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Lo, that tested Hamlin town;
And Lo its Mayor in his emerald gown;
And Lo the council in blue and brown:
As they tried to wear their greatest frown:

And where you there; you'd hear them say:
"How many rats did come this day?
How many still, will come to stay?
For them to leave is all we pray!"

And then the hungry people cried:
"Lord be with us, 'till the rats have died!"
And Hamlin's Mayor looked down and sighed
And then came he: the piper, pied

Part I

He pushed open the town hall door;
His footsteps echoed off the floor:
The council's eyes were filled with awe,
At this funny looking fellow:

He'd given them an awe-full fright,
As when, of him, they first did sight,
When he entered late, that stormy night
With an Oaken pipe in-hand

As he spoke, his voice carried across the hall:
He said: "Now come here, one and all!
And gather at my feet!"

Part II

And all the people gathered round;
To hear what tale to him was bound:
Some stood, while others favoured ground:
Not one of them made a single sound

"I'd heard afarr about your plea;
to find a man who such as me,
who'd have it in him to set you free,
from this heav'n sent plague of rats"

"I carved a tool from an Oaken tree;
A magic pipe, which all can see,
It bears a power to some degree"

"But before you buy your celebratory tea;
Remember please that it was me who heard your plea,
and that I shall demand a fee:
Of a thousand pieces in all"
The mayors frown, it then did leave:
"A thousand pieces is all you need!
That would not suit my social creed!
We'll pay you fifty-thousand!"

Part III

When the people were fast asleep,
Around the town, the piper did creep,
As he played his magic tune:
And rats then fled from every hollow;
And to the piper they did follow:
As he led them out into the morrow,
As he led them to the river

And in the water, all did jump,
And hit the bottom with a thump,
And land upon each other's rump,
Gone and dead forever

But some how one did swim away,
To live, and perhaps return one day?
And would he? Who could say,
But the piper?

Part IV

And in the morning food was there:
In the pantries; everywhere!
Enough, t'was said, to feed a bear:
And the Piper went for his money

"Now come on mayor: oh what say ye?
Have you got my promised fee?
I hope you've not spent all on tea
And left some gold to give to me"

"Ah yes, your money, now let me see:
What did I promise to give to thee?"
The Piper suddenly lost his glee
"You promised at least ten-thousand!"

"Ten-thousand; you must think me mad!
If that was our deal then I've been had!
Our problem wasn't all that bad!
I'll give you fifty pieces!"

"Now we've seen the rats are dead:
We'll not lose our cash instead!
For we need to buy our daily bread
O when will you get it in your head:
The deal is over!"

And the piper left the town once more:
To the little wood which in it bore
Another magic Pipe!

Part V

And the townsfolk they did sing and dance;
And by the river struck romance
The Piper took his final chance:
And on skipped the town children in a trance
To that wond'rous piping sound

The townsfolk caught a final sight
As their children flocked towards the light:
Like a moth to something very bright
And at the river they took a right
And headed toward the hills

And at the cliff, which caved inside:
To the portal; all kids flocked within;
Save for one: that lam'ed child:
As the rat who learned to swim.