Willy Wong

by Ralph McTell

The man who runs our chip shop is known as Willy Wong
He makes the greatest fish and chips, he's a marvellous Chinese cook
But people round here are slow to change, they still want haddock or rock
They still refrain from the old chow main, poor old Mr Wong.

Wrap it all up in the Tickle Times, it's got to be wrapped in paper
A nice pickled onion and a wally on top, plenty of salt and vinegar
No chopsticks with your fish and chips, oh how the flavour lingers
It's a special treat walking down the street eating it with your fingers.

Well Granny Gribble came in one day and she ordered, "Fish and peas, please."
"Just this once," said Mr Wong, "Please try something Chinese."
So Granny tried some sweet and sour and it tasted very nice
Now everyone loves egg fu yong and the special prawn fried rice.

Wrap it all up in the Tickle Times, it's got to be wrapped in paper
A nice pickled onion and a wally on top, plenty of salt and vinegar
No chopsticks with your fish and chips, oh how the flavour lingers
It's a special treat walking down the street eating it with your fingers.

Well things are changing now in this town of Tickle
People still love fish and chips with an onion that is pickled
But bamboo shoots are coming in, they're crunchy and they're chewy
And it's nice to take a stroll with a fresh spring roll and a carton of chop suey.

Wrap it all up in the Tickle Times, it's got to be wrapped in paper
A nice pickled onion and a wally on top, plenty of salt and vinegar
No chopsticks with your fish and chips, oh how the flavour lingers
It's a special treat walking down the street eating it with your fingers.