The Unicorn

A Poem by Shel Silverstein

Recorded by the Irish Rovers

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 Earth was being born
And the loveliest of 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

The Lord seen some sinning and it gave Him pain
And He says, "Stand back, I'm going to make it rain"
He says, "Hey Noah, I'll tell you what to do
Build me a floating zoo,
                and take some of those

  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

Old Noah was there to answer the call
He finished up making the ark just as the rain started to fall
He marched the animals two by two
And he called out as they came through
       Hey Lord,
  I've got 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 find no unicorns"

And Noah looked out through the driving rain
Them unicorns were hiding, playing silly games
Kicking and splashing while the rain was falling
Oh, them silly unicorns

  There was green alligators and long-necked geese
  Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
  Noah cried, "Close the door because the rain is falling
  And we just can't wait for no unicorns"

The ark started moving, it drifted with the tide
The unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried
And the waters came down and sort of floated them away
That's why you never see unicorns to this very day

  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 unicorns.

The Unicorn Song
Seeing Is Believing

(Margie Adam)

When I was growing up
My best friend was a unicorn,
The others smiled at me and called me crazy.
But I was not upset
By knowing I did not conform,
I always thought their seeing must be hazy.

The unicorn and I would while away the hours,
Playing, dancing, and romancing in the wild flowers.
And we'd sing: Seeing is believing In the things you see.
Loving is believing in the ones you love.
Seeing is believing In the things you see.
Loving is believing in the ones you love.

From Reel Music (Celtic)

The Last Unicorn

America

When the last eagle flies
Over the last crumbling mountain
And the last lion roars
At the last dusty fountain
In the shadow of the forest
Though she may be old and worn
They will stare unbelieving
At the Last Unicorn

When the first breath of winter
Throught the flowers is icing
And you look to the north
And a pale moon is rising
And it seems like all is dying
And would leave the world to mourn
In the distance hear her laughter
It's the Last Unicorn
I'm alive... I'm alive

When the last moon is cast
Over the last star of morning
And the future is past
Without even a last desparate warning
Then look into the sky where through
The cloudes a path is formed
Look and see her how she sparkles
It's the Last Unicorn
I'm alive... I'm alive.

Unicorn

Bel Canto
Shimmering, Warm And Bright

There is a chapel in the woods
Where from the farthest-seeing senses rule
There is a scroll inside a casket...
Clear blue eyes have worn this outfit

Yes I knew it was moonshine, it is real
I feel much better
Now I know the spiral shaft
Can possess the brightness of the light

Oh, I sayeth
Thou art mine true companion
and I wish
Thou wilt enter my kingdom
Oh, mesmerizing unicorn

When if danger it will glow
A glimmer can foresee all threats to come
Gone are disbeliefs and doubts
It would be nice, so nice..

Oh, I sayeth
Thou art mine true companion
And I hope
Thou wilt enter my kingdom
Oh, yes I wish
I really wish

The Unicorn

Donovan
Hms Donovan

Hast thou seen the unicorn
Along the misty shore ?
In truth 'tis strange to see him there,
But what he a stranger more,
He bowing down the horny horn
Strangely strung with bells,
Combing through the shingle for
The periwinkle shells.

Forest Of Unicorns

Rhapsody
Legendary Tales

Run holy beloved horse
on this peaceful day
through these valleys kissed by light
where peace is so rare

So hardy trees let me hear your words
about those memories
please tell me all about our hold
and epic battles they won

Beware of unholy fire
my guardian of the trees
their flames can't burn the memory
the wisdom of the kings
The secret of this forest
the ride of unicorns
are treasures of these valleys
where freedom has its throne
where love must reign eternally
avoiding acts of war

We must have all their valour
to defend these lands
or the sun in these valleys
will not shine again

Beware of unholy fire
my guardian of the trees
their flames can't burn the memory
the wisdom of the kings
The secret of this forest
the ride of unicorns
are treasures of these valleys
where freedom has its throne
where love must reign eternally
avoiding acts of war

Hometown Unicorn

Super Furry Animals
Fuzzy Logic

I was lost,
lost on the bypass road,
could be worse,
I could be turned to toad.

