Tuesday, December 9, 2008

U Is For Unicorn

a
b
c

It's time again For ABC Wednesday. If you aren't participating in ABC Wednesday, you are missing out on a lot of fun.

This week U is for Unicorn. While driving through the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center near Glen Rose, Texas we came across this guy with a broken horn. He reminded me of a unicorn. Some scholars believe that the sightings of one horned animals like this produced the myth of the unicorn.

The Unicorn

Greek writers of natural history were convinced of the reality of the unicorn, which they believed lived in India, a distant and fabulous realm for them. During the Middle Ages the people of Europe did not consider the unicorn a myth. The King James Version of the Bible uses the word unicorn 8 times. Unicorn horns were often found in cabinets of curiosities in Medieval and Renaissance Europe.


They were most often examples of the distinctive straight spiral single tusk of the narwhal whale They were brought into Europe as a very valuable trade item, and sold as horns from the legendary unicorn; being of ivory, they passed the various tests intended to spot fake unicorn horns. As these 'horns' were considered to have magic powers, Vikings and other northern traders were able to sell them for many times their weight in gold. Elizabeth I of England kept a "unicorn horn" in her cabinet of curiosities.

In 1967 when I was just starting to pay attention to the radio, The Irish Rovers had a top 40 hit with "The Unicorn. Here is a cover version I found on YouTube.



Here are the lyrics to The Unicorn

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

26 comments:

  1. One of my favorite tunes! I have a tiny little music box that plays The Unicorn Song. I wind it up, listen and sing along several times a year. Thanks!

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  2. What greate photoes of unicorns! Love them. They make me smile:)

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  3. There is so much I didn't know about unicorns, thanks for all of the information and the cute song.

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  4. Blogs are great teachers! Today I learned about unicorns.And, of course, the song brought back memories.

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  5. This also reminds me of the film Legend and the unicorn. Unique post.

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  6. Oh, I remember that song. What an interesting post today. . .and you are so, so lucky to be going to the Caribbean!! Have a wonderful time.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Oh gosh! I remember that song so well...what a great post and thx for popping by. :D

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  8. I'm glad to see by the comments that I'm not the only one who remembers that song. Wonderful pictures of "unicorns"!

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  9. I have never heard that song! My best friend Jen loves all things 'unicorn'. I will copy and paste this post and send it to her : ). Hope you have a wonderful week! Great u!

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  10. Thanks so much for the memories.
    I have always loved that song.

    Bear((( )))

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  11. I haven't heard that song for so long. this is a great choice for the letter U. Very original and a fun read.

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  12. You did it! You found the unicorn!

    I'm hereby removing it from the list of mythical beasts!

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  13. Well that was a very interesting post with a very cheerful explanation of the fact that unicorns disappeared, sung on your video of YouTube. Thanks for the lyrics! I love your post.

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  14. What a cool shot! I really like this guy with one horn.

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  15. A good one that - and I'm old enough to remember the song...

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  16. Richies
    Thanks for helping me to remember the fun song, nice post and I really like the snow falling.

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  17. It does look like a unicorn! Now I'll be singing that song all evening.

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  18. Great post for "U" - and I'd forgotten that song.

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  19. This has nothing to do with unicorns, but what a pretty town you live in.

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  20. I have learned so much since I started reading your blog! How cool!

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  21. When I was a young girl, my room was decorated with unicorns. I ♥ them. They still hold a special place in my heart. They are so beautiful.

    -a fellow Arkie, CrAzY Working Mom

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  22. Your letter U for unicorn is very informatic,Thanks for sharing and also Thnaks for visiting my letter U.

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  23. Wow, this is a great post. A history lesson, thank you ! Thank you also for posting a comment on my blog :-))

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  24. never heard of that song before, thanks for sharing

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  25. Excellent post with a pleasant song !
    Last year, I featured "U" is for "Unicorn ", because the coat of arms of Saint-Lô ...Unicorn !(click on the link
    Saint-Lô , on my post"les lumières de la ville"ou "nuit étoilée"
    You could add on your text that the horn of the unicorn is that of the "narval"(English translation ?)
    There is some snow on your blog !nice !

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  26. Cool. I always enjoy driving through the Chalk Mountain area into Glen Rose.

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