BillLindau

BillLindau

BillLindau
'The Toad and the Green Dog'
Lyrics
Folk, moderato
words and music by Bill Lindau
Copyright 2006 Betsybill Productions

First stanza:
I was tramping through the woods with my pretty green dog
when we met a crying toad by a tree.
"I used to be young and pretty, too," she sighed,
"Till a troll put a curse on me.

"He sells all my eggs for gourmet food,
charging half the price of a farm.
Please help me, sir, and save all my brood.
Set us free from the troll's evil charm."

Second stanza:
She told of a wizard named Elsingong
We went into his cave
He showed us his garden and his library vast
He said, "For a price I'll right your wrongs.

"I'll save our sticky-tongued friend from the nasty troll
for a puppy by your pretty green dog."
I cried, "Don't you see? This dog is a he
That toad will never leave this bog."

Third stanza:
"Don't talk like that," said the gnarly old sage,
"When you save her you'll pay me in full."
"But how?" I said, "When you know right well
You can't get any calves from a bull."

He ground up some herbs and he gave me a book
He said, "Read it from cover to cover"
Then he grinned at us both with a wrinkly-eyed look
And he said, "She'll make one of you a lover."

Fourth stanza:
I took his things with a heart full of glee
I went back with my pretty green dog
I said to the toad, "I will save you, my sweet
I will take you for good from the bog."

My dog wagged his tail and licked the toad's head
But suddenly he barked up a storm
For up stepped the troll with a musket full of lead
Crying "I'll feed you all to the worms."

Fifth stanza:
I poured out the wizard's dust before the troll could shoot
Cov'ring him from head to toe
He vanished in a cloud, spewing ashes and soot
So hot I thought we would roast

When the roar died down and I opened my eyes
the troll was nowhere to be seen
but in his place came a tiny housefly
and the toad was still a toad beside a tree.

Sixth stanza:
She opened her mouth, she shot out her tongue
and gobbled up the evil troll-fly
She told mus both, "Shut your eyes once again
and we'll leave this dread wood bye and bye."

I thought, "Oh, joy, my love's for real"
Then the toad said, "You can look at me now."
I held out my arms but instead of a gal
I was holding another green dog.

Seventh stanza:
Now my dog has found himself a mate
She was the one zapping flies in the swamp
The wizard said, "You should appreciate
That for my pay I can wait a few more months."

So five months later she became a mom
The wizard had his pick of the litter
She had five little pups, all as cute as they come
and as green as the emeralds all a-glitter.

posted by Bill Lindau @ 10:38 PM