Won't you take me back to my hometown,
Take me back before I break down.
I say 'Oh, please return me,
will you ever return me,
will you ever return me,
just like Frankie Fontaine'.

I say 'Oh, please return me,
will you ever return me,
will you ever return me,
just like Frankie Fontaine'.
I wonder what can I do?

I was found riding an unicorn,
could be worse,
I could be backwards born.
Won't you take me back to my hometown,
Take me back before I break down.
I say 'Oh, please return me,
will you ever return me,
will you ever return me,
just like Frankie Fontaine'.

I say 'Oh, please return me,
will you ever return me,
will you ever return me,
just like Frankie Fontaine'.
I wonder what can I do?

Calm down and then leave me alone
Calm down and then leave me alone
Calm down and then leave me alone
Calm down and then leave me alone

I say 'Oh, please return me,
will you ever return me,
will you ever return me,
just like Frankie Fontaine'.

I say 'Oh, please return me,
will you ever return me,
will you ever return me,
just like Frankie Fontaine'.
I wonder what can I do?

I Dreamed There Were Unicorns

Bill Caddick

We were traveling north to sing and play
For friends that we had never met
Been working hard and didn't speak
The sky was grey and threatened wet
And I dreamed that I saw unicorns
Dreamed I saw them wild and white
their sudden beauty lit the world
Like a star will light a winter's night

Pure as love with manes of milk
They danced and pranced and cried aloud
Bright as rainbows round the stars
Their eyes were soft and sad and proud

And I wept for the wild and dirty world
To which this beauty now was lost
And cursed the hungry mind of man
That feeds the future at such cost
My head was bowed, my eyes were closed
When in my ears their voices rang
And these few words lodged deep inside
And in my very soul they sang

We never went away
You always knew that we were near
Remember how to look for us
You'll see we were always here

I raised my eyes to seek them out
The world was empty all around
The rain came tumbling from the sky
It drowned all dreams upon the ground
And when they asked me why I wept
Like one who for his dead love mourns
The only answer I could give
I dreamed that there were unicorns
We never went away
You always knew that we were near
Remember how to look for us
You'll see we were always here

Lion And The Unicorn

The lion and the unicorn
Were fighting for the crown.
The lion beat the unicorn
All around the town.

Some gave them white bread
And some gave them brown;
Some gave them plum cake
And drummed them out of town.

word & music: Traditional
source: "Unicorns" by Scholastic-Tab Publications
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
transcribed: Dilly

At The Unicorn

Wild Strawberries
Carving Wooden Spectacles

You and me and Billy Turpine playing by the fire escape
You can be the mountains, I will be the wind
She will be sin
It seems like a long time, swinging on the broken gate
Stealing from the clothesline, call call Billy
She'll take the blame
Mama used to say
She'd live and die this way
While the band played at the Unicorn
By the Somerset Stage
You know I've seen a lot of things, I've done a lot in my time
Nobody ever told me life would be a friend of mine
Like a child with a crooked mind trying to sleep
I don't know which way the wind blows
I don't know what the second hand holds
Billy oh cold cold Billy...
Mama used to say
She'd live and die this way
While the band that played at the Unicorn
Sang her sorrows away
You can't always get what you want to
You can't even get what you need
Sometimes life is a bit of an angry child
With blood on its knees
You and me and Billy Turpine
Playing by the fire escape
You can be the mountains I will be the wind
Who will be sin?

Unicorn

Yankovic Weird Al
Peter And The Wolf

The Unicorn is just a horse
Accepting for its horn, of course
The Unicorn is just a myth
Which is to say, they don't exith

My Unicorn

Before me in a field of green,
appears a radiant shining dream
It dances around so light and fair,
as if it glides upon the air
A coat so shimmering, shining white,
a horn so brightlygolden, it gives off light
So pure of heart, so full of life,
my unicorn dances off into the night

Come back, come back, come back I say,
please come back so we can play
Slowly he turns and shakes his head,
"I can not with you stay and play but
I leave you with with this instead"
A pure heart, a peaceful soul,
and dreams yet to be born,
just don't ever stop believing in the unicorn

He turned then and danced out of my sight,
He left me there, but not alone that night
For in my heart there'll always be,
The memory of my unicorn and me

~Unknown~