Once upon a time in a kingdom far away
Lived a very happy king or so it is they say
For he had four young daughters, each of them was smart
They studied, science, Latin, math, philosophy and art
A princess is a special girl, the daughter of a king
Who has the opportunity to do most anything
And so will all of you young girls, that is when you are grown
You’ll choose the best direction and make the world your own
And so when Faye, the eldest, finished up with school
The king said, “Go and take your pick of all the lands I rule.
To the north you’ll find great mountains, to the east there is the sea
To the south lie apple orchards stocked with all the finest trees.”
But before her father finished, Faye picked what she thought best
For she found favor up the road in the town just to the west
She entered a noble profession, to teach the seventh grade
Ahh, the king was pleased with Faye, and the choices that she made.
Then one year passed until the time for Gretchen to travel forth
The second daughter packed her things and headed to the north
There she built a cabin on the steepest hill she found
And lived off all the foods that she could gather from the ground
She watched the weather patterns, the pressures fall and rise
Gretchen took great pleasure in studying the skies
She charted changes in the wind, formations of each cloud
Her knowledge of the atmosphere made father very proud
When it was sister Hannah’s turn, came these words from her mouth,
“I think that I will go and pick the apples in the south.”
She had an knack for finance and a way with people too
It wasn’t long before young Hannah’s apple business grew.
And the king again did smile. For daughter number three,
Had grown up from the girl who had bounced upon his knee.
And so with three fine daughters successful in the world,
He turned to pay attention to the last of his four girls.
“There is just one direction that the others liked the least
I’m sorry dear young Isabel, your only choice is east.”
The princess looked up to the king and with a smile of glee
Said, “Thank you daddy. Don’t you fret. I’ve always liked the sea.”
And Isabel then built a boat the finest in the land
With sails of silk so strong for any wind they would withstand.
The king, long after she had gone, sat on the shore and gazed
He tipped his crown in thanks to each fine princess he had raised. CHORUS