[Intro: sparse darbuka taps, low bass drone, whispered gang‑chant] Tiptoe down the alleyway, Lanterns flicker, shadows sway. Someone hums a crooked tune, Trouble’s waking with the moon. [Chorus – Classic Playground Rhyme: full band, stomping rhythm, gang‑vocals] There’s a place in France Where the naked ladies dance. There’s a hole in the wall Where the boys can see it all. [Verse 1: RedFace lead vocal, plucky guitar, darbuka rolls] Down the crooked street, Past the baker selling treats, There’s a tiny little door With a creaky wooden floor. If you tiptoe by, And you listen with a sigh, You can hear the fiddles play In a secret sideways way. [Refrain – New Version: clap‑stomp pattern, ney flute accents] Oh‑la‑la, the lanterns glow, Round and round the children go. Clap your hands and stomp your feet, Down the silly, secret street. [Chorus – Classic Playground Rhyme: louder, rowdier, extra percussion] There’s a place in France Where the naked ladies dance. There’s a hole in the wall Where the boys can see it all. [Verse 2: faster tempo, jangly guitar, frame drum hits] All the cats in town Wear their whiskers upside‑down, And the mayor’s fancy hat Has a feather shaped like that. Every night at nine, When the moon begins to shine, All the windows start to glow With a wiggly, giggly show. [Refrain – New Version: gang‑chant, stomps, tambourine] Oh‑la‑la, the lanterns glow, Round and round the children go. Clap your hands and stomp your feet, Down the silly, secret street. [Verse 3: RedFace raspy storytelling, darbuka + bass groove] There’s a guard named Lou With a monocle of blue, And he swears he saw a ghost Eating jelly on toast. There’s a juggler in the square Throwing pickles in the air, And the crowd begins to cheer When the dancers all appear. [Chorus – Classic Playground Rhyme: full ensemble shout] There’s a place in France Where the naked ladies dance. There’s a hole in the wall Where the boys can see it all. [Bridge – Whisper‑Chant: ney flute, soft frame drum, breathy RedFace delivery] Round and round the lantern light, Tiptoe softly through the night. If you hear the drummer’s beat, Shuffle quiet with your feet. Shh… don’t sneeze… Don’t cough… don’t wheeze… Or the whole town yells, “Who peeked through the leaves!” [Call & Response – Kids’ Style: stomps, claps, gang‑vocals] Leader: Who’s that peeking Crowd: Not me, not me Leader: Who’s that sneaking Crowd: Can’t see, can’t see Leader: Who’s that laughing behind the wall Crowd: Everybody, everybody, all of y’all [Final Chorus – Classic Playground Rhyme: maximum chaos, full band] There’s a place in France Where the naked ladies dance. There’s a hole in the wall Where the boys can see it all. [Outro – RedFace croon, ney flute flourish, soft percussion] If you wander by chance To that silly town in France, Take a hop, skip, jump, Do the wiggle‑wiggle dance. ’Cause the whole place sings When the nighttime rings, And the dancers twirl Like they’re tied to springs.
