A scouting favorite, this song can sound fantastic when harmonized, even with large groups. One of the problems, though, is that you often run out of verses. This page seeks to correct that problem. Contributions are always welcome: mcserv@hotmail.com.
There are rats, rats, rats, big as alley cats
In the store, in the store,
There are rats, rats, rats, big as alley cats
In the Quartermaster's Store
Chorus:
My eyes are dim I cannot see,
I have not brought my specs with me
I have ... not ... brought ... my specs ... with ... me
Snakes ... Big as garden rakes
Mice ... Running through the rice
Owls ... Shredding paper towels
Beetles ... Running on the needles
Snails ... Crawling on the nails
Ravens ... Acting rather craven
Ant-e-lopes ... Using all the rope
Foxes ... In all the boxes (or: Stuffed in little boxes)
Beavers ... Wielding rusty cleavers
Bears ... Running down the stairs (or: With curlers in their
hair)
Buf-fa-loes ... Eating all the dough (or: With hair between their
toes)
Bob-bob-whites ... Wearing silken tights
Eagles ... Chasing little beagles
Beagles ... Being chased by eagles
Fleas ... Crawling on our knees
Mer-chan-dise ... Sold at twice the price
Plat-y-pi ... Eating all the pie
Hip-hip-pos ... Stepping on our toes
Tuna ... Running 'round the room-a
Rac-rac-coons ... Stealing all the spoons
Gold-gold-finch ... Sitting on the winch
Crocks ... Eating all the lox
All-i-gators ... Eating Nilla Wafers
Trout ... Causing lots of grout
Deer ... Drinking all the coffee
Ice ... If you're really nice
Dip-lo-dacus ... Causing quite a fracas
SPLs ... Making funny smells
Bees ... Buzzing 'round the keys
Turkey ... Eating all the jerkey
Al-lo-saurs... Being quite a bore
Quar-ter-masters ... Hanging from the rafters
Ants . . . wearing Wood Badge tartan pants.
Apes . . . eating all the grapes.
Beans . . . as big as submarines.
Bees . . . with little knobby knees.
Butter . . . running in the gutter.
Bread . . . with great big lumps like lead.
Cakes . . . that give us tummy aches.
Cheese . . . that makes you want to sneeze. (or: with kilts and hairy knees)
Coke . . . enough to make you choke.
Eggs . . . with scarey chicken legs.
Flour . . . that will give you super power.
Flies . . . swarming round the pies.
Fishes . . . washing all the dishes.
Goats . . . eating all the oats.
Gravy . . . enough to float the navy.
Hats . . . being worn by hairless rats.
Kippers . . . in little furry slippers.
Lard . . . they sell it by the yard.
Leaders . . . slapping at the skeeters.
Meat . . . smelling like [Name's/Sergeant's] feet.
Moths . . . eating through the cloths.
Pepsi . . . that gives you apoplexy.
Roaches . . . sleeping in the coaches.
Scouts . . . eating brussel sprouts.
Soot . . . they grow it by the foot.
Turtles . . . wearing rubber girdles.
And for those who have attended the National Junior Leader
Instructor Camp, you might find these useful:
Black-black-feet ... Eating all the meat
Ven-a-do ... Running to and fro
A-gui-la ... Eating the pasta
O-o-so ... Playing with Lobos
Gav-i-llon ... Playing on the lawn
Bi-so-nate ... Acting rather naughty
Cas-cas-tor ... Lounging on the floor
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