SONG TEXT

Gabriel Fauré: Messieu Aoul! (from "Dolly Suite"), Opus 56, No. 2 (SMB #129)

(Mr. Aoul!, re-entitled: The lesson; anonymous text)

You may have noticed, my little friends, that cats they don't wash their faces before they eat, as children do in all good Christian places. Well years ago a famous cat was she, the pangs of hunger feeling had chanced to catch a delicious young mouse. [Spoken: And as the mouse ceased squealing, he said to the cat:] "All genteel folk their faces wash before they think of eating." And, wishing to be thought well bred, heeded his entreating. But when she raised her paw to wash, chance for escape affording, the sly young mouse said goodbye without respect to wording. A feline council met on that very day. [Spoken: And the council passed in solemn meeting a law forbidding any cat to wash till after eating.] A law forbidding any cat to wash till after eating mice!

(Approx. performance timing: 2:31)

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