Monday, June 6, 2011

U Is For Unicorn

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". It sold 8 million copies worldwide and reached #7 on the US charts. Here is a copy 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

17 comments:

  1. I love the unicorn song. What lovely animals. I wonder if they were ever real?

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  2. I know that a lot of myths (also mermaids) were based on misUNDERSTANDING of natural phenomena.
    Love that Rovers song.
    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  3. Fascinating, fun post for the U Day! Love the unicorn song -- hadn't heard that one in a long time! Hope you have a great week, Richie! Enjoy!

    Sylvia
    ABC Team

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  4. I believe in Unicorns, and I remember that song well! I will be singing it all day now! A terrific post.

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  5. Thank you so much for this post and lovely song. I like the Irish accent! Unicorns combine the grace of the horse and the strength of the mountain goat.

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  6. OK...that's Karen, and me singing all day!!
    Jane x

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  7. I remember the Unicorn song from many years ago. I hadn't thought of it in ages. Thanks for sharing all the information about the Unicorn today. Nice choice for U day.

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  8. Always loved that song, - well, always loved the Irish Rovers, no matter what they sang!

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  9. I remember the Unicorn song, loved it.
    The legends and mystic around the Unicorn is quite fascinating. Thanks for all the information.

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  10. Oh I remember that song and it's lovely to see your photo of the one-horned goat.

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  11. What a perfect post! It REALLY does look like a unicorn! I'd like to think that they really exist and aren't mythical creatures.

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  12. haha awesome post fella,
    love the unicorn song too keep it up
    anthonyox10

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  13. A lively and delightful post. I keep trying to believe in unicorns as well as flying carpets and, for sure, I do love that song!

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  14. I love that song about the unicorn. :)

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  15. Very interesting. Never knew this before.

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  16. I still teach the unicorn song to my pupils. What an interesting post.

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  17. I love the Irish Rovers and the unicorn song. I'd really like to go back and study the original, Greek and Hebrew words for unicorn as in the KJV. There are not enough hours in the day to follow all such intriguing questions.:{

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