Malvina Reynolds: Song Lyrics and Poems  

Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1962 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1991. a.k.a. "Turtle Song" and "Turtle." In the Notes to her songbook Little Boxes and Other Handmade Songs Malvina writes: "My little friend Noah had some pet turtles. He called them aguk. He discovered that you can't make a turtle come out--the more you make it, the more it won't. Since the second line of this song is just like the first, and third and fourth are the refrain, it makes a good sing-along, even for people who have never heard it before."

You can't make a turtle come out,
You can't make a turtle come out,
You can call him or coax him or shake him or shout,
But you can't make a turtle come out, come out,
You can't make a turtle come out.

If he wants to stay in his shell,
If he wants to stay in his shell,
You can knock on the door but you can't ring the bell,
And you can't make a turtle come out, come out,
You can't make a turtle come out.

Be kind to your four-footed friends,
Be kind to your four-footed friends,
A poke makes a turtle retreat at both ends,
And you can't make a turtle come out, come out,
You can't make a turtle come out.

So you'll have to patiently wait,
So you'll have to patiently wait,
And when he gets ready, he'll open the gate,
But you can't make a turtle come out, come out,
You can't make a turtle come out.

And when you forget that he's there,
And when you forget that he's there,
He'll be walking around with his head in the air,
But you can't make a turtle come out, come out,
You can't make a turtle come out.

Malvina Reynolds songbook(s) in which the music to this song appears:
---- Little Boxes and Other Handmade Songs
---- Cheerful Tunes for Lutes and Spoons: Youngish Songs
---- There's Music in the Air: Songs for the Middle-Young

Other place(s) where the music to this song appears:
---- Peter Blood and Annie Patterson: Rise Up Singing: The Group-Singing Song Book [lyrics & guitar chords only] (Bethlehem, PA: Sing Out Corp., 1992)
---- Peter and Annie Blood-Patterson: Winds of the People [lyrics & guitar chords only] (Sing Out, 1980?)
---- Peter Blood-Patterson: Rise Up Singing: The Group-Singing Song Book [lyrics & guitar chords only] (Bethlehem, PA: Sing Out Corp., 1988), p. 179
---- Esther L. Nelson and Joyce Behr: The Fun-to-Sing Songbook (New York: Sterling Pub., 1986)
---- Sing Out!, Volume 27(6) (1979), p. 18

Malvina Reynolds recording(s) on which this song is performed:
---- Artichokes, Griddle Cakes, and Other Good Things
---- The Ultimate Pollution
---- Funny Bugs, Giggleworms and Other Good Friends
---- listen to youtube.com video

Recordings by other artists on which this song is performed:
---- Marcia Berman: Sings Malvina Reynolds' Rabbits Dance and Other Songs for Children (B/B Records B/B 112, 1985)
---- Bluestein Family: Good Mornin' Blues; Folk Songs for Children (Doghill DHCD3108, 1988)
---- Ginni Clemmens: Long Time Friends (Open Door Records, 1976)
---- Jack Davidson and the Little Singers of Mt. Roskill: You Can't Make a Turtle Come Out (45 r.p.m. e.p., Kiwi Records EA-113)
---- Jack Davidson and the Little Singers of Mt. Roskill: You Can't Make a Turtle Come Out (45 r.p.m. single, Cassandra Records CS-10, 1968)
---- Jonathan Edwards et al.: Grandma's Patchwork Quilt (American Melody Records AM-C-103, 1987)
---- Paul Epstein: School Bus Comin' (1992)
---- Mike Fenton: Kangaroos & Pussycats Fun Songs for Children (Heritage Records HRC 1219, 1990)
---- Emily Fox: Songs Kids Love to Sing (Emily Fox, 1985)
---- Gemini: Pulling Together (Gemini Records GR 1003, 1986)
---- Tom Hunter: I'll Sing for You (Turn-the-Page-Press, 1993)
---- Mary Miché: Earthy Tunes [as "Turtle"] (Song Trek MM 103, 1987)
---- Bob Neary: Over in the Meadow (Bob Neary, 1989)
---- Sandy and Caroline Paton: I've Got a Song (Folk-Legacy Records, 1975)
---- Annie Patterson and Wendi Bourne: Bears and Bear Hugs; 231 Songs for Children (Sing Out S0101-S0106, 1991)
---- Prairie Orchard: Plant a Little Seed (Prairie Orchard PO8315, 2003)
---- Nancy Raven: Singing, Prancing & Dancing [as "Turtle Song"] (Pacific Cascade Records LPL 7038, 1984)
---- Johnny Richardson: Come Along Children and Sing With Me (Folkways FC 7480, 1982)
---- Tony Saletan: Let's All Sing (Western Records WV-1102, 1976)
---- Self Expression and Conduct; the Humanities, Yellow (Harcourt Brace Jovanich 76-7542, 1976)
---- Sharon, Lois, and Bram: In the Schoolyard (Elephant Records EF 0302, 1980)
---- Silver Burdett Music, Book 3 (Silver Burdett P11 17473, 1985)
---- Roger Tincknell: Earth Rhythms; Songs for the Environment (Hairy Bear Productions, 1996)
---- Jay Ungar and Lyn Hardy: A Place to Be (Gentle Wind GW1006, 1981)