12. The Dragon & the Mouse
12. The Dragon and the Mouse (by Mickey Newbury)
I knew I wanted Larry Jon Wilson to sing a song on this project, but I could never figure
out the right song. Finally one day, he played me this song from Mickey's album His Eye Is
On The Sparrow.
Kevin & I have been big Newbury fans since the day we got to hang out with John D.
Laudermilk in Bell Buckle, TN, and he told us about some of their wild escapades (and
THAT's a story for another day!). Plus, Larry Jon and Mickey were really good friends so I
thought it was the perfect choice. And besides what better voice for a well-mannered
dragon? It quickly became Felix's favorite song on the record, so I added his voice at the
beginning asking me for the hundreth time to "play Bobo's song".
I tried to get the guitar in tune with my toy piano, but it's old and not even in tune with
itself, I don't think. I really liked the end result, hopefully it doesn't hurt your ears... That
piano was a present for my 2nd Christmas (1972) from my mom so I would quite banging
on hers. She even made me a red velvet cushion to match the "real" piano. Two
decades later she pulled it out of the attic and gave it to me again when I graduated
from college with a piano degree. It's the second recording I've used it on (check out
Scary Clown Robber from the Snapdragon release Drinking Watermelon Sugar).
THE DRAGON AND THE MOUSE
Tara: What do you want to hear next, Felix?
Felix: I wanna hear BoBo.
Tara: Larry Jon?
Felix: BoBo!
Tara: Okay. Which song?
Felix: The Dragon and the Mouse.
(Even fiery dragons get lonesome sometimes, too.)
The dragon lay asleep in his bed
While a little mouse was busy swiftly stealing his bread
In the sugar bowl he tumbles having to stand on his head
Surely I will never see tomorrow for I will be dead
What a way to go I know that I was so foolish he said
Then he broke down and cried.
Waking he jumped to his feet, the fiery dragon
hearing something squeaky disturbing his sleep
Maybe there is something funny happening down on the street
Walking to the window peering what in the world can it be?
And in the sugar bowl the little mouse he could now feel the heat
He was so terrified
(he was so terrified)
Well since I'm already awake he said
I do believe I might as well have some tea and some cake in bed
Even fiery dragons like to occasionally bake
Walking through the kitchen stopping short he said,
For goodness sakes! as he narrowed his eyes
Oh wouldn't you like to be free?
He proceeded to the cupboard holding that mouse in his teeth
I was just about to sit awhile and have something to eat
Even fiery dragons do get lonely occasionally
Please do step inside
(Oh I sure am glad you came. I hate to bake alone. And it's true-
fiery dragons do get lonesome sometimes, too. Step back inside,
stay awhile.)
Felix: That's nice