She climbs a tree
And scrapes her knee
Her dress has got a tear.

She waltzes on her way to mass

And whistles on the stair.

And underneath her wimpole
She has curlers in her hair!

I ever hear her singing in the abbey.

She´s always late for chapel,

But her penitence is real.

She´s always late for everything,
Except for every meal.

I hate to have to say it
But I very firmly feel

Maria´s not an asset to the abbey!

I´d like to say a word in her behalf.
Maria makes me laugh!

How do you solve a problem like Maria?

How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?

How do you find a word that means Maria?

A flibberti gibbet!

A willo´ the wisp!

A clown!

Many a thing you know you´d like to tell her,
Many a thing she ought to understand.

But how do you make her stay
And listen to all you say,

How do you keep a wave upon the sand?

Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?

How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

When I´m with her I´m confused,
Out of focus and bemused,
And I never know exactly where I am.

Unpredictable as weather,
She´s as flighty as a feather,

She´s a darling,

She´s a demon,

She´s a lamb.

She´d out-pester any pest,
Drive a hornet from his nest,

She can throw a whirling dervish
Out of whirl.

She is gentle,
She is wild,

She´s a riddle.

She´s a child.

She´s a headache!

She´s an angel!

She´s a girl.

How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a clown and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibberti gibbet!
A willo´ the wisp!
A clown!
Many a thing you know you´d like to tell her,
Many a thing she ought to understand.
But how do you make her say,
And listen to all you say?
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?

How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?