shel silverstein
From Shel Silverstein's album "Inside Folk Songs" of November 1962, the song was not mentioned much until The Irish Rovers released it as a single January 22, 1968. The single from the album with the same title sold 8 million copies worldwide, and reached #7 in the US Billboard Hot 100, #2 in the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart, #4 in Canada and #5 in Ireland. Not bad for an originally nursery rhyme. Lots of people still walk around thinking it's a traditional Irish folk song.
It is not, and the unicorn is not a fantasy. It was a real creature that missed boarding Noah's Ark. They were the loveliest of all animals, God's own favourite, but unfortunately He made them rather silly, just like mankind. The fabulous genius Sheldon Allan Silverstein (1939-1999) have stated this, so it's gotta be true. Thou shalt ALWAYS listen to a stable genius. Just look at Donald Trump.
AND : Uncle ShelDON may also have been a bit oracular. Now facing the greatest flood of all, mankind will perish because of playing silly games instead of heeding the call.
a long time ago when the Earth was green
there was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen
they'd run around free while the world was being born
and the loveliest of all was the unicorn
there was green alligators and long-neck geese
there was humpy bumpy camels and some chimpanzees
there was catsandratsandelephants but sure as you're born
the loveliest of all was the unicorn
but the Lord seen some sinnin' and it caused Him pain
He says «stand back : I'm gonna make it rain»
He says «Hey Brother Noah : I'll tell ya whatcha do
go and build me a floating zoo
and you take two alligators and a couple of geese
two humpy bumpy camels and two chimpanzees
take two catsandratsandelephants but sure as you're born
Noah : don't you forget my unicorn!»
now Noah was there to answer the callin'
and he finished up the ark just as the rain started fallin'
he marched in the animals two by two
and he called out as they went through
«hey Lord I've got Your two alligators and Your couple of geese
Your humpy bumpy camels and Your chimpanzees
got Your catsandratsandelephants but Lord : I'm so forlorn
'cause I just don't see no unicorn»
ol' Noah looked out through the drivin' rain
but the unicorns were hidin' : playin' silly games
they were kickin' and splashin' in the misty morn
oh them silly unicorn
the the goat started goatin' and the snake started snakin'
the elephant started elephantin' and the boat started shaking'
the mouse started squeakin' and the lion started roarin'
and everyone's aboard but the unicorn
I mean the green alligators and the long-neck geese
the humpy bumpy camels and the chimpanzees
Noah cried «'Close the door 'cause the rain is pourin'
and we just can't wait for them Unicorn»
then the ark started moving and it drifted with the tide
and the unicorns looked up from the rock and cried
and the water come up and sort of floated them away
that's why you've never seen a unicorn to this very day
you'll see a lot of alligators and a whole mess of geese
you'll see humpy bumpy camels and lots of chimpanzees
you'll see catsandratsandelephants but sure as you're born
you're never gonna see no unicorn
Some infidel bloke has added a "lost verse" to profane The Holy Crap. I leave you this as a warning against FAKE lyrics.
now you might think this is the ending to the song
but I'll have to tell you friends that in fact you're wrong
you see : unicorns are magical so when the rain started pouring
they grew themselves some wings and they took to soaring
you'll see green alligators and long-necked geese
some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
but if you're looking for the unicorns : don't be forlorn
the second star to the right and straight on until morn -andrew mckee-
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
A Bm a long time ago when the Earth was green E E7 A there was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen A7 Bm they'd run around free while the world was being born F#m A Bm-E7-A and the loveliest of all was the unicorn A Bm there was green alligators and long-neck geese E E7 A there was humpy bumpy camels and some chimpanzees A7 Bm Bdim there was catsandratsandelephants but sure as you're born F#m A Bm-E7-A the loveliest of all was the unicorn
