Lyrics

[Verse 1]

There’s a body in the clearing, there’s a sweetness on the breeze,

And a trail of twitching noses weaving in between the trees.

First a raptor takes a mouthful, then an Allo wants a share,

Then a roar rolls through the branches—and the raptor isn’t there.

Now a Rex is at the table with his foot upon the prize,

And a very pointed warning in his very watchful eyes.

He announces he’s the owner. Several others disagree.

While he’s busy glaring at them, there’s an opening for me.

[Chorus]

Dinner bell, dinner bell, ringing through the trees,

Everybody’s hungry, nobody says please!

One dead giant, half the island wants a seat,

And a hundred hungry reasons not to reach in for the meat.

Take a bite, take a chance, keep an eye upon the brush,

Everybody’s waiting for somebody else to rush.

Dinner bell, dinner bell, follow where it leads—

Sometimes dinner gathers more teeth than it feeds!

[Verse 2]

There’s an Allo on the left side, there’s another circling right,

And a Cerato who insists he’s only here for one small bite.

The big ones watch each other, every stare a silent threat,

While the little ones keep eating anything their jaws can get.

Then an Allo makes a challenge; off the Rex goes in pursuit,

And a dozen hungry shadows hurry in to claim the loot.

I should leave with what I’ve taken. I should get behind that tree.

But there’s one more easy mouthful sitting right in front of me.

[Chorus]

Dinner bell, dinner bell, ringing through the trees,

Everybody’s hungry, nobody says please!

One dead giant, half the island wants a seat,

And a hundred hungry reasons not to reach in for the meat.

Take a bite, take a chance, keep an eye upon the brush,

Everybody’s waiting for somebody else to rush.

Dinner bell, dinner bell, follow where it leads—

Sometimes dinner gathers more teeth than it feeds!

[Bridge]

Then the clearing falls to silence,

And a shadow blocks the view.

There’s a breath against my shoulder,

And I suddenly forget to chew.

Then a rival roars a challenge,

And the great head swings around.

I depart without discussion,

Keeping very near the ground.

[Verse 3]

By the time the kings stop arguing, the ribs are showing white,

And a dozen little diners have gone waddling through the night.

Let the biggest have his kingdom, let him sit upon his throne—

We have supper in our bellies.

He can guard the bones alone.

[Final Chorus]

Dinner bell, dinner bell, ringing through the trees,

Everybody came for dinner—nobody said please!

One dead giant, half the island wants a seat,

But the ones who claimed the table weren’t the first ones there to eat.

Take your bite, take your leave, let the big ones have their say,

There’s a difference between claiming food and eating it today.

Dinner bell, dinner bell, follow where it leads—

Sometimes dinner gathers more teeth than it feeds!

[Outro]

“Who won?”

“No idea.”

“Good dinner, though.”