Joni's lighthearted on "london bridge" was a crowd pleaser in her mid-sixties club show, before she signed her first recording contract. this transcription includes spoken patter Combined with her music, enchanted audiences back in the early days when joni was playing the smaller, intimate venues she has always enjoyed most.
(spoken are in italics)
London is falling down See the people in my the ones who bring it down (it's true they've for centuries, by it and saying, you know, London really is falling down, poor thing, It fell down in shame) My lady-o
London bridge is up Save the tea in my cup Guess the cup is up My lady-o (I'll have to get a one)
London is up for sale Booze heads put my in jail Spent my bridge money on My lady-o (sure would've like to have that bridge) (couldn't let him go to jail)
If the belonged to me I serve you tarts and tea Smiles, that's all the tolls be (don't you people would be getting across at all) My fair
On the bridge stands a car Painted with flowers It's the it's not ours (guess looking at the bridge) (hope buy it) My fair
London is falling down (something that) London bridge is coming Coming down on bridge Ice cubes melting in my
(they always, do you know those fridges are terrible, they're always melting things and ice cubes are dripping all the floor) (and the vegetables are all rotten and your turns to you in her very british way and she says: "you know I paid two bob for this. it smells a bit peculiar doesn't it, but don't you t .. well, we can it anyway" and she does)
Coming on london bridge Mutton rotting in my Coming (a little music there for your pleasure) Coming on london bridge My lady-o