The Apple Tree

Once upon a time there was a farmer and his wife who lived in a cottage on their small farm.  In the field next to the cottage stood a big apple tree.

Every summer the farmer watched the apples grow until he knew it was time to pick them off the tree. It was now the end of summer, and he thought to himself “tomorrow I'll pick the  apples, they look perfect now!” The next morning he went out to the tree and he couldn't believe his eyes. All the apples were gone - someone had stolen them!

He was so angry, he called out to the animals who lived on the farm. 

Now the farmer had a strange mixture of animals. There were cows, sheep, donkeys, a lion, a hippo and a small puppy. He was so upset that someone had stolen all his apples, he couldn't stand still and jumped up and down as he spoke to the animals.

Where have my apples gone?
Where can they be?
Look, there's nothing left
Not one apple on my tree.

Rah-rah-rah said the lion
He-he-he said the flea
Then who said the farmer
Stole the apples from the tree?

Moo-moo-moo said the cow
Zee-zee-zee said the bee
It certainly wasn't us
Who stole the apples from the tree.

Rah-rah-rah said the lion
He-he-he said the flea
Then who said the farmer
Stole the apples from the tree?

Was it you Jo-jo Hippo?
Why do you look at me?
Have you ever seen a hippo
Slowly climbing up a tree?

Rah-rah-rah said the lion
He-he-he said the flea
Then who said the farmer
Stole the apples from the tree?

He-he-haw said the donkey
Ba-ba-ba said the sheep
Who ever stole the apples
Has been really really mean.

Rah-rah-rah said the lion
He-he-he said the flea
Then who said the farmer
Stole the apples from the tree?

Never you cheeky puppy
I know it couldn't be
You're not strong enough
To shake the apples from the tree.

Rah-rah-rah said the lion
He-he-he said the flea
Then who said the farmer
Stole the apples from the tree?

Then a chirping noise came
From way above the field
Hello Mr. Farmer
Would you like to talk to me?

Rah-rah-rah said the lion
He-he-he said the flea
Then who said the farmer
Stole the apples from the tree?

I'm only a tiny bird
You would be amazed what I can see
I know who it was
Who stole the apples from the tree.

Rah-rah-rah said the lion
He-he-he said the flea
Then who said the farmer
Stole the apples from the tree?

The lion Mr. Farmer
And his friend the tiny flea
They ate all the apples
That were hanging from the tree.

Rah-rah-rah said the lion
He-he-he said the flea
It was us Mr. Farmer
Who stole the apples from the tree

I'm sorry said the lion
I'm sorry said the flea
We knew all along
Who stole the apples from the tree

Rah-rah-rah said the lion
He-he-he said the flea
Next year said the farmer
Share the apples on the tree.

Rah-rah-rah said the lion
He-he-he said the flea
And that was the story of
The farmer's apple tree.