Your long-forgotten Irish song of the (St. Patrick’s) Day is “The Unicorn,” as recorded by The Irish Rovers. It tells the tale of that loveliest of all creatures who was too busy playing silly games to get on Noah’s ark before that big flood hit. Which is why “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 unicorn.”
What most people don’t know is that the song doesn’t really have Irish roots. It was written by Shel Silverstein, that famous non-Irish (Jewish, actually), writer known for his off-kilter children’s books. Shel originally recorded it back in 1962, but it was the Irish Rovers’ version in 1968 that became the big hit. It hit #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Not surprisingly, the song also got up to #5 on the Irish Singles Chart.
“The Unicorn” remains in our consciousness even today—or perhaps especially today, given that it’s March 17th and we’re all a little bit Irish for 24 hours. Here’s to the unicorn and to the Irish Rovers, who actually hail from Toronto. Like I said, everybody’s a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, even these four Canadian lads.
