Southern Cross

I met up with some old college friends tonight and was reminded of the power of music, how it influences and sparks memories, how it unifies and makes us unique at the same time. And hey, this all happened in an Irish pub in Washington DC. There was a rather wizened gentleman who was entertaining the pub crowd tonight, armed only with a guitar, a healthy mustache and a microphone. And he brought down the HOUSE! Played Johnny Cash, Billy Joel, Kenny Rogers, and so much more -- all the songs that you know and love. But when he started playing Southern Cross ... I was flooded with so many memories from so many chapters of my life simultaneously. I don't know if you've ever had that feeling but it's entirely overwhelming. I remembered learning this song in high school with my show choir and how much we loved singing it; I remembered how thrilled I felt when I learned that a now ex-boyfriend shared my love for this song; I remembered singing it with him as he played guitar; I remembered the quiet awe of seeing the Southern Cross constellation in a clear sky for the first time ... it's pretty cool that a rather simple song can evoke so much emotion.

But music also entertains and makes us laugh -- I also learned a new song tonight! And what makes it even better is that I learned the moves that go with it. Next time you're in a pub, request The Unicorn Song and just watch what happens. I kinda can't believe I spent 5 years in Boston pubs and never heard it ... The lyrics were originally penned by Shel Silverstein and are copied below for your edification:

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