Taglio!

Lithe limbed boys with secrets in your eyes

Come and dance where you'll be understood

Dancing maid, leave your golden ball

Forgotten in the dark of the wood!

Moon and moor and fire and fen

We hunt in the night for a song

Black hooves flashing as the flames fly high

You will know us well by the dawn.

If you dare try the tune sing along!

Chorus

Wiry gypsy boy, take my hand

And you'll not be found come mornin

Sham to splendor and back a gain

Where the boot black hooves are shinin

Once and again round the leaping fire

There's a secret some folk know:

Offer sweet mutton and not your arm--

Better hope that you're dancing with taglio!

Better pray the gaselli is taglio

Do we kiss like poets imagine they do

Twixt the arms of the dusk and the dawn

By the green you shall know us

And the boot-black hooves

Whirling round with your heart in pavane

We are drawn to your leaping fire

And you feast your mind on our song

Bright eyes flash in the leaping light

E'er the rising of the sun we are gone

One or two of your number come along

Chorus

Last night, alec drummed like a demon fell

With the light, he is nowhere to be found

The lady in green who caught our alec's eye

Must've whisked him away without a sound!

Where young bess danced like a fairy faun

Not a trace, and you fear she is dead

Bold gaselli wear the green just so

And we'll dance you right out of your head

And leave behind not a sole drop of red!

Bringers of grace and tenders of fire,

We dance to the beat of your drum

Fret ye not about the boot-black hooves

In the corner of your eye, nay, it must've been the rum!

Just as well not to think of the feast that's to come

Saving poor taglio, with a hunger we come!

Chorus