Coyote Yodel

copyright Michael Payne, 2003

Out here where the prairie reaches to the sky,
When moonlight strokes the sage-brush covered hills,
Coyotes raises their voices in their ancient cry,
Howling out the news both good and ill.
But one coyote never seemed to have the knack,
Could never seem to bark or yip or bay;
He'd fix his eyes upon the moon and arch his back
And yodel the night away.

(yodel chorus)

The other coyotes always gave him sideways stares;
They'd disappear when evening rolled around.
He'd hear them in the distance howling, groups and pairs.
And hate this strange disease that held him bound.
Ev'ry night he vowed that he would bite his tongue,
Would creep into a hole and try to stay,
But the moon would drag him out, demand its song be sung,
And he'd yodel the night away.

(yodel chorus)

One dawn, though, he'd had enough;
He couldn't face the rest.
He turned and ran, his shadow stretching west.
The sun beat down, but on he ran. Through hunger and through thirst.
Just wishing that his lonely heart would burst...

What tripped him up as darkness fell, he never knew,
But down into the desert sand he sprawled.
And panting there, he heard the sound; it grew and grew:
A lady coyote yodeling! She called--

(yodel chorus)

He found her by her silhouette against the moon,
Her silver fur a beacon in the night.
Springing up, he raised his head and joined the tune.
And never had a thing sounded so right.
They've been together all these years come dry or damp,
And if into that desert land you stray,
Their family cry will fill the sky above your camp.
As they yodel the night away.

(yodel chorus and end)


Wolfie Shorts

lyrics copyright Ian Martyn MooglePower
tune: The Scotsman

Well, a Wolfie wearing shorts left his house one evening fair.
And one could tell by how he walked he'd slept less than his share.
He fumbled 'round till he could no longer stay awake.
And he tumbled down onto his side to sleep beside a lake.

Ring-ding diddle idle i de-o
Ring dye diddley i oh
And he tumbled down onto his side to sleep beside a lake.

About that time two young and hyper foxes happened by.
One says to the other, with a twinkle in his eye.
"See yon sleeping Wolfie, asleep beside the shore?
I wonder if he wears anything underneath his shorts."

Ring-ding diddle idle i de-o
Ring dye diddley i oh
I wonder if he wears anything underneath his shorts.

They crept up on that sleeping Wolfie quiet as could be.
Lifted up his shorts about an inch so they could see.
And there, behold the only thing that was left to be shown.
Was nothing more than he'd ben graced with when he was born.

Ring-ding diddle idle i de-o
Ring dye diddley i oh
Was nothing more than he'd ben graced with when he was born.

They marveled for a moment, then one said "We must be gone.
Let's leave a present for our friend before we move along."
As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon tied into a bow.
Then they shoved him in the lake so that it would really show.

Ring-ding diddle idle i de-o
Ring dye diddley i oh
Then they shoved him in the lake so that it would really show.

Now the Wolfie woke up startled and yelped very loudly.
He climbs out of the freezing lake and gawks at what he sees.
In a startled voice he says, to what's before his eyes,
"Wolf, I don't know where ya been, but I see you've won first prize."

Ring-ding diddle idle i de-o
Ring dye diddley i oh
"Wolf, I don't know where ya been, but I see you've won first prize."