The Irish Rovers: “The Unicorn”

The Unicorn is a song by Shel Silverstein that has been made very popular by Canadian band The Irish Rovers in 1968. It remains one of the best-known songs of The Irish Rovers’ long career. It sold 8 million copies worldwide and reached #2 in the US Adult Contemporary Charts, #7 in the U.S. Hot 100,[1] and #5 in Ireland.[2][3] It can still be heard regularly in Irish Pubs. The lyrics to The Unicorn are also printed as a poem in Silverstein’s book Where the Sidewalk Ends. In the original version of The Unicorn, The Irish Rovers speak half of the lyrics, as well as the part of the 4th Chorus. The final line of the 5th verse on The Unicorn is spoken freely without the music: “And that’s why you’ll never see a Unicorn to this very day”. On the remakes. the majority of the song is sung, again except for the final line, which is also spoken freely, without the music. 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unicorn_(song)

Lyrics – The Unicorn by The Irish Rovers

A long time ago, when the Earth was green,
There was more kinds of animals than you’ve ever seen.
And they’d run around free when the Earth was being born,
And the loveliest of ’em 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.

Well now God seen some sinnin’ and it caused Him pain.
And He said, “Stand back, I’m going to 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”…….

“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.”

Well Old Noah he was there and he answered the callin’,
And he finished makin’ the ark just as the rain started to fallin’.
Then he marched in all them animals two by two,
And he sung out as they went through,

“Hey Lord, ”

“I got Your 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 see no unicorns !”

And Noah looked out through the driving rain,
The unicorns were hiding, playing sally games.
They were kickin’ and splashin’ while the rain was pourin’,
Oh, the sally 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 just pourin’,
And we just cannot wait for no unicorn!”

The ark started moving, and it drifted with the tide,
And the unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried.
And the waters come down and sort of flooded them away,
That’s why you never seen a unicorn to this very day.

But 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 unicorn!

Written by Shel Silverstein • Copyright © T.R.O. Inc.

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