University of Virginia Library

Say, you know that time that Ol' Otta'
He's slide down that mount'in from th' sky?
Well, he's wored it jus' all a fur off his tail,
Jus' smoof, an' skin looks ugly an' a' dry.

He's sure feel sorrow, 'cause it's always bin,
He's kin' o' proud o' that tail jus' all a time,
'Cause it's always bin cova' jus' nice sof' fur,
An' it's looks good draggin' long behin'.

Don' got none, nobody, 'at looks so fine,
'Less it's Mus'rat, his jus' 'bout nex' best;
He's sure feelin' prit' bad, 'at Ol' Otta',
'Cause now his tail it's look bad, 'mongst th' rest.

He's jus' stay at home, don' went no-wha'
'Cause he's shame how it's spoil it, 'at tail;
It's look so bad, he's think eva'body laughin',
If they seen 'im comin' down a trail.

But it's "Rah-shu" come 'long an tole 'im,
'Bout big council, down a lake, he's haf to go;
He don' sed it nothin', jus' like thinkin',
Then he's start it, like he's know what's goin' to do.

Mus'rat, he's not b'long to that big council,
Sol Ol' Otta' he's go to Mus'rat, his lodge.
That fella' he's sittin' outside singin'
But when he's see Ol' Otta', he's dodge,
In a wata'.

Ol' Otta' couldn' seen 'im nowha', Mus'rat, So he's holla': "Ho' my fren, I like spoke to you now; I like to borrow'd you' tail, to wear big council; We could swap 'til I come back, I tole you how."

Mus'rat, he's good fella', so he's sed it, "A'right!"
An' he's swap with him his tail, that Ol' Otta'
By um by he's look behin' 'im, see that tail
An' he's so scare,
He's jus' hurry tumble ova' in a wata'
To hide it that tail.

Ol' Otta' he's go down a road, kin' a chuckle, feelin' good;
It's look good, that Mus'rat tail, draggin' tha' behin'.
So he's go to that big council, jus' feelin' kin' o' proud;
But he neva' did gif back to him, his tail, that Mus'rat,
An' he's eva' since stay in a wata' Mus'rat.