The One who Stayed The One who Stayed
You should have heard the old man cry '
You should have heard the biddies
when that sad stranger raised his flute
And piped away the kiddies.
Katy , Tommy, Meg and Bob
Followed ,skipping gaily,
Red-haired Ruth ,my brother Rob ,
And little crippled Baily ,
John and Nils and Cousin Claire,
You should have heard the old man cry '
You should have heard the biddies
when that sad stranger raised his flute
And piped away the kiddies.
Katy , Tommy, Meg and Bob
Followed ,skipping gaily,
Red-haired Ruth ,my brother Rob ,
And little crippled Baily ,
John and Nils and Cousin Claire,
Dancin' ,spinnin' ,turnin'.
Cross the hill to God knows where
The piper pranced , a leadin'
each child in Hamlin town but me ,
and I stayed home unheedin'.
My papa says that i was blest
For if that music found me ,
I'd be witch-cast like all the rest .
This town grows old around me .
I cannot say I did not hear
That sound so hunting hollow-
I heard , I heard ,I heard it clear...
I was afraid to follow.