Sheldon Alan "Shel" Silverstein (1930-1999) began his career in 1952 as a writer and cartoonist for Playboy Magazine, but he is perhaps most noted for his children's books. Some of his best known songs are A Boy Named Sue, a big hit for Johnny Cash, One's on the Way, a hit for Loretta Lynn and The Unicorn, which was a hit for the Irish Rovers.

He also wrote most of the songs for the pop group, Dr Hook and the Medicine Show, including The Cover of the Rolling Stone, Freakin' at the Freakers' Ball and Don't Give a Dose To the One You Love Most.
Other humorous songs include Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout (Would Not Take The Garbage Out) and The Smoke Off (about a contest to see who could roll a joint the fastest), and I Got Stoned and I Missed It.

Here he is making a special appearance on the Johnny Cash Show.

Boa Constrictor

A song about being swallowed by a snake. Written in 1962, it was recorded by Johnny Cash, Peter, Paul and Mary and The Brothers Four.

Here is my video and here are the words.

I Got Stoned and I Missed it

The dangers of pot-smoking.

Here is my performance and here are the lyrics.

The Unicorn

This was originally written as a poem, and later rewritten as a song. It was recorded by The Irish Rovers, who made it their signature tune, and is often thought of as an Irish song, even though it was written by an American and has nothing to do with Ireland.

It has also been recorded by the Brobdingnadian Bards, who added an extra verse to give it a happy ending.

In this video I sing the song with my son, Kit, to my grandson, Felix.

Here are the lyrics and here is the original poem as published in Where the Sidewalk Ends (1974)

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

There was green alligators and long-neck geese.
There was humpy bumpy camels and chimpanzees.
There was catsandratsandelephants, but sure as you're born
the lovliest 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."
He says, "Hey Brother Noah, I'll tell ya whatcha do.
Go and build me a floatin' zoo.

And you take two alligators and a couple of geese,
two humpy bumpy camels and two chimpanzees.
Take two catsandratsandelephants, but sure as you're born,
Noah, don't you forget my Unicorn."

Now Noah was there, he answered the callin'
and he finished up the ark just as the rain was fallin'.
He marched in the animals two by two,
and he called out as they went through,

"Hey Lord, I got your two alligators and your couple of geese,
your humpy bumpy camels and your chimpanzees.
Got your catsandratsandelephants - but Lord, I'm so forlorn
'cause I just don't see no Unicorn."

Ol' Noah looked out through the drivin' rain
but the Unicorns were hidin', playin' silly games.
They were kickin' and splashin' in the misty morn,
oh them silly Unicorn.

Then the goat started goatin', and the snake started snakin',
the elephant started elephantin', and the boat started shaking'.
The mouse started squeakin', and the lion started roarin',
and everyone's aboard but the Unicorn.

I mean the green alligators and the long-neck geese,
the humpy bumpy camels and the chimpanzees.
Noah cried, "Close the door 'cause the rain is pourin' -
and we just can't wait for them Unicorn."

Then the ark started movin', and it drifted with the tide,
and the Unicorns looked up from the rock and cried.
And the water come up 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 humpy bumpy camels and lots of chimpanzees.
You'll see catsandratsandelephants, but sure as you're born
you're never gonna see no Unicorn.