i was taking compass bearings for the ordinance survey on an army training camp in salisbury plain i had packed up my theodolite i was calling it a day when i heard a voice that sang a sad refrain oh my darling armadillo let me tell you of my love listen to my armadillo roundelay be my fellow on my pillow underneath this weeping willow be my darling armadillo all the day i was somewhat disconcerted by this curious affair for a single armadillo you will own on salisbury plain in summer is comparatively rare and a pair of them is practically unknown drawn by that mellow solo there i followed on my bike to discover what these armadillo lovers would be like oh my darling armadillo how delightful it would be if for us those silver wedding bells would chime let the orange blossoms billow you need only say i will oh be my darling armadillo all the time then i saw them in a hollow by a yellow muddy bank an armadillo singing to an armour plated tank should i tell him gaunt and rusting with the willow tree above this abandoned on manoeuvres is the object of your love i left him to his singing i cycled home without a pause never tell a man the truth about the one that he adores  on the breeze that follows sunset i could hear that sad refrain singing willow willow willow down the way and i seemed to hear it still oh vive l amour vive l armadillo be my darling armadillo all the day be my darling armadillo all the day 