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Riley's Bait(Riley and the Beast) (c) 1997 by Dave Hadfield
Audio: click here

Oh Riley went wandering far and wide in Canada's north, where no man is tied;
A paddle, a pack, and a cedar canoe, a box full of grub, and a bottle or two.
He drifted alone on a warm July day -- lay back and soaked up the sun on his way.
The current behind him, the wind -- it had died.
He dangled his toes in the water beside.

But there on that river he wasn't alone.
A gigantic snapper lay quiet below.
It rose to inspect -- took a sniff of delight;
Chomp, went the turtle, and sank out of sight.


Well Riley got airborn, he looped in the sky.
Landed aboard with a terrible cry,
looked at the place where his toe once had been,
and the words that he used made the lakewater steam.

He hobbled, he limped, he walked like a geek.
(No reptile was safe in his sight for a week.)
He didn't forget and it took quite a while,
to get back his balance and gain back his smile.

He'd nearly forgotten his poor pinky's fate,
while washing his pots and his pans in the lake.
Ten fingers splashing and scrubbing off grime:
Chomp, went the turtle and left only nine.

Chorus:
Now no more was it a vacation; there was no place that he wouldn't go,
and he roamed all over the north, chasing the turtle that took off his toe.


No need to describe what went on in his mind;
he ranted and raved and he swore he would find
the cause of his troubles -- he wasn't a dupe.
He'd find him that turtle and make him some soup.

He hunted and fished -- it became quite a quest.
(Losing two digits is never a jest.)
He tried every trap and he used every lure,
but snappers are wise and not easy to lure.

So, beaten, exhausted, and thoroughly drained,
he knew fully well only one chance remained,
the snapper would rise to the ultimate bait;
he stripped off his clothes and jumped into the lake.

Chorus

The fight was ferocious, the battle was tough.
The stakes were the highest -- the penalties rough.
The water was torn by the force of the duel.
He'd win, or he'd give up the family jewels.

And later when Riley crawled up on the shore,
he paddled out south and went roaming no more,
And a gigantic shell hangs up high on his wall,
and Riley has no kids -- no kids at all.

Chorus (and end)