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18 Dec 96 - 05:24 PM (#829) Subject: Lyrics request: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators) From: Dennis O'brien Am looking for the lyrics to the Irish Rovers "Unicorn Song", in particular the verse in the chorus that follows: There were green alligators, and long necked geese, some humpty backed camels and chimpanzees..." Thank you. |
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18 Dec 96 - 05:32 PM (#830) Subject: RE: Lyrics request: Unicorn Song (Green Alligato From: Susan of DT It is in the DT. If you look under unicorn it comes up as the 4th hit called Unicorns (Green Alligators). You could also look for unicorn* or alligators or any phrase in the song. |
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09 Sep 01 - 01:42 PM (#545730) Subject: RE: Lyrics request: Unicorn Song (Green Alligato From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca To save time |
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09 Sep 01 - 07:44 PM (#545877) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: McGrath of Harlow Then there's Bill Caddick's song "I dreamed that I saw unicorns" which is a great one.
I doubt if he'd have any objection to it being in the DT if anyone has the lyrics to post. |
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09 Sep 01 - 08:06 PM (#545886) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: McGrath of Harlow And bingo, there it is in this other thread |
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09 Sep 01 - 09:12 PM (#545906) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca It's also in the DT along with another Unicorn song: Unicorn Song - Seeing is Believing |
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09 Sep 01 - 09:52 PM (#545920) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: GUEST,Sonja Does someone know the date (year) of the first record or sheet music release of the Shel Silverstein Unicorn song? (I wrote a song about a different mythical beast not getting on the ark, and at the time I wrote it, I had never heard the Unicorn song. [The story and music are also quite different from Silverstein's.] I am curious as to whether the Irish Rovers' or other's recordings of Shel's song were out and were widely known at the time I made up my story and song. Sonja
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09 Sep 01 - 10:34 PM (#545929) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: Joe Offer Hi, sonja - I have it from two sources that Shel Silverstein's "Unicorn Song" was published in 1968. The Irish Rovers recording came out about that time. You go back that far? -Joe Offer- |
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10 Sep 01 - 02:09 AM (#546007) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: GUEST,Sonja Well, I do, Joe, and the magazine cartoon that inspired my song, "The Last Griffin," was published about 1966. In 1983, I made up the song on a long car trip, based on that cartoon. I may have heard bits of the Unicorn song sometime in the '70's but not much of it -- until last year, when I finally got a tape of it. As I said, the two songs have little in common except that they both deal with mythical creatures that did not get onto the ark. But I was curious about the Unicorn publication date. Somehow I doubt that these are the only two songs with that topic, especially since that cartoon showed up in 1966. Thanks for the info. Genie |
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10 Sep 01 - 09:52 AM (#546199) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: SharonA Actually, the Shel Silverstein SONG was based on a Shel Silverstein POEM (some of the poem was altered, presumably to fit the meter of the song). I don't remember offhand which of Silverstein's books contains this poem; I think it's in "Where the Sidewalk Ends", although it could be in either "A Light in the Attic" or "Falling Up". |
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10 Sep 01 - 06:45 PM (#546626) Subject: Lyr Add: THE UNICORN (Shel Silverstein)^^^ From: Joe Offer Nope, Sharon, the other way around. Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974) says that "The Unicorn" and "The Flying Festoon" previously appeared in lyric form, copyright 1962 and 1968 by Hollis Music (but were both published in both years, or what? And I guess that in this context, "previously" means first, but maybe not.) -Joe Offer- THE UNICORN - recitation (Shel Silverstein) A long time ago, when the earth was green And there was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen, And they run around free while the world was bein' born, And the loveliest of all was the Unicorn. There was green alligators and long-neck geese. There was humpy bumpy camels and 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 floatin' 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, and he answered 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 got your two alligators and your couple of geese, Your humpy bumpy camels and your two 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. Then the goat started goatin', and the snake started snakin', The elephant started elephantin', and the boat started shakin'. 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 movin', 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 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. from Where the Sidewalk Ends: the Poems and Drawings of Shel Silverstein, 1974^^^ |
