Shel Silverstein

A long time ago, when the Earth was green,
And there was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen.
And they'd run around free while the world was being born,
And the loveliest of all was the Unicorn.

There was green alligators and long-necked geese,
Hump back camels and some chimpanzees,
Cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
The loveliest of all was the Unicorn.
But the Lord seen some sinnin' and it caused Him pain
He says, "Stand back, I'm gonna make it rain.
So hey, Brother Noah, I'll tell you what to do...
Go and build me a floating zoo,

And you take two alligators and a couple of geese,
Two hump backed camels and two chimpanzees,
Two cats, two rats, two elephants, but sure as you're born,
Noah, don't you forget my unicorns."
Now Noah was there and he answered the callin',
And he finished up the ark just as the rain started fallin'.
Then he marched in the animals two by two,
And he sung out as they came through...

"Hey Lord, I got you two alligators and a couple of geese,
Two hump backed camels and two chimpanzees,
Two cats, two rats, two elephants, but sure as you're born,
Lord, I just don't see your unicorns."
Well, Noah looked out through the drivin' rain,
But the unicorns were hidin', playin' silly games.
They were kickin' and a-splashin' while the rain was pourin' --
Oh, them foolish unicorns.

Then the ducks started duckin' and the snakes started snakin',
And the elephants started elephantin' and the boat started shakin',
The mice started squeakin' and the lions started roarin',
And everyone's aboard but them unicorns.
I mean the two alligators and a couple of geese,
The hump back camels and the chimpanzees,
Noah cried, "Close the door 'cause the rain is pourin',
And we just can't wait for them unicorns."

And then the ark started movin', it drifted with the tide.
And the unicorns looked up from the rocks and cried.
And the water came down and sort of floated them away.
That's why you've never seen a unicorn to this day.
You'll see a lot of alligators and a whole mess of geese,
You'll see hump back camels and chimpanzees,
you'll see cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
You're never gonna see no unicorn.