The Unicorn

Album

Unicorn, The

Label

Decca Records

Genre

Folk

Composer(s)

Shel Silverstein

Entered Chart

Mar 23, 1968

Peak Date

May 25, 1968

Released

Unknown

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Decca 32254

B-Side

Black Velvet Band

Original Artist

Shel Silverstein

A unicorn is a mythical beast similar to a horse but with a horn coming out of its forehead. This song is based on the Biblical story of Noah's Ark, and it explains that Noah left without the unicorn, and that's why we don't see them today. This was written by Shel Silverstein, a famous children's author who also wrote adult material for Playboy magazine. Silverstein's nephew Mitch Myers, who wrote the book Silverstein Around the World, says: "What seems to be a timeless Irish folk song was written by a Jewish guy from Chicago. And Shel had written it and recorded it. But back then, not everyone wrote their own material. They were looking for material. And it was just a good fit. It was a very straightforward, simple, lovely melody, and the timeless folksiness of it was complemented by the Irish Rovers' - I'm not going to say 'accent' - but their sound. You know, their very, very ethnic sound just made it that much more magical. Many people think that Shel wrote 'Puff The Magic Dragon.' I'm like, no, no, no, it's a unicorn. I would say that Shel was more of a student of fables and legends and folk tales more than he was trying to deliver any kind of a religious message. And I think he found using these common universal folk tales was an efficient way to communicate to a large group of people." (Learn more about Shel Silverstein in our interview with Mitch Myers.) This is a very popular sing-a-long song for both kids and adults. There are gestures that go along with the animals.

A long time ago, when the earth was still green
And there were more kinds of animals than you've ever seen
They'd run around free while the earth was being born
But 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

Now god seen some sinnin' and it gave him pain
And 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 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 unicorn"

Old Noah was there to answer the call
He finished up making 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've 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 unicorn"

Then Noah looked out through the driving rain
Them unicorns was hiding, playing silly games
Kicking and splashing while the rain was pouring
Oh, them silly unicorns

There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees
Noah cried, "close the doors 'cause the rain is pourin'
And we just can't wait for no unicorns"

The ark started movin', it drifted with the tide
Them unicorns looked up from the rock and they cried
And the waters came down and sort of floated them away
And that's why you'll never see a unicorn, 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 unicorn