Joni's lighthearted take on "london bridge" was a crowd pleaser in her mid-sixties club show, before she signed her first recording contract. this transcription spoken patter Combined with her music, enchanted audiences back in the early days when joni was playing the smaller, more intimate she has always enjoyed most.
(spoken are in italics)
London is falling down See the in my town They're the ones who bring it (it's true been for centuries, by it and saying, you know, London bridge really is falling down, thing, It just 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 to get a pyrex one)
bridge is up for sale Booze heads put my friend in Spent my money on bail My lady-o (sure would've to have bought that bridge) (couldn't let him go to jail)
If the bridge to me I serve you tarts and tea Smiles, all the tolls would be (don't grant you people would be getting at all) My lady-o
On the bridge there a car with peculiar flowers It's the it's not ours (guess they're at the bridge) (hope buy it) My lady-o
London is falling down (something that) London bridge is down Coming on london bridge Ice cubes melting in my
(they always, do you know those fridges are terrible, they're always melting things and ice cubes are all over the floor) (and the vegetables are all rotten and friend 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 rotting in my fridge Coming (a electronic music there for your pleasure) down on london bridge My lady-o