The Ugly Duckling
Embracing Self-Transformation: The Ugly Duckling's Journey
Lyrics
There once was an ugly duckling
Introduction of the main character, an ugly duckling.
With feathers all stubby and brown
Describing the duckling's unattractive feathers.
And the other birds in so many words said
Other birds express their disapproval and ask the duckling to leave.
Get out of town, get out, get out, get out of town
Repetition of the rejection, emphasizing the need to leave.
And he went with a quack
The duckling leaves with a quack, waddle, and quack sound.
And a waddle and a quack
Reiteration of the duckling's departure with specific sounds.
In a flurry of eiderdown
Describing the duckling's exit with a flurry of eiderdown (soft feathers).
That poor little ugly duckling
Highlighting the duckling's unfortunate appearance and its journey.
Went wandering far and near
The duckling travels to various places but faces rejection everywhere.
And at every place they said to his face
People at each place ask the duckling to leave with disdain.
Now get out of here, get out, get out, get out of here
Repetition of rejection, urging the duckling to depart.
And he went with a quack
Similar to line 6, the duckling leaves with quacking and waddling.
And a waddle and a quack
Repetition of the duckling's departure with specific sounds.
And a very unhappy tear
The duckling is sad and sheds a tear due to constant rejection.
All through the wintertime he hid himself away
The duckling hides during winter, feeling ashamed and afraid of judgment.
Ashamed to show his face, afraid of what others might say
Explaining the duckling's reluctance to show itself to others.
All through the winter in his lonely clump of wheat
The duckling stays hidden in a clump of wheat throughout winter.
Till a flock of swans spied him there and very soon agreed
A flock of swans discovers the duckling and realizes its true identity.
you're a very fine swan indeed
The swans express admiration for the duckling's swan-like qualities.
Swan? Me, a swan? Go on, you're a swan
The duckling is surprised and skeptical about being a swan.
Take a look at yourself in the lake and you'll see
Suggested self-reflection in the lake to confirm the swan identity.
And he looked and he saw and he said
The duckling looks and realizes that it is indeed a swan.
It's me, I am a swan, whee
The duckling joyfully accepts its true identity as a swan.
I'm not such an ugly duckling
The transformed swan rejects the "ugly duckling" label.
No feathers all stubby and brown
Contrasting the swan's current appearance with its previous state.
For in fact these birds in so many words said
Other birds now acknowledge the swan as the best in town.
The best in town, the best, the best, the best in town
Repetition of praise, highlighting the swan's excellence.
Not a quack, not a quack
The swan is no longer associated with quacking and waddling.
Not a waddle or a quack
Emphasizing the swan's graceful movements, contrasting with quacking.
But a glide and a whistle
Describing the swan's elegant glide and whistle.
And a snowy white back
The swan's transformation includes a snowy white back.
And a head so noble and high
Further praise for the swan's distinguished appearance.
Say, "who's an ugly duckling?" Not I
The swan confidently denies being an ugly duckling.
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