The Unicorn

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 earth was bein' born
And the loveliest of all was the Unicorn.
        There was green alligators and long-necked 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 you watcha 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 twocatsandratsandelephants, 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 squeekin' 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 came 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.