Verse

    C                        F                                 C         -> Am

A little seal played with his friends on the coasts of Brittany,

C                            F                  C                            G

Clever games with no real end, playing just for the glee

      F                              C ->  Am

But too much vigor and noisy zeal,

   F                        C  -> Am
Frightened all the elder seals,
F                        C                        Dm                         G
Fearing that the predators might hear their joyous squeals
 

Chorus

                    F              G 
        So the elders, to protect the young one

         C                 ->           Am
        (though not cruel sea folk)

           F                    G
        Affixed a Bridle to the pup,

                   C             ->       Am
        And around his neck a yoke

             F                           G
        To keep him tethered to the herd,

                C       -         >   Am
        Not going where he pleased.
                     F                               C
        Though it seemed cruel, the group conferred,
                F                          G
        This pod has pressing needs

                     F   ->       Dm         C  ->   Am

        Though not cruel folk, The elders spoke

        F            G                  C

        Over the young one’s pleas

The bridle bit and dragged him down and his pointless playing ended

Why kiss the sun and open air, when there’s salmon to be tended?
But he still thought of the days

Held between the sun and waves

He still concerned the elders when they saw his longing gaze

        So the elders, to protect the young one
        (though not cruel sea folk)
        Fed him bits of cone snail,
        Blowfish bladder and urchin yolk
        To keep his thoughts how they preferred,
        Not going where he pleased.
        Though it seemed cruel, the group conferred,
        This pod has pressing needs

        Though not cruel folk, The elders spoke

        Over the young one’s pleas

His thoughts obscured, his blubber waned, but he always came when called

He became demur, with actions pained, but no longer a threat to all

And he seldom thought about the days

Exploring for new hidden Quays

With freedom to act or think or feel, in new or novel ways

        So the elders, to protect the young ones
        (Although not cruel sea folk)
        Affixed the bridles to the pups,
        And fed them urchin yolk
        To keep them tethered to the herd,
        Not going where they pleased.
        Though it seemed cruel, the group conferred,
        This pod has pressing needs

        Though not cruel folk, The elders spoke

        Over the young one’s pleas