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lyrics

Alfred Russel Rag (words&music Hans Hartgers)

Alfred Russel was a man with a most perculiar job
He travelled all around the world and never did he stop
Looking for those animals of which no white man had heard
But what Alfred most enjoyed has looking out for birds

When Alfred Russel saw a bird no white man ever saw
Alfred russel shot the bird although he was in awe
't was a beauty of a bird
it was a real scientific birth
Alfred Russel didn't know it was the last one on the earth

Killing new found specimen seems an awful shame today
But back in Alfred Russel's time it was the common way
Kill it, stuff it, name it and then sent it back home
Pack your bags and on you go, there's new grounds yet to roam

When Alfred Russel saw the bird he didn't hesitate
Alfred Russel shot the bird and thereby sealed it's fate
't was a beauty of a bird
it was a real scientific birth
Alfred Russel didn't know it was the last one on the earth

In Borneo he saw some birds, they took him by surprise
Someone aptly named them the birds of paradise
One species carries Alfred's name: Wallace's standard wing
But Alfred would have traded that for just one little thing

When Alfred Russel saw the bird he never even blinked
Alfred Russel shot the bird and it became extinct
't was a beauty of a bird
it was a real scientific birth
Alfred Russel didn't know it was the last one on the earth

Later on in Alfred's life he had a brush with fame
His and Darwin's theory were practically the same
But Alfred didn't want the fame, the glory and the gold
He thought about that lonely bird whose hide he never sold

credits

from Rompin' and Stompin', released January 8, 2018
Hans: leadvocals, harmonica + shaker
Ludo: dobro, whistle + vocals
Manus: guitar, whistle + vocals
Chris: bass + vocals

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The Charles Darwin Selection Enschede, Netherlands

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