Once upon a time
there was a whale named Willie.
Willie was no ordinary whale
because he had a special gift.
Willie could sing!
Willie could not only sing,
but he could sing every part
from soprano to tenor!
Even more amazing is the fact that
Willie could sing all these parts
all at one time!
Passing ships began to report
the wonderful singing whale
and the news spread
throughout the entire world.
Doctors and scientists who studied anatomical biology
Debated and argued and quoted ichthyology.
Impossible! Preposterous!
We savagely deny it!
Magnificent! Miraculous!
We certainly certify it!
Even the great impresario of the Grand Opera
Raised an eyebrow and tried and tried to figure it out.
Mmmmm! This-ah whale,
That�s it! He�s-ah swallowed an opera singer!
I find-ah the great Senor Donatello
I find-ah the great Lily Gallie
Why not I find-ah an opera singer
Hah! I do it!
Go get-ah me a great big schooner!
Go get-ah me the best harpooner!
Photographers and reporters
Publicity!
Publicity!
he�s-ah maybe swallowed an opera singer!
in-ah the fish-ah market!
in-ah the honky-tonk!
in-ah the belly of a whale!
from all the news-ah-papers!
A few weeks later, Willie was singing
for all his friends at sea.
There were seagulls and albatrosses,
dolphins and flying fish
and many other great whales,
and they all thought
Willie was the greatest thing
that had ever happened!
And, of course, he really was!
Willie spotted the approaching schooner
and recognized the great impresario right away
from the images he had seen
in the magic crystal ball of the good Sea Witch!
Willie had always dreamed that one day
he would sing at the
Metropolitan Opera House
in New York City!
Now here was the impresario himself
who would listen to him sing
and make his dream come true.
Willie mustered all his strength
and began to sing the beautiful
Sextet From Lucia De Lammermoor
in all the glorious splendor of six voices!
He had never sung so well!
He was so preoccupied with his singing
that he never noticed the harpooner
ready to strike
as soon as the schooner
sailed closer and closer.
Willie was right in the middle of the most beautiful part
when the harpooner thrust his long, barbed harpoon
deep into Willie�s great heart!
Willie gasped as the pain
shot through his huge frame!
Willie was stunned!
What was happening!
He tried to continue his singing
but he grew weaker and weaker
until finally, he could sing no more.
Willie could not understand
why he had been harpooned
and was about to sink
into the vast depths of the ocean,
when all of a sudden
a great golden band of angel whales
scooped him up and carried him
up . . . . up . . . . up into heaven.
As they rose higher and higher
with Willie safely in their embrace,
Willie began to gain a new, special strength!
He grew stronger and stronger
and finally, his great lungs filled with air!
Willie began to sing again!
He sang more beautifully
than he had ever sung before
in his whole, entire life!
Willie knew he would never sing at The Met,
but his happy heart was filled with joy,
because now he was singing
to everyone in heaven
forever
and most happily
ever after!