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10 Sep 01 - 08:52 PM (#546700) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: GUEST,SharonA Thanks for setting that straight, Joe; I was dredging up my info from faulty memory. (I suffer from Lapsus of the Synapsus!) |
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10 Sep 01 - 09:50 PM (#546726) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall) No! Don't tell 'em! Oh there you've gone and done it. Now there will be yet another person singing that dumb song in public. nealg (not even a little grin) Rich |
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10 Sep 01 - 10:53 PM (#546753) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: Joe Offer Ah, yes, Rich - Shel Silverstein wrote a nice, classic Irish song, didn't he? It's our duty to inform people about these "authentic folk songs." You'll notice that we've also done a good job on a currently running thread on Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Edelweiss" - (click) and (click). Hmmm. Almost could be thread material - we could call it "I THOUGHT it was a folk song!" -Joe Offer- |
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10 Sep 01 - 10:57 PM (#546757) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: Sorcha Well, I like it. So there! And I LOVE the Lapsus Synapsus!!!! LMAO!! ( I have a severe case also) |
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24 Apr 03 - 02:46 PM (#939377) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: GUEST,musicnan1@aol.com |
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25 Apr 03 - 12:18 AM (#939709) Subject: RE: Lyr req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: GUEST,Dan My band played in Chicago Irish bars in the '80s and our lead singer hated that song! We were playing one night with a bunch of young women at a table near the stage and one girl kept requesting "The Unicorn Song" "Sorry, we don't do it" says our lead singer. After the next song she says, "I'll put $5 in your tip jar if you do 'The Unicorn Song'" "Sorry, we just don't do it" says our lead singer. "I'll buy you all a Guinness if you do 'The Unicorn Song'" she says. "Sorry, we're drinking on the tavern" says our lead singer. "I'll show you my tits if you do 'The Unicorn Song'" she says. "Sorry ..." says our lead singer. "I KNOW THAT SONG!" shouts I, fervently searching through my pages of song lyrics for the words as my bandmates walk off stage for a break. That page was unfortunately misfiled until I found it the next day. Damn! |
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08 Dec 04 - 11:25 PM (#1351606) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: John in Brisbane I've been doing a centennial clean-up of my 'study' and have the dots if this is still required. Regards, John |
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07 Jul 08 - 01:13 PM (#2383099) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: GUEST,Marc So Shel Silverstein wrote the poem "The Unicorn". Did he also write the music? Or did the Irish Rovers set the poem to music? |
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07 Jul 08 - 07:33 PM (#2383372) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego My eldest son had the Shel Silverstein book of poetry and read it until the pages began to fall out. It also contains "A Boy Named Sue," which Johnny Cash used to good effect. A small digression: Back in the early days of the "sexual revolution," when "Playboy" was still a big deal and Hugh Hefner had a Chicago-based TV show, Silverstein seemed to be the Playboy official poet, much as Leroy Neiman was the official artist. |
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09 Jul 08 - 11:44 PM (#2385357) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: Jim Dixon BMI.com lists Shel Silverstein as the only author of UNICORN. (It lists 812 songs by him altogether.) |
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10 Jul 08 - 06:15 PM (#2386099) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: Gurney A most important song, about the first recorded I.Q. test. Noah failed to spot the deliberate mistake. Why would alligators and geese need a lift? |
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11 Jul 08 - 03:31 AM (#2386327) Subject: Lyr Add: UNICORNS (GREEN ALLIGATORS) (Silverstein From: Genie OH, NO! A folk song (or kids' song) that's factually inaccurate! What IS this world coming to!? LOL Is that the only nonsensical part of the song you can find, Gurney? ; D BTW, the DT version seems to have at least a couple errors - primarily the parts in ALL CAPS: UNICORNS (GREEN ALLIGATORS) (Shel Silverstein) A long time ago, when the Earth was green, There was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen. THEY 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, He says, "Stand back, I'm going to make it rain." He says, "Hey, BROTHER 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 CALLIN' He FINISHED UP THE ARK just as the rain started FALLIN'. 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 UNICORNS (GREEN ALLIGATORS) (Shel Silverstein) 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 IN THE MISTY MORN (or, while the rains 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 because the rain is POURIN' 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. |
