Part I
Beyond the jade green hill,
And past the gurgling river,
There lies the town of Hamelin,
Of golden-appled Hamelin.
Long gone the days
Of singing and dance.
Laughter is night forgot,
In the weary town of Hamelin,
Of golden-appled Hamelin.
Rats plague the houses,
The burrows, the streets.
Their pattering haunts
The troubled dreams of Hamelin,
Of golden-appled Hamelin.
Part II
Through spiralling road dust,
‘yond hill and swift river,
There came a motley man to Hamelin,
To golden-appled Hamelin.
His coat was russet
Red and green. His pipes
Gleamed gaily in the sun,
As he danced his way to Hamelin,
To golden-appled Hamelin.
Mayor and people
Ran to the streets; to marvel
At this wondrous sight:
Salvation came to Hamelin,
To golden-appled Hamelin.
Part III
“I’ll clean your houses
From the rats,” promised
The merry piper,
Before the men of Hamelin,
Of golden-appled Hamelin.
Gold he was promised,
Bounteous reward. Yet,
He just laughed and played
Through the streets of Hamelin,
Of golden-appled Hamelin.
Miracle witnessed,
Rats following the tune
Of a magical piper.
Out of the streets of Hamelin,
Of golden-appled Hamelin.
Part IV
But pledges made in
Wintry times, don’t hold,
When summer comes to Hamelin,
Oh, golden-appled Hamelin.
The town shut its doors,
The piper was run out.
His past services forgot,
By the ungrateful Hamelin,
Oh, golden-appled Hamelin.
The russet-and-green man
Took the dusty road,
Vengeance declaring
Against Hamelin,
Oh, golden-appled Hamelin.
Part V
Next summer solstice
He returned, by the river,
Outside the city of Hamelin,
Oh, golden-appled Hamelin.
He played his music
For us babes and kids,
Calling us from the hearths
Of our houses at Hamelin,
Oh, golden-appled Hamelin.
We children, followed
His song, out of town,
Past the gurgling river,
Under the hill by Hamelin,
Oh, golden-appled Hamelin.
And there we remain
For all of time,
The golden apples of Hamelin,
Oh, much-accursed Hamelin.
