The Unicorn
The Irish Rovers
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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
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10 facts about this song
Song Origin"The Unicorn" was initially a poem written and composed by well-known poet, songwriter and author Shel Silverstein. Furthermore, it was converted into a song in the year 1962.
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Popular PerformerThe song is most famously performed by "The Irish Rovers," a Canadian Irish folk group who turned it into a major international hit in the late 1960s.
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Album Success"The Unicorn" was the title track from the Irish Rovers' 1967 album, which became an enormous success, reaching a place in the top 10 on Canada's national RPM chart.
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Pop Music FeatIn 1968, "The Unicorn" entered the pop music charts in the United States and climbed to number seven overall, marking a significant achievement for a folk song amidst a rock 'n roll era.
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Irish InfluenceDespite the fact that the tune was written by an American and performed by a Canadian band, the song is firmly rooted in Irish folk traditions and themes, and its popularity has made it something of an informal Irish anthem.
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Silverstein’s Other ContributionsShel Silverstein, the song's creator, is also noted for his contributions to Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show and Johnny Cash, among other artists.
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Song ThemeThe song describes a mythical time when fantastic beasts happily lived on earth but sadly, the unicorns disappeared because they failed to board Noah's Ark on time.
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Signature Song"The Unicorn" is commonly known as the Irish Rovers' signature song and it paved the pathway for a lengthy and successful career in music.
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Band’s FormationWill Millar, George Millar, and Joe Millar formed the Irish Rovers in Toronto, Canada, in 1963. They adopted their band's name from the traditional song "The Irish Rover."
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Unique Composition"The Unicorn" is unlike most popular folk tunes, as its lyrics revolve around a fiction narrative instead of traditional folk themes such as love, war, or hardship.
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Citation
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"The Unicorn Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/14802544/The+Irish+Rovers/The+Unicorn>.
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