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Philip H Pope - The Amphioxus Song

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Also known as "It's a Long Way from Amphioxus."
Penned in 1921.
Sung and played to the tune of “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.”
[Verse]
CA fish-like thing appeared among the annelids one day.G  
CIt hadn't any parapods B7nor setae to disEmplay.
CIt hadn't any eyes nor jaws, B7nor ventral nervous Emcord,
But E7it had a lot of Dgill slits and it D7had a notoGchord.
[Chorus]
It's a Clong way from Amphioxus. It's a Flong way to Cus.
It's a long way from Amphioxus to the Dmeanest D7human Gcuss.
CWell, it's goodbye to fins and gill C7slits, and it's Fwelcome lungs and E7hair!
It's a Clong, long way from AmphiFoxCus, but Dwe all Gcame from Cthere.
[Verse]
CIt wasn't much to look at and it scarce knew how to sGwim,
CAnd Nereis was very sure it B7hadn't come from Emhim.
CThe mollusks wouldn't own it B7and the arthropods got Emsore,
So the E7poor thing had to D7burrow in the D7sand along the Gshore.
CHe burrowed in the sand before a crab could nip his tail,G  
CAnd he said "Gill slits and B7myotomes are all to no aEmvail.
CI've grown some metapleural folds and B7sport an oral Emhood,
But E7all these fine new Dcharacters don't D7do me any Ggood."
[Chorus]
It's a Clong way from Amphioxus. It's a Flong way to Cus.
It's a long way from Amphioxus to the Dmeanest D7human Gcuss.
CWell, it's goodbye to fins and gill C7slits, and it's Fwelcome lungs and E7hair!
It's a Clong, long way from AmphiFoxCus, but Dwe all Gcame from Cthere.
[Verse]
CIt sulked awhile down in the sand without a bGit of pep,
CThen he stiffened up his notochord and B7said, "I'll beat 'em Emyet!
CLet 'em laugh and show their ignorance. B7I don't mind their jEmeers.
E7Just wait until they Dsee me in a D7hundred million Gyears.
My notochord shall turCn into a chain of verteGbrae
CAnd as fins my metapleural folds B7will agitate the Emsea.
CMy tiny dorsal nervous cord B7will be a mighty Embrain
And the E7vertebrates shall Ddominate the D7animal domGain."
[Chorus]
It's a Clong way from Amphioxus. It's a Flong way to Cus.
It's a long way from Amphioxus to the Dmeanest D7human Gcuss.
CWell, it's goodbye to fins and gill C7slits, and it's Fwelcome lungs and E7hair!
It's a Clong, long way from AmphiFoxCus, but Dwe all Gcame from Cthere.

All chords in this song (9)

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Philip H Pope - The Amphioxus Song

by Misc Unsigned Bands

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Also known as "It's a Long Way from Amphioxus."

Penned in 1921.

Sung and played to the tune of “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.”

[Verse]

C G

A fish-like thing appeared among the annelids one day.

C B7 Em

It hadn't any parapods nor setae to display.

C B7 Em

It hadn't any eyes nor jaws, nor ventral nervous cord,

E7 D D7 G

But it had a lot of gill slits and it had a notochord.

[Chorus]

C F C

It's a long way from Amphioxus. It's a long way to us.

D D7 G

It's a long way from Amphioxus to the meanest human cuss.

C C7 F E7

Well, it's goodbye to fins and gill slits, and it's welcome lungs and hair!

C F C D G C

It's a long, long way from Amphioxus, but we all came from there.

[Verse]

C G

It wasn't much to look at and it scarce knew how to swim,

C B7 Em

And Nereis was very sure it hadn't come from him.

C B7 Em

The mollusks wouldn't own it and the arthropods got sore,

E7 D7 D7 G

So the poor thing had to burrow in the sand along the shore.

C G

He burrowed in the sand before a crab could nip his tail,

C B7 Em

And he said "Gill slits and myotomes are all to no avail.

C B7 Em

I've grown some metapleural folds and sport an oral hood,

E7 D D7 G

But all these fine new characters don't do me any good."

[Chorus]

C F C

It's a long way from Amphioxus. It's a long way to us.

D D7 G

It's a long way from Amphioxus to the meanest human cuss.

C C7 F E7

Well, it's goodbye to fins and gill slits, and it's welcome lungs and hair!

C F C D G C

It's a long, long way from Amphioxus, but we all came from there.

[Verse]

C G

It sulked awhile down in the sand without a bit of pep,

C B7 Em

Then he stiffened up his notochord and said, "I'll beat 'em yet!

C B7 Em

Let 'em laugh and show their ignorance. I don't mind their jeers.

E7 D D7 G

Just wait until they see me in a hundred million years.

C G

My notochord shall turn into a chain of vertebrae

C B7 Em

And as fins my metapleural folds will agitate the sea.

C B7 Em

My tiny dorsal nervous cord will be a mighty brain

E7 D D7 G

And the vertebrates shall dominate the animal domain."

[Chorus]

C F C

It's a long way from Amphioxus. It's a long way to us.

D D7 G

It's a long way from Amphioxus to the meanest human cuss.

C C7 F E7

Well, it's goodbye to fins and gill slits, and it's welcome lungs and hair!

C F C D G C

It's a long, long way from Amphioxus, but we all came from there.

About Philip H Pope - The Amphioxus Song Chords by Misc Unsigned Bands

Learn how to play Philip H Pope - The Amphioxus Song by Misc Unsigned Bands with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Philip H Pope - The Amphioxus Song chords”, “Philip H Pope - The Amphioxus Song guitar chords”, or “Misc Unsigned Bands Philip H Pope - The Amphioxus Song chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Philip H Pope - The Amphioxus Song chords and for experienced players who want accurate Philip H Pope - The Amphioxus Song lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, G, A, B7, Em, E7.

FAQ — Philip H Pope - The Amphioxus Song by Misc Unsigned Bands

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The chords for "Philip H Pope - The Amphioxus Song" show the original chord names (including C, G, A, B7, Em, E7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.