Tom Lehrer: Author Lyric Sheets
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Public-domain lyrics

The Ice Cream Tango

Tom Lehrer

Four characters turn the modest business of ordering ice cream into an elaborate ensemble number.

Tom Lehrer: Author Lyric Sheets Text 17 Undated text
Public domainTheatreFoodEveryday lifePlayfulAffectionate
Complete public-domain lyrics

Elizabeth, Sara, Jamie and Austin debate flavors and containers before agreeing on four cones. The sheet credits Lehrer with words and music for the 1973 UCSC production of Park. This edition retains every line on the main lyric page, including spoken replies and the overlapping final entrances in printed order. Page two offers possible scenes before and after the song; those optional scenes are not appended to the lyric.

A small wish

Elizabeth: [spoken] Do you know what I would really like right now?

[sung] I would like ---- some ice cream.

Sara & Jamie: Me too!

Elizabeth: I would like ---- a cone.

Sara & Jamie: Me too!

Austin: Me too!

Elizabeth: It would really hit the spot,

And make me feel a lot

Like a queen upon a throne.

The flavors

Jamie: [spoken] What flavor does your majesty crave?

Elizabeth: I would like ---- vanilla.

Jamie: Me too!

Austin: Not me. Iʼll take chocʼlate.

Sara: I want peach.

Jamie: [spoken] Peach??

Sara: [spoken] All right, chocʼlate.

Elizabeth: But wouldnʼt it be pleasant,

Some day when no oneʼs present,

To order one of each.

Sara: [spoken] Including peach! [Sara and Jamie stick tongues out at each other.]

Dish or cone?

Austin: Would you rather have a dish?

Elizabeth: [spoken] A bit too fancyish!

Austin: Would you like it on a plate?

Elizabeth: [spoken] Itʼs good -- but not great.

Austin: Would you like it on a stick?

Sara & Jamie: [spoken] Ick!

Austin: Well, how about a cup? [others shake their heads]

Okay, four cones, coming up!

Iʼll go and get the ice cream.

Four cones

Jamie: Me too! You canʼt carry them alone.

Elizabeth & Sara: Heʼs right.

Austin: I know.

Jamie: Two chocʼlates, two vanillas,

Elizabeth & Sara: Two chocʼlates, two vanillas.

Austin: For nothing the world has ever known........

Jamie: Nothing the world has ever known.......

Elizabeth & Sara: Nothing the world has ever known

All [in harmony]: Can compare with an ice cream

Elizabeth: Cone!

Austin & Jamie I want an ice cream cone!

Elizabeth & Sara: [spoken] Me too!

Credits

Written by Tom Lehrer

Words by Tom Lehrer, released into the public domain by the author. This is the author-published text edition, not a transcription of a particular performance.

Source & text edition

Author-published lyric sheet · original English words

Tom Lehrer's November 26, 2022 declaration relinquishes copyright in lyrics he wrote. It does not grant rights to third-party music, photographs or album artwork. This edition uses only his words.

Read the author’s lyric sheet (PDF)

View copyright evidence · Author’s public-domain declaration

Retrieved 2026-09-08. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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