Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.

Tonga Wallah, why do you whip me so hard,

Why the fuss - I'm curious to know?

Have I disturbed you in some previous life,

That you should be treating me so?

Its alright for you, just sitting back there

Imperiously holding the reins.

Or playing with the whip, and enjoying yourself,'

While I suffer the aches and pains.

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.

Now horse, stop this muttering, have you no shame?

Think of your ancestors instead.

Where's your patriotism, and sense of pride

In the plume you wear on your head.

You talk too much, that's the trouble with you;

I warn you, you'd better beware:

I’ll sprinkle some chilli on top of your bit,

And maybe a little elsewhere!

Clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop.

Tonga Wallah, surely, you wouldn't do that;

No leader to such tricks succumbs.

And look over there at those two pretty girls

They are, for example, real chums.

They must have overheard you speaking to me,

I'll give them a wink as we pass;

They look very rich, with good places to live,

But they'll not look at us - alas!

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.

Now horse, trot on, as if you don't have a care;

No winking, nor swishing the tail.

If that policeman there notes down our number,

Our next destination is jail.

Then, 'rattling bones,' how do we get out of that?

Who'll come forward to pay the fines?

Fresh air turned off; camaraderie gone;

I warn you to think on those lines,

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.

Tonga Wallah, I'm tired and I'm hungry,

My heart says its going to burst.

Could we not stop at the next tonga stand

For some hay, and to slake my thirst?

Of course (you are quite right), God taught me to trot,

But not with two shafts at my sides;

A saddle on my back, a chassis behind,

And a madman sitting inside

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.

Chup! Or I'll whip you till your bones start to shine,

And pluck-out the hairs from your tail.

You old bones of a horse with no fixed abode,

Full of gossip to no avail.

Trotting smartly is your natural state,

So why do you always complain?

And if your heart wants to burst, then let it burst,

It will not trouble you again!

Clip-clip, clop-clop, clip-clip, clop-clop.

Tonga Wallah, I'm thinking; now you must listen

To an idea from the horse's mouth:

Please marry someone with plenty of money

And live in a very big house.

The lady will enjoy the tonga too much,

Because it is now in fashion:

Fresh paint, new cushions, and an upmarket hood,

And for myself, better rations.

Clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop.

The horse's mouth talks about nothing but food,

You bone-headed son of an owl.

How do you suppose that we're going to live?

And, you can get rid of that scowl.

Suppose I get married, then what will you do,

If tongas are definitely barred?

A car with a chauffeur will drive me around,

And  you'll go to the butcher's yard!

Clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop.

Tonga Wallah, I didn't hear that, because

There's a friendly voice in my ears,

Reminding me that polluting motor cars

Are no longer what fashion fears.

As to the owl, it has two legs (I have four)

And the face of a scheming shrew,

While my ears stand erect and my carriage proud,

And my coat is as good as new.

Clip-clop-clip-clop-clip-clop-clip-clop.

For once, just once, you are right about fashion;

Which means there'll be no butchers' yard.

But, if you take advantage of my kindness,

I still hold the only trump card!

Some people may call this a horse drawn carriage,

Even a buggy or a gig;

So long as they pay the fare, plus a tip,

I don't care a mango or fig.

Clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop.

Tonga Wallah, I don't like these fancy names:

Is 'Buggy' Wallah something new?

As for 'Gig' Wallah, that's not a nice name

To describe great men - such as you!

An 'old bones of a horse,' I still have my pride

Even if I sometimes complain:

So now I will make a new resolution:

'Not ever to grumble again.

Clip-clop-clip-clop-clip-clop-clip-clop.

Whatever customers say, hold your head high,

Demonstrate 'the dance of the plume.'

And when they see this, they must surely exclaim:

'Make way! Give the tonga more room.'

Now, together with this new resolution,

A gentle whip, and a fresh trot:

People will admire your majestic presence,

And the style great tongas have got.

Clip-clop-clip-clop-clip-clop-clip-clop.

Tonga Wallah you are my very good friend,

You have spoken words of reason.

I am saluting you, by shaking my plume,

As this is the 'mango' season.

So don't be too hard on the king of all fruit,

And please don't be angry with me:

Romance beckons and the quawalis will cry:

'Tonga Wallah Makes History.'

Clip-clop-clip-clop-clip-clop-clip-clop.

Listen horse!  It is time to tell you the truth;

Qawalis are singing it thus:

The world's careering on to nowhere, it seems,

With no room for the likes of us.

These trishaws and scooters have usurped the space

We filled with dignity, and style:

Welcoming passengers, whoever they were,

With salaams, and a friendly smile.

Clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop, clip(ity)-clop., clip(ity)-clop

Tonga Wallah, next stop the ministers house,

To demand an explanation,

And invite him to ride in our tonga, free,

To his favourite destination.

Then you may start whipping as hard as you please,

And I'll gallop, you wait and see,

Till the minister raises his hand and cries:

Oh! Ho!  This is enough for me.

Postscript.

And then, a hundred tongas will guard your bride,

Ourselves in the VIP slot;

Leaving pride of place in my tonga for God:

To see just how well I still trot.

The harness and plume will be second to none,

My livery of designer's choice.

And I'll do my work with a new sense of pride,

To the call of my lady's voice.'