults worshiping
Some nuts and bolts
And a wench with a wrench gave
A sermon from a bench

On they went, on they went
On they went and went and went
On they went, on they went
On they went and went and went
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)

So we split in a bit
With a small construction kit
Till we spilled down a hill
Landing by a sugar mill
Where a stream hit a beam
That converted it to steam
Till it got to a spot
Where it powered a robot
Made of tin, with a grin
Carrying the barrels in
A creak in it's cheek was the
Sound that it could speak
But we knew from this clue what
It was about to do
Come to meet us, come to greet us
And we hoped it wouldn't eat us
We were scared, tension flared
But we suddenly were spared
When it's face was erased by
A bolt from outer space
Moments later an invader stood up
From the smoking crater
It was green, it was mean
And it had a big machine made of crap
Through a flap it went in and took a nap
And it seemed like it dreamed
Visions that were color themed
First was red, like a thread weaving circles
'round it's head
As it flowed, orange glowed
Spilling out onto the road
Then was yellow on a pillow
Floating by a weeping willow
What a scene, rippled green
Continuing the creature's dream
Blue as night filled our sight
And the creature sat upright
The next show was indigo and
It got prepared to go
With a smile it turned violet and
It motioned to the pilot with a cough
They took off and the rocket was aloft
We felt brave so we gave some
Goodbye shouting and a wave
Then we lay in the hay
Thinking of our busy day

On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went
On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)

Nice and warm was the norm
Then a sudden thunderstorm
Made us flee for a tree as
A dryer place to be
As we stood by the wood a
Lightning bolt up to no good
Took a dunk, hit the trunk
Burnt to ash that really stunk
It was brief but the grief that
It brought to every leaf was corrosive
Quite a dose of lightning
That was so explosive
That the spark left the bark black
And twisted in the dark
And the rain made it plain that
We had to go again as we trode down the road
Came along a horny toad
And it hopped 'til it stopped where
The hedges all were propped
On the edge of the hedge
Was a little window ledge
And he knocked with a rock
And the window came unlocked
Don't forget, we were wet
So we did things I regret
As it opened we were hopin' to climb
Down and threw a rope it
Where it ended we descended
But the toads were all offended
Once inside it we alighted
But we hadn't been invited
So with sticks and with Bics and
With lots of froggy kicks
As predicted we were kicked till
We were forcefully evicted down a hole
Where a mole gathered barrels-full of coal
He was blind but could find what
He needed with his mind
And he thought us so he caught us and
Then this is what he taught us
Nothing shines in these mines but
There are some subway lines
If you wait by the gate there's
A train coming at 8
From the deep, and it's cheap
And it climbs in tracks so steep
That I bet you it will get you
Out of here and I'll forget you
And with that
Down he sat down on a little wooden mat
We were numbed as he hummed with
A guitar that he strummed
Just two chords evermore that
They'd never heard before

On they went, on they went
On they went and went and went
On they went, on they went
On they went and went and went
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)

Then, my friend
Comprehend just what came around the bend
Not a train but a brain with
Some seats built in a frame
On the top, like a mop
And it shuddered to a stop
So we climbed on the mind and
We left that place behind glad we made it
Sunset faded as our steed accelerated
I concur all was a blur so
We knew not where we were
All was black along the track till
We saw ahead a shack
Then we halted and exalted we
Excited we pole vaulted
Off our chairs down the stairs
And took the doorman unawares
So our troupe in a group got
Inside in one fell swoop
Till the guard from the yard asked
To see a certain card
Which in fact we all lacked so
We gave him quite an act "Look, " we cried
"we're inside we're genuine and bona fide
We're all dressed in a vest from
Our back up to our chest
We used combs on our domes right
Before we left our homes
We wore pants in advance so
It wasn't left to chance
If we choose to wear shoes you'll
Be first to hear the news
But our socks no one mocks
It's a mild paradox so you see, them and me
We'd be lovely company
For your lair, if you care to
Well that was back in there
Music pours through the doors
We're all hoping that it's yours"
"Yes it's true, it's for you, " he explained
And waved us through

On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went
On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)
(On we went, on we went
On we went and went and went)