Ghost Oysters In the Sky

The [Am] sun was shining on the sea

[c] Shining with all his might

He [Am] did his very best to make

The [c] billows smooth and bright

(repeat: He [Am] did his very best to make

The [c] billows smooth and bright)

And [f] this was odd, because it was

The [Am] middle of the night

Yippee yi [c] yay, Yippee yi [Am] yo

The [f] middle of the [Am] night

The moon was shining sulkily, because she thought the sun

Had got no business to be there after the day was done,

"It's very rude of him," she said, "to come and spoil the fun."

The sea was wet as wet could be, the sands were dry as dry;

You could not see a cloud, because no cloud was in the sky.

No birds were flying overhead--There were no birds to fly.

A Walrus and a Carpenter were walking close at hand;

They wept like anything to see such quantities of sand.

"If this were only cleared away," they said, "it would be grand!"

 "If seven maids with seven mops swept it for half a year,

Do you suppose," the Walrus said, "that they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter, and shed a bitter tear.

"O Oysters, come and walk with us," the Walrus did beseech;

"A pleasant talk, a pleasant walk along the briny beach.

We cannot do with more than four to give a hand to each."

The eldest Oyster looked at him but never a word he said;

The eldest Oyster winked his eye and shook his heavy head,

Meaning to say he did not choose to leave the oyster bed;

But four young Oysters hurried up, all eager for the treat;

Their clothes were brushed, their faces washed, their shoes were clean and neat--

And this was odd, because you know, they hadn't any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them, and yet another four,

And thick and fast they came at last, and more and more and more,

All hopping through the frothy waves and scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the Carpenter walked on a mile or so,

And then they rested on a rock conveniently low,

And all the little Oysters stood and waited in a row.

"The time has come," the Walrus said, "to talk of many things,

Of shoes and ships and sealing-wax, and cabbages and kings,

And why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings."

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried, "before we have our chat,

For some of us are out of breath, and all of us are fat!"

"No hurry!" said the Carpenter; they thanked him much for that.

"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said, "is what we chiefly need;
Pepper and vinegar besides were very good indeed.
Now, if you're ready, Oysters dear, we can begin to feed."

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried, turning a little blue;
"After such kindness, that would be a dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said, "do you enjoy the view?

"It was so kind of you to come, and you are very nice."
The Carpenter said nothing but, "Cut us another slice--
I wish you were not quite so deaf--I've had to ask you twice."

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said, "to play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far and made them hop so quick."
The Carpenter said nothing but, "The butter's spread too thick."

"I weep for you," the Walrus said, "I deeply sympathize!"
With sighs and tears he sorted out those of the largest size,
Holding a pocket-handkerchief before his streaming eyes.

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter, "you've had a pleasant run;
Shall we be trotting home again?" But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because they'd eaten every one.
*
Sung to the tune of "Ghost Riders In the Sky," this makes a very scary song. Sing it at Halloween. (This is what I was thinking or dreaming when I woke up this morning.)