“I did not crêpe up
To say goodnight …
I just crêped up to say: Ello!”
Lyrics
Verse 1
Excuse me, Madamoiselle,
I know it is so very very rude of me
To just crêpe up your table out of le Bleu.
It’s just I could not help but notice
That tonight you are dining alone,
Though your table is set for two.
Perhaps I could entice you
To a sweet, crisp champagne
That we could sip together, just before you go.
You see, I did not crêpe up
To say goodnight …
I just crêped up to say … Ello
Verse 2
Oh, I find it most distressing
That this “boyfriend” of yours
Would let you down. Ah … men! They can be so cruel.
But perhaps we could find a way to bring
A little sparkle to those eyes,
Oh, and those eyes – I have to say – are très beautiful!
Garçon! Bring Madamoiselle
Your special Flambe Exotique
Then Poisson Fumé and … er … Banane au Cointreau.
You may have noticed, I did not crêpe up
To say goodnight …
I just crêped up to say … Ello
Bridge
Ah, listen! They are playing my favourite song.
You must know it: Le Petit Chanson d’Amour.
It would be so very chic, up there dancing cheek to cheek,
Or is there something else you’d rather do?
Verse 3
Ah, bon soir Madamoiselle
It is so very very kind of you
To invite me to your room – je suis enchanté.
And I have to say that velvet dress you’re wearing
Is very daring. Oh, mon Dieu …
Do you not think you should leave it on?
After all, your flimsy French lingerie will not keep you warm.
You want me to keep you warm!
Ah, Cherie, I see you already know
I did not crêpe up
To say goodnight …
I just crêped up to say … Ello
Ello!
Ello!!
Ello!!!
I did not crêpe up
To say goodnight …
I just crêped up to say … ‘Ello
Notes:
“Ello” is my happiest and funniest ever recording memory.
Together with my great sound engineer mate, James Hewgill, and some of the best jazz musicians in town at the time, I cooked up this musico-culinary pièce de resistance long before Master Chef had even been thought of.
It’s not quite French. It’s not quite jazz. It’s not quite romance. It’s not quite anything I can put a label to. Still, the judges of the WA Music industry Association’s prestigious annual Song Contest saw fit to award “Ello” first prize in the Jazz/Blues category, way back in 19-something-or-other. So it must be something!
There comes a point in every man’s life where he has to recognise and honour his inner sleaze, or at least his inner French Waiter. “Ello” is my humble tribute … Bon appetit!
Image courtesy of people-clipart.com
