The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Song

Hello, hello, Mr. Tortoise, Mr. Tortoise!
In all the world, there is no one
Who walks as slowly as you do!
Oh, why are you such a slow poke?

What are you saying, Mr. Rabbit?
All right, then. Let's have a race
To the foothills of that yonder hill.
We'll see who gets there first.

No matter how hard the tortoise hurried,
He'll probably take all evening
So methinks I'll take a nap.

Guu (snoring), guu, guu, guu
Guu, guu, guu!

Good Heavens! I overslept! What a fool I was!
Pyon (hopping), pyon, pyon, pyon,
Pyon, pyon, pyon!

You're much too late, Mr. Rabbit!
What's happened to your earlier boast, eh?

Submitter comment:

Informant learned this while growing up in Japan, and today in America, sings it to his small American-born grandchildren.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR