Many Moons Ago Songtext
von Mary Rodgers

Many moons ago
In a far off place
Lived a handsome prince
With a gloomy face
For he did not have a bride

Oh, he sighed, alas
And he pined, alas
But alas, the prince couldn′t find a lass
Who would suit his mother's pride

For a princess is a delicate thing
Delicate and dainty as a dragonfly′s wing
You can recognize a lady by her elegant air
But a genuine princess in excedingly rare


On a stormy night to the castle door
Came the lass the prince had been waiting for
"I'm a princess lost" quoth she

But the queen was cool and remained aloof
And she said "Perhaps, but we'll need some proof. I′ll prepare a test and see.
"I will test her thus," the old queen said
"I′ll put twenty downy mattreses upon her bed.
And beneath those twenty mattresses, I'll place one tiny pea.
If that pea disturbs her slumber, then a true princess is she."
Now, the bed was soft and extremely tall
But the dainty lass didn′t sleep at all
And she told them so next day

Said the queen "My dear, if you felt that pea, then we've proved enough of your royalty. Let the wedding music play."
And the people shouted quietly "Horray!"

For a princess is a delicate thing
Delicate and dainty as a dragonfly′s wing
You can recognize a lady by her elegant air
But a genuine princess is excedingly rare