A year ago last Thursday

I was strolling in the zoo

When I met a man

Who though he knew the lot

He was laying down the law

About the habits of Baboons

And how many quills a porcupine has got

So I asked him

'What's that creature there '

He answered: 'Oh H'it's a H'elk'

I might of gone on thinking that was true

If the animal in question hadn't

Put that chap to shame

And remarked: 'I h'aint a H'elk I'm a Gnu '

'I'm a Gnu I'm a Gnu

The g-nicest work of g-nature in the zoo

I'm a Gnu How do you do

You really ought to k-now w-ho's w-ho's

I'm a Gnu Spelt G-N-U

I'm g-not a Camel or a Kangaroo

So let me introduce

I'm g-neither man nor moose

Oh g-no g-no g-no I'm a Gnu'

I had taken furnished lodgings down

At Rustington-on-Sea

Whence I travelled

On to Ashton-under-Lyne it was actually

And the second night I stayed

There I was woken from a dream

That I'll tell you all about some other time

Among the hunting trophies

On the wall above my bed

Stuffed and mounted

Was a face I thought I knew;

A Bison No it's not a Bison An Okapi

Unlikely Really A Hartebeest

When I though I heard a voice: 'I'm a Gnu '

I'm a Gnu A g-nother gnu

I wish I could g-nash my teeth at you

I'm a Gnu How do you do

You really ought to k-now w-ho's w-ho

I'm a Gnu Spelt G-N-U

Call me Bison or Okapi and I'll sue

G-nor am I the least

Like that dreadful Hartebeest

Oh g-no g-no g-no

G-no g-no g-no I'm a Gnu

G-no g-no g-no I'm a Gnu