"Eating the Peach" is a song from James and the Giant Peach. Its lyrics were originally written in the book by its author, Roald Dahl, and unlike in the book, the song is sung by James and his insect friends instead of just Mr. Centipede.
In the original book, Mr. Centipede sings the entire song. Also, the lyrics in the first and second verse in the original book are a bit different.
Lyrics
Mr. Centipede: I've eaten many strange and scrumptious dishes in my time
Like jellied bugs and curried slugs and earwigs cooked in slime
And mice with rice is very nice
When they're roasted in their prime
But don't forget to sprinkle them with just a pinch of grime
I'm crazy 'bout mosquitoes on a piece of buttered toast
And pickled spines of porcupines and then a great big roast
And dragon's flesh, quite old, not fresh
It costs a buck at most
[Spoken]
Glowworm: Does it come with gravy?
Mr. Centipede: It comes to you in barrels if you order it by post!
[Music Interlude]
All: It comes to you in barrels if you order it by post!
Mr. Grasshopper: For dinner on my birthday, shall I tell you what I chose:
Hot noodles made of poodles on a slice of garden hose
And a rather smelly jelly
Made of armadillos' toes
The jelly is delicious, but you have to hold your nose!
All: Peach, peach, peach, peach
Peach, peach, peach, peach
Peach, peach, peach, peach!
Mrs. Ladybug: I crave the tasty tentacles of octopi for tea
I like hot dogs, but I love hot frogs and surely you'll agree
A plate of soil with engine oil's
A super recipe
Earthworm and James: Recipe...
Mrs. Ladybug: I hardly need to mention that it's practically free!
All: Peach, peach, peach, peach
Peach, peach, peach, peach
Peach, peach, peach, peach
Peach, peach, peach, peach!
We hardly need to mention that it's practically free!
Mr. Centipede: Now comes, my fellow travelers, the burden of my speech
[Spoken]
Miss Spider: You show off!
Mr. Centipede: These foods are rare beyond compare and some right out of reach
[Spoken]
Miss Spider: Nice aim, commodore.
Mr. Centipede: But there's no doubt I'd go without
A million plates of each
[Spoken]
Miss Spider: Out of my face!
Mr. Centipede: For one small mite
All: One small mite
Mr. Centipede: One tiny bite
All: Tiny bite of this FANTASTIC PEACH!
Peach, peach, peach, peach
Peach, peach, peach, peach
Peach, peach, peach, peach
Peach, peach, peach, peach
Peach, peach, peach, peach
Peach, peach, peach, peach!
This fantastic peach!
I've eaten many strange and scrumptious dishes in my time
Like jellied gnats and dandyprats and earwigs cooked in slime
And mice with rice, they're very nice
When roasted in their prime
But don't forget to sprinkle them with just a pinch of grime
I've eaten fresh mud-burgers by the greatest cooks there are
And scrambled dregs and stinkbugs' eggs and hornets stewed in tar
And pails of snails and lizards' tails
And beetles by the jar
A beetle is improved by just a splash of vinegar
I often eat boiled slobbages. They're grand when served beside
Minced doodlebugs and curried slugs. And have you ever tried
Mosquitoes' toes and wampfish roes
Most delicately fried?
The only trouble is they disagree with my inside
I'm mad for crispy wasp stings on a piece of buttered toast
And pickled spines of porcupines
And then a gorgeous roast
And dragon's flesh, well-hung, not fresh
It costs a buck at most
And it comes to you in barrels if you order it by post
I crave the tasty tentacles of octopi for tea
I like hot dogs, but I love hot frogs, and surely you'll agree
A plate of soil with engine oil's
A super recipe
I hardly need to mention that it's practically free
For dinner on my birthday, shall I tell you what I chose:
Hot noodles made of poodles on a slice of garden hose
And a rather smelly jelly
Made of armadillos' toes
The jelly is delicious, but you have to hold your nose
Now comes (the Centipede declared) the burden of my speech
These foods are rare beyond compare - some are right out of reach
But there's no doubt I'd go without
A million plates of each
For one small mite
One tiny bite
Of this FANTASTIC PEACH!
Videos
Trivia
- According to composer Randy Newman, this song is considered to be the best on the soundtrack.[1]
References
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