Appearing in many British films, including three Carry On films, the second Doctor Who film and The Railway Children, Cribbins was also the narrator of the British animated children's TV series The Wombles, a BBC radio adaptation of The Wind in the Willows and many episodes of Jackanory. Other television appearances included Fawlty Towers as the spoon salesman Mr Hutchinson, in the episode "The Hotel Inspectors" (1975).
Later television appearances include playing Wally Bannister in the long running UK soap Coronation Street, also appearing in Doctor Who for the Christmas episode 2009 as Wilfred Mott, alongside actor David Tennant.
The Tale of a Mouse
Bernard Cribbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An elephant, wide and tall
On the whole he was large for an elephant
While the mouse, for a mouse, was small
But the love of the mouse
Was as big as a house
And she cried to the midnight sky
"I′m in love with him so
Or die."
So she started to be being seen around
In places where elephants go
With the air of a mouse that has been around
With a nod and a "Hiya, Joe."
But she couldn't impart
That the love in her heart
It was more than her heart could bare
And the elephant thought
"She′s a very friendly sort, but square."
"Give him up." Said her friends
"Give him up and forget."
"It will never work out." Said her aunt
"Oh, I know." Said the mouse
"And I know that I should,
And I would if I could, but I can't."
But at last it became so unbareable
She went very far away
For she knew that her love was unshareable
And she hoped she'd forget one day
Well she did in the end
Her heart seemed to mend
And the past, well the past was dead
She′s no longer in love with an elephant, of course
But she′s fallen for a horse instead
The lyrics of "The Tale of a Mouse" by Bernard Cribbins tell a story of unrequited love between a mouse and an elephant. The mouse, despite being small in comparison to the large elephant, falls deeply in love with him. The love of the mouse is described as being as big as a house, showing the intensity of her feelings. She longs to confess her love to the elephant or else feel like she will die.
In order to get closer to the elephant, the mouse starts frequenting places where elephants go, trying to make her presence known. However, she is unable to convey the depth of her love, and the elephant only sees her as a friendly but square acquaintance. The mouse's friends and aunt advise her to give up on her love for the elephant, but she knows she cannot. Eventually, the situation becomes unbearable for the mouse, and she decides to distance herself from the elephant, hoping to forget her unshareable love.
In the end, the mouse does move on and falls in love with a horse instead, indicating that her heart has healed from the unrequited love for the elephant. The song explores themes of unrequited love, longing, and the need to move on and find love elsewhere when faced with impossible circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
A mouse fell in love with an elephant
There was once a small mouse who fell deeply in love with a massive elephant.
An elephant, wide and tall
The elephant was incredibly large in size, towering over everything.
On the whole he was large for an elephant
Compared to other elephants, he was unusually big.
While the mouse, for a mouse, was small
Considering the average size of mice, this particular mouse was quite tiny.
But the love of the mouse
Despite their contrasting sizes, the mouse held a love so strong.
Was as big as a house
The magnitude of her affection could be compared to the vastness of a house.
And she cried to the midnight sky
Feeling overwhelmed by her emotions, she cried out to the dark and silent sky.
"I'm in love with him so
She expressed her love with utmost sincerity.
I gotta let him know
She felt the urgency to confess her feelings to the elephant.
Or die."
She believed that if she couldn't reveal her love, her spirit would suffer.
So she started to be being seen around
To get closer to the elephant, she deliberately positioned herself in his surroundings.
In places where elephants go
She frequented the areas elephants typically occupy.
With the air of a mouse that has been around
She carried herself with the confidence of a well-traveled mouse.
With a nod and a "Hiya, Joe."
She greeted the elephant with a friendly nod and a cheerful salutation.
But she couldn't impart
Unfortunately, she couldn't fully convey
That the love in her heart
The immense love that resided within her heart
It was more than her heart could bear
The intensity of her love was almost overwhelming for her fragile heart.
And the elephant thought
The elephant perceived
"She's a very friendly sort, but square."
Although the elephant considered her amiable, he found her somewhat ordinary.
"Give him up." Said her friends
Her friends advised her to let go of her affection for the elephant.
"Give him up and forget."
They suggested she abandon her feelings and erase them from her memory.
"It will never work out." Said her aunt
Her aunt expressed doubt, claiming that their love could never succeed.
"Oh, I know." Said the mouse
The mouse acknowledged the truth in their words.
"And I know that I should
She understood the rationale behind their advice
And I would if I could, but I can't."
Regrettably, she admitted that despite her willingness, she simply couldn't comply.
But at last it became so unbearable
As time passed, the weight of her unrequited love became too much to bear.
She went very far away
In search of relief, she decided to distance herself from the situation.
For she knew that her love was unshareable
She recognized that her love for the elephant was something she couldn't share with him.
And she hoped she'd forget one day
In her heartache, she held onto a glimmer of hope that one day she would forget.
Well she did in the end
Eventually, as time went on,
Her heart seemed to mend
Her broken heart gradually healed.
And the past, well the past was dead
The memories of her love for the elephant became a thing of the past.
She's no longer in love with an elephant, of course
As expected, she no longer carried any feelings for the elephant.
But she's fallen for a horse instead
Instead, she found herself falling in love with a horse.
Writer(s): Myles Rudge, Ted Dicks
Contributed by Isabelle F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sam
on Paddington Bear
Marmalade!