Anybody have this tune written by the Tannahill Weavers?
Thanks
I think that was written by Shel Silverstein.
The hymn that gave the Irish Rovers their undying fame? Someone actually requested that at our session once, hehe. But would that be something the Tannahill Weavers would record?
Or do you mean the one about alligators, chimps, … that ends with a unicorn?
That’s the Shel Silverstein/Irish Rovers one.
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.
This reminds me, I’ve been looking forever for another copy of an Irish Rovers album I had when I was growing up called The Children of the Unicorn – it was on K-Tel records, only ever out on Vinyl and tape, and it seems to have disappeared off of the face of the planet.
If anyone has or knows of a copy around that’s in reasonably good condition, I’d be interested in trying to get ahold of it.
Hi,
You can find the Tannahill Weavers tune “The Unicorn” up on the sessioneer website: http://www.sessioneer.org.
Click on the tune archives tab on the sidebar. The tune you want is listed in the “other tunes” category, on page 3.
Or, you can learn it by ear from their album, Capernaum.
Caj
I saw a roomful of polo-shirted uberyuppies doing this song.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
a wimowehawimowehawimowehawimoweh…oops, wrong song, same era.
And the other one, OOOOOOOOooh, Israelites!
If her Daddy’s rich, take her out for a meal, if her daddy’s poor just do what you feel.
Dooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeessss yer chewinggumloseitsflavoronthebedpostovernight?
Getting fitted for polo shirt as we read. Coming to a nightmare near you!
I sure hope that feller is lookin for another song called the Unicorn! Specially since he’s the piper in the WhiskyTones!!!
Oooh! And don’t neglect “Hut sut rawlson on the rillarah”… or howevertheheck it would be written. 8^)