Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals: I. Introduction

It's carnival time in the animal kingdom

They've come from the distant most ends of the Earth

To mingle and gamble and gossip and jostle each other

And show what they know about mirth

Now we cannot see all of them, much as we'd like to

And therefore, at random, we'll just have to choose some

We've got a fine bunch of musicians on hand

Plus a pair of pianists: you win some, you lose some

So make yourselves comfortable, ladies and gents

The procession of beasts is about to commence