True Story

One Silver Cup - True Story.mp3

True Story

by Shel Silverstein

from Where The Sidewalk Ends

This morning I jumped on my horse
and went out for a ride.

Some wild outlaws chased me
and they shot me in the side.

So I crawled into a wildcat's cave
to find a place to hide,

But some pirates found me a'sleepin' there
and soon they had me tied
To a pole and built a fire
Under me I almost cried

'Till a mermaid cut me loose
and begged to be my bride.

So I said I'd come back Wednesday,
but I must admit I lied,

Then I ran into a jungle swamp
but I forgot my guide.

Then I stepped into some quicksand,
and no matter how I tried,

I couldn't get out 'till I met
a water snake named Clyde

Who pulled me to some cannibals
who planned to have me fried

'Till an eagle come and swooped me up
and through the air we flied,

But he dropped me in a boiling lake
a thousand miles wide.

And you'll never guess what I did then,

I died!

Upstairs

One Silver Cup - Upstairs.mp3

Upstairs

by Shel Silverstein
from Where The Sidewalk Ends

There's a family of wrens who live upstairs

Upstairs, Upstairs, Upstairs

Inside my hat all cozy in

My Hair, My Hair, My Hair

I've moved a dozen times and still

They're there, They're there, They're there

I'd like to get away from them

But where, But where, But where

This hat just isn't big enough

To share, To share, To share

But now I see you're bored and you

Don't care, Don't care, Don't care

About the wrens who live inside

My Hair, My Hair, My Hair

Enter This Deserted House

One Silver Cup - Enter This Deserted House.mp3

Enter This Deserted House

by Shel Silverstein

from Where The Sidewalk Ends

But please walk softly as you do.

Frogs dwell here and crickets too.

Ain't no ceiling, only blue.

Jays dwell here and sunbeams too.

Floors are flowers - take a few

Ferns grow here and daisies too.

Swoosh, whoosh - too-whit, too-woo

Bats dwell here and hoot owls too.

Ha-ha-ha, hee-hee, hoo-hoooo,

Gnomes dwell here and goblins too.

And my child, I thought you knew

I dwell here... and so do you

Where The Sidewalk Ends

Where The Sidewalk Ends (1974) is a collection of children's poetry written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. The book's poems address many common childhood concerns and also presents purely fanciful stories. The first edition was originally copyrighted in 1974 and published by Harper and Row Publishers.

The author dedicated this book "For Ursula" and gives thanks to Ursula Nordstrom, Barbara Borack, Dorothy Hagen, Beri Greenwald, Gloria Bressler, and Bill Cole.

In 2004, a special 30th Anniversary Edition was published, which included 12 new poems.

The audio edition of the book was originally released on cassette in 1983, as an LP phonograph record in 1984, and won the 1984 Grammy Award for Best Recording For Children. The copyright is owned by Sony Music Entertainment Inc. The collection is recited, sung, and shouted by Shel Silverstein himself. Also he has performed it at the Grammy Awards in 1984.

In 2000, the album was re-released on cassette and CD for the 25th anniversary of the book. This collection is copyrighted 1984 & 2000 by Sony Music Entertainment Inc. The collection is again recited, sung, and shouted by Shel Silverstein.

As a special treat, the 25th Anniversary Edition also contains 11 previously unreleased tracks culled from the original master tapes.