Through mostly vacant streets A baker from the outskirts of his town Earned his living peddling sweets From a ragged cart he dragged around The clever fox crept close behind Kept an ever watchful eye For a chance to steal a ginger spice cake Or a boysenberry pie Looking down was the hungry crow: "When the time is right, I'll strike And condescend to the earth below And take whichever treat I'd like" The moment the baker turned around To shoo the fox off from his cart The crow swooped down and snatched a shortbread cookie And a German chocolate tart Using most unfriendly words That the village children had not yet heard The baker shouted threats by canzonette To curse the crafty bird "You rotten wooden mixing spoon Why, you midnight-winged raccoon You better bring those pastries back You no-good burned-black macaroon" The fox approached the tree Where the bird was perched delighted in his nest "Brother Crow, don't you remember me? It's your old friend Fox with a humble request If you could share just a modest piece Seeing as I distracted that awful man" This failed to persuade the crow in the least So the fox rethought his plan "Then if your lovely song would grace my ears Or to even to hear you speak Would ease my pains and fears!" The crow looked down with the candy in his beak "Your poems of wisdom, my good crow What a paradise they bring!" This flattery pleased the proud bird So he opened his mouth and began to sing: "Your subtle acclamation's true Best to give praise where praise is due Every rook and jay and corvidae's Been raving about me too They admire me, one and all Must be the passion in my caw My slender bill known throughout the escadrille My fierce commanding claw!" I got a walnut brownie brain And molasses in my veins Crushed graham cracker crust My powdered sugared funnel cake cocaine Let the crescent cookie rise These carob-colored almond eyes Would rest to see my cashewed princess In the swirling marble sky Would rest upon the knee Where all of the visions cease to be A root-beer float in our banana boat Across the tapioca sea When letting all attachments go Is the only prayer we know May it be so May it be so