On our neighborhood walks we generally encounter a small flock of free-range ducks and they are always pleased to see me, knowing that I carry a bag of raw unshelled peanuts and have been known to share them with the ducks. Last week I finally came up with the perfect song, to the tune of an old sea chantey "Can't You Dance the Polka":

By Charlie Ipcar ©8/21/2025
Tune: after traditional “Can’t You Dance the Polka”
Key: D (2/C)

The Magpie Duck Polka


C------------------F
As I strolled up Tallman Street,
--G--------------G7-C
I was surprised to see
---------------------------G7-F
Nine Magpie ducks all in a line,
G--------G7---------C
Fast ap-proaching me.

C
Quack, quack, quack!
F
Quack, quack!
G------------------G7-------------C
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
---------------------------G7-F
Nine Magpie ducks all in a line,
G---------G7---------C
Fast ap-proaching me.

They looked me up; they looked me down,
They looked me in the eye;
They looked so very hungry
I feared that they might die.

Quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
They looked so very hungry
I feared that they might die.

But I had a bag of peanuts,
That were raw and shelled;
I offered them a handful,
And they began to yell!

Quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
I offered them a handful,
And they began to yell!

They scarfed up all the peanuts
And did their happy dance;
They circled left and circled right,
Then in a line they pranced.

Quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
They circled left and circled right,
Then in a line they pranced.

They pranced back up Tallman,
Then danced across High Street;
There they found a puddle,
That was so wide and deep.

Quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
There they found a puddle,
That was so wide and deep.

The moral of this story,
Is quite plain to see:
Life for a Magpie duck is –
All it’s quacked up to be.

Quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
Life for a Magpie duck is –
All it’s quacked up to be.

Cheerily,
Charlie Ipcar