If I could talk to the animals, just imagine it
Chattin' with a chimp in chimpanzee
Imagine talking to a tiger, chatting with a cheetah
What a neat achievement it would be!
If we could talk to the animals, learn their languages
Maybe Take an animal degree
I'd study elephant and eagle, buffalo and beagle
Alligator, guinea pig, and flea!
I would converse in polar bear and python
And I would curse in fluent kangaroo
If people ask me "can you speak rhinoceros?"
I'd say "of courserous! Can't you?"
If I conferred with our furry friends, man to animal
Think of the amazing repartee
If I could walk with the animals, talk with the animals
Grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals
And they could squeak and skwawk and speak and talk to us!
If I consult with the quadrupeds
Think what fun we'd have
Asking for the crocodiles for tea!
Or maybe lunch with three lions, walruses and sea lions
What a lovely place the world would be!
If I spoke slang to orangutans
The advantages any fool on earth could plainly see!
Discussing Eastern art and dramas
With intellectual llamas
That's a big step forward you'll agree!
I'd learn to speak in antelope and turtle
And my Pekinese would be extremely good
If I were asked to sing in hippopotamus
I'd say "whynotamous?" and I would!
If I could parlay with pachyderms
It's a fairy tale worthy of Hans Anderson and Grimm
A man who walks with the animals and talks with the animals
Grunts and squeaks and squawks with the animals
And they could talk to *me*!
I'd study every *living* creature's language
So I could speak to all of them on site
If friends said "can he talk in crab or pelican?"
You'd say "*like hell he can" and you'll be right!
And if you just stop to think of it
There's no doubt of it
I would win a place in history
If I could walk with the animals
Talk with the animals
Grunt no word here squeak and squawk with the animals
And they could squeak and squawk and speak and talk to me!
Talk to the Animals was written by Leslie Bricusse.
Talk to the Animals was produced by Jerry Moss & Herb Alpert.