The lion and the Griffin

The lion and the griffin
They were fighting
For the shield of St George
When Hercules walked down
To the Danube
And said to them both climb on board

Well down in the reeds
He met St Christopher
Carrying on his shoulder
The Saviour Our Lord
And Hercules said to the child
Well come on now
And climb on board

And as he was crossing that old river
The tide was strong, the river broad
And then he met old Moses and the Israelites
And so he said to them
Climb on board

Old Moses he proved very useful
He cut back the tide with his sword
And down with the flapping fish
They met Atlas
Who said my shoulders are strong
So climb on board

Now down on the river bed
It was muddy
And Atlas began to sink
Under his hoard
Until who should he meet
But a great sea snake
Who said my back is long
So climb on board

Now they all slithered along quite safely
And they thought
All of their problems were cured
Until they met old Satan
Hiding in the river basin
And he whispered to them
Climb on board

So they went down
That old plug hole
Where it is the whirl pool of the world
But down at the gate
Satan met his check mate
In the fine figure of the Lord

Now He said to Satan
Give them back
Their souls are mine I am assured
And so they had a fight
In the darkest time of night
And in the morn
The Lord said to them all
Climb on board

So he brought them up
The plug hole
And tread down on the head
Of the serpent
And they all rose alright
In the new day's light
Out on the other river shore

Thanks to you we have been saved
Thanks to you we are cured
And the Lord said in response
That is nonsense
Anytime you need me I can be called
Just look up and pray
And climb on board