Song Of The Gondolier (Mostly In Boats)

Written for: Messer Marco Polo (1954)
Lyric: Harold Adamson & Leo McCarey
Music: Harry Warren
Year: 1954
Original publisher: Four Jays Music Co., Inc.

Verse 1:

(Marco:) The world will one day know the story
Of Venice in all of its glory;
We have practically no poverty,
We are healthy and wealthy and free.

Verse 2:

In culture we're richer than Croesus,
In bus'ness we're greater than Greece is;
Oh we sing and we love ev'ryone,
And our fun and our loving is done:
Mostly in boats, mostly in boats,
Mostly in boats because ev'rything floats.

Verse 3:

Oh, Venice is famous for lovers,
The reason for this, one discovers;
They believe that the greatest amours
Are the ones that begin out of doors:
Mostly in boats, mostly in boats,
Mostly in boats because ev'rything floats.

Verse 4:

In Egypt, they travel on camels,
In Siam they use larger mammals;
But Venetians are people who glide,
And they travel the whole countryside:
Mostly in boats, mostly in boats,
Mostly in boats because ev'rything floats.

Chorus 1:

Oh, Venice, I at times shed a tear
For strangers who have never been here;
Your beauty breathes a gay melody,
Wearing spring for a gown
And the stars for a crown,
You're the child of the sea.

Verse 5:

Oh, Venice is noted for vigor,
The fam'lies grow bigger and bigger;
Oh, they all have a child ev'ry year,
And the children are born, so I hear:
Mostly in boats, mostly in boats,
Mostly in boats because ev'rything floats.

Verse 6:

If you hear a beautiful solo,
It's probably me, Marco Polo;
Oh, I'm really a fine gondolier,
And the people applaud me 'round here:
Mostly in boats, mostly in boats,
Mostly in boats because ev'rything floats.

Chorus 2:

Oh, Venice, you're a joy to the world,
Your beauty should be widely unfurled;
And one day, oh how famous you'll be:
You will make history
As the child of the sea
And the birthplace of me.