TUNESMITH TUESDAY - "The Unicorn" by The Irish Rovers

The Unicorn was made popular by the Canadian band The Irish Rovers in 1968. It’s the best-known songs of the Irish Rovers' career. It sold 8 million copies worldwide and reached #2 in the US Adult Contemporary Charts, #7 in the U.S. Hot 100, and #5 in Ireland. It can still be heard regularly in Irish Pubs, and it’s a song I used to sing to my sons when they were little. The lyrics to the song are also printed as a poem in Silverstein's book, Where the Sidewalk Ends.

A long time ago, when the Earth was green,

There was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen.

And they'd run around free when the Earth was being born,

And the loveliest of 'em all was the unicorn.

There was green alligators and long-necked geese,

Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees.

Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born,

The loveliest of all was the unicorn.

Well now God seen some sinnin' and it caused Him pain.

And He said, "Stand back, I'm going to make it rain!"

He said, "Hey, Brother Noah, I'll tell you what to do,

build me a floating zoo,"

"and take some of them".......

"Green alligators and long-necked geese,

Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees.

Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born.

Don't you forget My unicorns."

Well Old Noah he was there and he answered the callin',

And he finished makin' the ark just as the rain started to fallin'.

Then he marched in all them animals two by two,

And he sung out as they went through,

"Hey Lord,"

"I got Your green alligators and long-necked geese,

Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees.

Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord, I'm so forlorn,

I just can't see no unicorns !"

And Noah looked out through the driving rain,

The unicorns were hiding, playing sally games.

They were kickin' and splashin' while the rain was pourin',

Oh, them silly unicorns!

There was green alligators and long-necked geese,

Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees.

Noah cried, "Close the door 'cause the rain is just pourin',

And we just cannot wait for no unicorn!"

The ark started moving, and it drifted with the tide,

And the unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried.

And the waters come down and sort of flooded them away,

That's why you never seen a unicorn to this very day.

But you'll see green alligators and long-necked geese,

Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees.

Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born,

You're never gonna see no unicorn!