The Bellman's Speech
Bajka Lyrics

Come, listen, people, while I tell you again
Please give me your attention as I inform you once more

The five unmistakable marks
There are five characteristics that cannot be mistaken

By which you may know, wherever you go,
Regardless of where you are, you may recognize

The warranted genuine Snarks.
An authentic Snark

Let us take them in order. The first is the taste,
To begin, let's talk about its taste

Which is meagre and hollow, but crisp:
It's not very flavorful, but still crunchy

Like a coat that is rather too tight in the waist,
Similar to a coat that's too small around the midsection

With a flavour of Will-o'-the-wisp.
With a hint of a mysterious, elusive quality

We have sailed many weeks, we have sailed many days,
We've been searching for a Snark for a long time

(Seven days to the week I allow),
(I acknowledge there are seven days in a week)

But a true Snark on who, we might lovingly gaze,
But we've never seen a real Snark until now

Its habit of getting up late you'll agree
You'll surely acknowledge its tendency to sleep in

That it carries too far, when I say
In fact, it takes this habit too seriously

That it frequently breakfasts at five-o'clock tea,
And often eats breakfast with afternoon tea

And dines on the following day.
And then eats dinner the next day

The third is its slowness in taking a jest.
The third characteristic is how it's slow to understand humor

Should you happen to venture on one,
If you make a joke in its presence

It will sigh like a thing that is deeply distressed:
It will react with a heavy sigh, seeming quite upset

And it always looks grave at a pun.
Even puns, which are supposed to be funny, don't register as humor to it

We have sailed many weeks, we have sailed many days,
We're still on this mission to find a Snark

(Seven days to the week I allow),
(As a reminder, there are seven days in a week)

But a true Snark on who, we might lovingly gaze,
Yet we still haven't seen a genuine Snark

The fourth is its fondness for bathing-machines,
Now let's talk about the Snark's love of bathing equipment

Which it constantly carries about,
It always has bathing machines with it

And believes that they add to the beauty of scenes—
And it thinks that they enhance the beauty of surroundings

A sentiment open to doubt.
Not everyone necessarily agrees with that sentiment

The fifth is ambition. It next will be right
Finally, let's talk about the Snark's ambition

To describe each particular batch:
And we'll differentiate between batches of Snarks

Distinguishing those that have feathers, and bite,
Identifying those with feathers and a bite

From those that have whiskers, and scratch.
Separating them from those with whiskers and a tendency to scratch

For, though common Snarks do no manner of harm,
Although many Snarks aren't dangerous

Yet, I feel it my duty to say,
As the Bellman, I must say

Some are Boojums—" The Bellman broke off in alarm,
That some are Boojums, but the Bellman stops short in shock

For the Baker had fainted away.
Because the Baker has fainted

We have sailed many weeks, we have sailed many days,
Our journey has been long and arduous

(Seven days to the week I allow),
(And we all know there are seven days in a week)

But a true Snark on who, we might lovingly gaze,
Despite our efforts, we've never seen a true Snark until now