Plant a radish, get a radish Never any doubt That's why I love vegetables: You know what you're about! Plant a turnip, get a turnip Maybe you'll get two That's why I love vegetables: You know that they'll come through! They're dependable! They're befriendable! They're the best pal a parent's ever known While with children, it's bewilderin' You don't know until the seed is nearly grown just what you've sown So plant a carrot, get a carrot Not a Brussels sprout. That's why I love vegetables: You know what you're about! Life is merry, if it's very Vegetarian! A man who plants a garden is a Very happy man! Plant a beanstalk, get a beanstalk Just the same as Jack Then if you don't like it, You can always take it back! But if your issue doesn't kiss you, Then I wish you luck 'Cause once you've planted children, You're absolutely stuck! Every turnip green! Every kidney bean! Every plant grows according to the plot! While with progeny, It's hodge-podgenee... For as soon as you think you know what kind you've got, it's what they're not! So plant a cabbage, get a cabbage Not a sauerkraut! That's why I love vegetables: You know what you're about! Life is merry, if it's very Vegetarian! A man who plants a garden is a Very happy man! A ve-gi-tar-i- Very merry Ve--ge-- -tar--i-- -an!
recording: Bert Lahr & Stanley Holloway (1964) [YouTube]