Nine Magpie ducks walking down Tallman Street.
List of Songs ~ Charlie Ipcar Home Page
Words by: Charlie Ipcar © 2025
Tune traditional after "Can't You Dance the Polka"
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Nine Magpie ducks walking down Tallman Street.
As I strolled up Tallman Street,
I was surprised to see
Nine Magpie ducks all in a line,
Fast approaching me.
Quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
Nine Magpie ducks all in a line,
Fast approaching me.
They looked me up; they looked me down,
They looked me in the eye;
They looked so very hungry
I feared that they might die.
Quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
They looked so very hungry
I feared that they might die.
But I had a bag of peanuts,
That were raw and shelled;
I offered them a handful,
And they began to yell!
Quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
I offered them a handful,
And they began to yell!
They scarfed up all the peanuts
And did their happy dance;
They circled left and circled right,
Then in a line they pranced.
Quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
They circled left and circled right,
Then in a line they pranced.
They pranced back up Tallman,
Then pranced across High Street;
There they found a puddle,
That was so wide and deep.
Quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
There they found a puddle,
That was so wide and deep.
The moral of this story,
Is quite plain to see:
Life for a Magpie duck is –
All it’s quacked up to be.
Quack, quack, quack!
Quack, quack!
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack!
Life for a Magpie duck is –
All it’s quacked up to be.
Artwork by Charlie Ipcar, December 2025.
This song was inspired by the flock of free-range Magpie ducks that we encounter every day on our neighborhood walks. They are always happy to see us and always very hungry. The tune is traditional, after the old chantey "All You New York Girls, Can’t You Dance the Polka?"
