Sardine Song, music and lyrics by Charlie Chaplin as performed in Limelight
When I was three, my nurse told me,
About reincarnation,
And ever since, I’ve been convinced,
Thrilled with anticipation,
That when I leave this earth,
It makes my heart feel warm,
To know that I’ll return,
In some other form,
But I don’t want to be a tree,
Sticking in the ground,
I’d sooner be a flea,
I don’t want to be a flower,
Waiting by the hour,
Hoping for pollens to alight on me,
So when I cease to be,
I want to go back I want to go back,
I want to go back to the sea,
Oh for the life of a sardine,
That is the life for me,
Cavorting and spawning every morning,
Under the deep blue sea,
To have no fear for storm or gale,
Oh to chase the tail of a whale,
Oh for the life of a sardine,
That is the life for me,
When I’m a fish,
It is my wish,
For lots of recreation,
To drink my fill up to the gill,
With no intoxication,
I want fun in the sea,
Not in this world of strife,
With its morality,
Give me the animal life,
But I don’t want to be carrot,
Sticking in the ground,
I’d rather be a maggot,
Life without a will,
Would surely make me ill,
To get a little action,
I’d even be a pill,
So when I cease to be,
I want to go back I want to go back,
I want to go back to the sea,
Oh, for the life of a sardine,
That is the life for me,
Cavorting and spawning every morning,
Under the deep blue sea,
To have no fear of a fisherman’s net,
Oh what fun to be gay and all wet,
Oh for the life under the sea,
That is the life for me.