The Unicorn

Words & Music:

Shel Silverstein

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A long time ago when the Earth was green,

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

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They'd run around free while the Earth was being born.

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But the loveliest of them all was the unicorn. There were...

CHORUS:

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Green alligators and long-necked geese,

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Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees,

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

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The loveliest of all was the unicorn!

Now the Lord saw some sinning, and it gave him pain.

And he said, "Stand back, I'm gonna 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...

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And don't you forget my unicorn!"

Old Noah was there to answer the call.

He finished up making the ark just as the rain started to fall.

He marched in the animals two by two,

And he called out as they went through "Hey Lord, I got your..."

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...But Lord, I'm so forlorn! I just can't see no unicorns!"

Then Noah looked out through the driving rain.

The unicorns were hiding, playing silly games.

Kicking and splashing while the rain was pouring.

Oh them silly unicorns.

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There were green alligators and long-necked geese,

Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees,

Noah cried, "Close the door, for the rain is pouring,

And we just can't wait for no unicorns"

And then 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 started floating them away.

That's why you've never seen a unicorn to this day. You'll see...

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But you're never gonna see no unicorns!