A Boy and His Frog

Taking a break from Disney here for a moment, but those posts will be back in force within the next 48 hours -- I promise.

I think I'll tug on the heartstrings a bit with this entry. I love the Muppets. And any child of my generation who says they didn't love the Muppets, well, they are either crazy or they are lying. I think my recent rediscovery of Sesame Street with Hanna has kind of awakened that part of me again. I've been listening to old Muppet soundtracks in my car lately and spending a lot of time on various Muppet websites. While browsing, I came upon a very moving tribute to Jim Henson, who as everyone knows is the creator of the Muppets and who tragically passed away in 1990. By all accounts, Henson was a very decent person, kind and down-to-earth, despite his great fame. The entertainment he created with his Muppeteers was wholesome and imaginative and could appeal to both kids and adults. Such a thing is rare these days, and I am introducing my daughter Hanna to the Muppets that I knew as a kid. I hope that all of my friends who have recently had kids will do the same. SpongeBob is great, but he's no Kermit.

This song was written by Tom Smith. He isn't a Muppeteer and he didn't work for Henson, he's just a fan who appreciated what Henson created. This is a song sung by Kermit (as performed by Smith), mourning the loss of his "Dad", Jim Henson. What follows are the lyrics, with a video at the bottom of the page. Get the Kleenex! Enjoy....

Life is unfair, so they tell me,

Because they think I wouldn't know.

They only can see a cheap gimmick

On their children's favorite show.

They say, "Oh, that's just foam and a wire,

Attached to a green velvet sleeve,Anyone can do that" -- well, that's true, I suppose,

But who else could make them believe?
What can I say without you there to guide me?

How else am I supposed to give?

How can I sing without you there beside me?

How else am I supposed to live?

You could never just do the expected,

I was just an idea in a bog,

But you sewed up your dream and we made quite a team,

Jim and Kermit, a boy and his frog.

It was me, Rolph, and you, but I think that he knew

There was something that you and I had.

The magic we made just kept growing,

And none of it ever was bad.

Then came Ernie and Scooter and Gonzo,

Doctor Teeth, Cookie Monster, and more.

But now all of those voices are silent,And I want to go on... but what for?

No one can make me what you did,

No one could walk in your shoes,

Nothing can make me forget you,

But that's not a thing that I'd choose.

I can't just let it be over,

And you wouldn't want it that way,

So I'll stand up and I'll face it,

And, though not quite in your voice, I'll say:
I will go on without you there to guide me,

There's so much more I can give.

Whenever I sing, you will be there beside me,

As long as I keep you, you'll live.
We just wanted to make people happy,

I was always much more than your toy.

I will never regret and I'll never forget

What we had,I'll miss you, Dad,

This frog and his boy.