I was told a story a tease
And I would tell it to you
If you please
She was the daughter
Of a proud rich knight
Who held large banquets
For her every night

He was the son of
Poor John Little
Having no land or title

People said it was a disgrace
Others said it was out of place
Her love none could displace
For this boy of lowly race

One day she, he wanted to please
But had naught to purchase a flea
In his borrowed coat
A crumpled dollar note

He took her to a dining hall
Envious glances from all

The menu he scanned through
To see what a dollar could do
The items of them all
For one dollar were two fish balls

To the waiter he silently did call
Please just two fish balls
The waiter shouted down the hall
For this man just two fish balls!

The young man he felt so small
He quickly left the dining hall

From under an oak tree
With a cheap rope he dangled free

The moral of it all
When with a lady
Please no fish balls