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11 Jul 08 - 07:58 PM (#2387042) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: Gurney Nope, Genie. I just considered that the rest was declaimed in a stage-Irish accent. Incongruities are what catch my attention, not bad grammar. |
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11 Aug 08 - 05:30 PM (#2410967) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: oldhippie The Brobdingnagian Bards, on their "Songs of Ireland" cd provide this alternate ending: That's why you never see unicorns to this very day Because you might think that's the ending to the song I have to tell you friend, that in fact you're wrong You see unicorns are magical So as the rain started pouring They grew themselves some wings and they took to soaring There were some green alligators and long necked geese Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees But if you're looking for the unicorn, don't be forlorn The second star on the right and on until morn. |
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11 Aug 08 - 06:09 PM (#2411003) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: GUEST,Ken Brock Regarding mythical animals not getting on the ark. 1. There is a 2 second clip of Unicorns, etc huddling in the rain in the Donald Duck / Noah segment of Disney's FANTASIA 2000. 2. The Richard Rodgers - Martin Charnin - Peter Stone 1970 musical TWO BY TWO includes a "Gitka" who has to be left behind because his mate can't be found in time. This is after the Irish Rovers song, but TWO BY TWO was based on the Clifford Odets play THE FLOWERING PEACH, which iirc is from about 1954, and is presumably a source for the Gitka. |
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11 Aug 08 - 07:08 PM (#2411044) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: GUEST,Gerry And mention of Clifford Odets brings us back to Shel Silverstein, who included a reference to the playwright in the lyrics of The Hip Song (It Doesn't Pay To Be Too Hip). |
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12 Aug 08 - 02:02 PM (#2411707) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: GUEST,machree01 Here's Barbrack singing it, http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=J60LNkqsxz8 |
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12 Aug 08 - 02:22 PM (#2411725) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: GUEST,machree01 The post above is BARNBRACK |
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28 Aug 22 - 09:28 PM (#4151316) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: RunrigFan A long time ago, when the earth was green There was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen, They run around free when the earth was bein' born, But the loveliest of all was the Unicorn. There was green alligators, some long-necked geese, Some humpy-backed camels and some chimpanzees, Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born, The loveliest of all was the unicorn. Then God saw some some sinners, it gave Him pain He says, "Stand back there I'm gonna make it rain." Hey Brother Noah!, I'll tell ya whatcha do. Build me a floatin' zoo With some green alligators, some long-necked geese, Some humpy-backed camels and some chimpanzees, Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born, Don't you forget the Unicorn Old Noah was there, to answer the call He finished the ark as the rain did fall. He marched in the animals two by two, And he called as they went through, "Hey Lord, I got your green alligators, some long-necked geese, Some humpy-backed camels and some chimpanzees, Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord I so forlorn I just can't see no Unicorn Then Noah looked out through the drivin' rain, The Unicorns were Hidin', playin' silly games. Kickin' and splashin' when the rain was fun Oh those 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 fallin', And we just can't wait for the Unicorns." Well; the Ark started movin', it drifted with the tide, Them Unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried, And the waters came down and sorta floated them away, That's why you'll never see a Unicorn, to this very day!. You'll see green alligators and a whole mess of 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 the Unicorn. You're never gonna see the Unicorn. as sung by Alasdair Gillies https://open.spotify.com/track/53ZQwGO9T93ffL9ctnjMl0?si=ecbc26362c834d7d n the misty morn, Oh them silly Unicorn. Then the goat started goatin', and the snake started snakin', The elephant started elephantin', and the boat started shakin'. 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-backed 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 movin', 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 day. There was green alligators, some long-necked geese, Some humpy backed camels and some chimpanzees, Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born, The loveliest of all was the unicorn. |
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29 Aug 22 - 11:58 AM (#4151378) Subject: RE: Versions: Unicorn Song (Green Alligators)^^^ From: RunrigFan oops forgot to delete text under the spotify link |