“Alligator King”, SESAME STREET

One two three four five six seven!
Said the Alligator King to his seven sons,
“I’m feelin’ mighty down.
Whichever of you can cheer me up
Will get to wear my crown.”

His first son brought seven oyster pearls
From the bottom of the China Sea.

The second gave him seven statues of girls
With clocks where their stomachs should be.

The third son gave him seven rubies
From the sheikdom down there beneath.
The King thought the rubies were cherries,
And he broke off seven of his teeth.

The fourth son tried to cheer him up
With seven lemon drops.
The King said, “I’m sorry son,
Since that ruby episode, I just haven’t got the chops.”

The fifth son brought the King perfume
In seven fancy silver jars;
The King took a whiff, and he broke out in spots
‘Cause it smelled like cheap cigars.

The sixth son gave him seven diamond rings
To wear upon his toes.
The King snagged his foot on the royal red rug
And crumpled up his nose.

The seventh son of the Alligator King
Was a thoughtful little whelp.
He said, “Daddy, appears to me
That you could use a little help.”

Said the Alligator King to his seventh son,
“My son, you win the crown.
You didn’t bring me diamonds or rubies, but
You helped me up when I was down.
Take the crown; it’s yours, my son.
I hope you don’t mind the dents.
I got it on sale at a discount store-
Cost me all of seven cents!”
Seven!

by mark-almond

Down by the river, foggy and grey,
Only a young girl kneeling to pray
Down in the water, muddy and cold,
Eyes red from crying. A torn, ragged soul.

Once so young and gay,
Once in dreams of yesterday.

Down by the river, foggy and grey,
Only an old tramp shuffles his way.
He saw that the water, that the water so wide
Held the young body of a love that had died.

Once so young and fair.
Once, and now despair.

Down by the reeds, they found him next day,
Dead like the young girl, in the water so grey.
That muddy old river took two of a kind,
A tramp and a young girl,
That love left behind.

the best dark song of all time