Chickadee Davis went off to school
Went off to school
Went off to school to learn to read and to write
But what did he learn to do instead?
Learned how to tussle and fight
He learned how to wrestle and wiggle and kick
He learned how to bite.
A difficult boy was Chickadee Davis
A terrible boy was he.
Why so angry? Chickadee Davis?
Why so enraged in gest and deed?
Especially when the animal nation
Is known for cool, is known for nice
That was the question that shook the forest
Ten answers to which would not suffice.
"Why, my man, are you so angry
“So difficult, so terrible, so out to lunch?"
My mama would ask, my papa would ask
The entire community wanted to punch him.
No one could plumb this Chickadee Davis
No one could crack his nut hard shell
"Why?" we yelled, "Chickadee Davis,
“Why this fury, this rancour, this hell?
“The world…
"The world," we said to Chickadee Davis
"This world of ours is coming to nought,
“Can't you see all the signs?"
"What signs?" he asked,
He sees them not. He sees them not.
"No," he cried, “This whole situation…
"No, no, no, that's always been the way it is
“At this time of year?
“The water like that, the fire like this…"
At which reply, Chickadee Davis
Went off to battle, went off to war
If there was something that he could do
He would do it but from afar.
credits
from The Cave,
released June 15, 2022
Andrea Koziol (solo) + company
Greg Oh: Music Director, piano and keyboards
Rob Clutton: Bass
Matti Pulkki: Accordion
Tara Davidson: Reeds
Christa Mercey: Percussion
John Millard: Banjo
