The Pied Piper lyrics

Rats, rats, everywhere

In the kitchen and down the stair

Rocking babies in their cradles

Tasting soup in the cooks' soup ladles

Eating flour from ev'ry bin

And raising the devil in Hamelin

Hamelin, Germany, long time ago

Rats, rats, everywhere

Wherever you looked, the rats were there

Took a nap in Papa's shoes

Sat in the living room and read the news

What a condition that town was in

Little old town of Hamelin

Hamelin, Germany, long time ago

Mayor and Council scratched their heads

Tossed and turned in their ratty beds

Passed a big appropriation

To count the rats in the population

Solemnly resolved that it was a sin

For rats to live in Hamelin

Hamelin, Germany, long time ago

Little man stood at the Mayor's door

No one had ever seen him before

Dressed in clothes of a gayer mood

Than ever are seen in Hollywood

"If the Mayor will let me in

I'll drive the rats from Hamelin"

Hamelin, Germany, long time ago

They hugged him, kissed him, patted his head

"What is your name?" the Mayor said

"I'm the Pied Piper, I blow this horn

And there never was a rat that ever was born

Could resist my merry din

Not even the rats of Hamelin"

Hamelin, Germany, long time ago

"Oh, blow your horn both far and wide

And save our city!" the Mayor cried

"Whatever you ask we will gladly pay

If you'll only drive these rats away

A couple of grand you will surely win

If you get the rats out of Hamelin"

Hamelin, Germany, long time ago

A tweedledy-dee and a foodley-doh

A little tune he started to blow

It sounded like bacon, it sounded like cheese

It sounded like kitcheny melodies

The rats came out with a snicker and a grin

From all the houses of Hamelin

Hamelin, Germany, long time ago

They followed the music bright and gay

Over the hills and far away

The Hamelinians loudly cheered

As the rat procession disappeared

And never a rat was seen again

In the little old town of Hamelin

Hamelin, Germany, long time ago

The Piper waited, hat in hand

To collect his fee for a couple of grand

Mayor and Council scratched their pates

"This is way above union rates!

For a tune on the flute or the violin

We only pay scale in Hamelin"

Hamelin, Germany, long time ago.

Pied Piper said, "Okay"

Put on his hat and turned away

Started playing a couple of tunes

Sounded like candy and toy balloons

Like merry-go-rounds in a jolly spin

Calling the children of Hamelin

Hamelin, Germany, long time ago

The children came out into the street

Followed the Piper with dancing feet

Followed the music bright and gay

Over the hills and far away

The town got quiet like it never had been

Since the beginning of Hamelin

Hamelin, Germany, long time ago

In some country far away

Some lads and lasses swing and sway

And a gaudy Piper, old and gray

Plays on his clarinet night and day

While way back home their sorrowing kin

Mourn for the children of Hamelin

Hamelin, Germany

My grandma told me so

A long, long time ago

• Artist:Malvina Reynolds
• Album:Another Country Heard From (1960)