The Frog and the Scorpion
from Planting in a Drought by Tom Smith
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about
This fable may have originated in the middle east, or perhaps Russia. I am reminded of a Maya Angelou quote, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."
lyrics
The Frog and the Scorpion
by Tom Smith (ASCAP)
© 2020 Peabody Hill Publishing (ASCAP)
This story is old,. It is not often told
But now is the time to restore it
In an old fashioned way, it is meant to convey
A warning to those who ignore it.
There once was a frog in desperate times
His hardship was like many others
This frog was poor, with no food in his store
Like those of his sisters and brothers
[Refrain: Repeat last 2 lines of every verse]
-----
From under a log quite close to the frog
A scorpion rose to address him
From what I heard I don’t think his words
Came with the best of intentions
“I must cross this lake” the scorpion said
“Kindly I ask you consider.
I can’t swim the gap. Take me on your back.
I’ll reward you with gold and with silver.”
-----
The frog then replied, “I have seen many die
By the power you wield with your venom.
What kind of assurance, can you provide
That I’ll not be counted among them?”
“Yes I have a great stinger.” the scorpion said.
“But I’m not afraid to address this.
If I used it on you, then I would drown too.
And that’s not in our mutual interest.”
-----
With the promise of gain, and no thought of pain
The frog did agree to enlist.
(He knew) He could contain the scorpion’s campaign.
It was an acceptable risk.
The frog with scorpion swam from the shore
And then beyond all comprehension
Half way across, in spite of the cost
The scorpion delivered his poison.
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The frog in his pain, with tears he exclaimed
“Now we will both meet our maker!”
But the scorpion proclaimed, “You are to blame!
For you knew that this is my nature.”
Now that my story has come to an end
It’s custom I tell you the lesson.
Make sure you don’t fail to consider this tale
When you vote in the coming election
by Tom Smith (ASCAP)
© 2020 Peabody Hill Publishing (ASCAP)
This story is old,. It is not often told
But now is the time to restore it
In an old fashioned way, it is meant to convey
A warning to those who ignore it.
There once was a frog in desperate times
His hardship was like many others
This frog was poor, with no food in his store
Like those of his sisters and brothers
[Refrain: Repeat last 2 lines of every verse]
-----
From under a log quite close to the frog
A scorpion rose to address him
From what I heard I don’t think his words
Came with the best of intentions
“I must cross this lake” the scorpion said
“Kindly I ask you consider.
I can’t swim the gap. Take me on your back.
I’ll reward you with gold and with silver.”
-----
The frog then replied, “I have seen many die
By the power you wield with your venom.
What kind of assurance, can you provide
That I’ll not be counted among them?”
“Yes I have a great stinger.” the scorpion said.
“But I’m not afraid to address this.
If I used it on you, then I would drown too.
And that’s not in our mutual interest.”
-----
With the promise of gain, and no thought of pain
The frog did agree to enlist.
(He knew) He could contain the scorpion’s campaign.
It was an acceptable risk.
The frog with scorpion swam from the shore
And then beyond all comprehension
Half way across, in spite of the cost
The scorpion delivered his poison.
-----
The frog in his pain, with tears he exclaimed
“Now we will both meet our maker!”
But the scorpion proclaimed, “You are to blame!
For you knew that this is my nature.”
Now that my story has come to an end
It’s custom I tell you the lesson.
Make sure you don’t fail to consider this tale
When you vote in the coming election
credits
from Planting in a Drought,
released March 27, 2020
license
all rights reserved
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about
Tom Smith Boston, Massachusetts
“Folk music is still a living tradition that feeds on new songs that speak of people’s wants, needs, struggles and triumphs. Tom Smith is a man who writes songs that seem like they’ve always been there. There are very few songwriters working today that I would call folksingers, but I would call Tom Smith a true folksinger.” – Dave Palmeter, WUMB-FM Boston ... more
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Jan 2019
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