Key of Zed has been back in the studio. Always seeking to be innovative, and never shying away from new genres, the duo decided to try writing a children’s song. Three year old Clayton K. Smith helped out with some of the lyrics so we are pretty sure it will be a number one hit with the preschool crowd!
Not only is the song fun, but it has a basis in science. More details are available here, but allow me to give a few clues to how the song connects to real frog biology. There is a pond close to where I live where frogs sing through the spring and summer and then must prepare for winter. The pond is drained each fall, so the frogs must burrow down into the mud and vegetation and wait for spring. They winter in hibernacula created with soil, water, their own excretions, and a type of sugary anti-freeze that flows through their blood. All summer they live and reproduce while eating bugs from the pond and all winter they sleep in a death-like trance and await the flood of water back into the pond accompanied by the warmer spring air. Now that you have heard about the science, sit back and have some fun with the lyrics and melody.
The Frog Song
(Lyrics and Music by Mike Charko, Clayton K. Smith, and Keith Shields; SOCAN 2016)
(Listen to the song here.)Ribbety Ribbet
Down in the mud
Oh Ribbety Ribbet
Waitin on the flood
Ribbety Ribbet
Here comes spring
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, let’s all singDown by the bog
Underneath a log
He was a thinking
‘bout being a frogThe wonder of
Water and soil
Mixin it up
With some froggie oilRibbety Ribbet
Down in the mud
Oh Ribbety Ribbet
Waitin on the flood
Ribbety Ribbet
Here comes spring
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, let’s all singBuzzes Buzzin and
And fuzzes fuzzin
Geese a flying
Robins Hi-Hi-inBunnies a thumpin
And bees a bumpin
Smells of pollen
Coyotes callinRibbety Ribbet
Down in the mud
Oh Ribbety Ribbet
Waitin on the flood
Ribbety Ribbet
Here comes spring
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, let’s all singWishin for a fly,
He licked his lips
Good old bug juice
Gonna have a sipOh croak your best
You’ll always be blessed
Just thank the Lord
He’ll take care of the restRibbety Ribbet
Down in the mud
Oh Ribbety Ribbet
Waitin on the flood
Ribbety Ribbet
Here comes spring
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, let’s all sing
Oh yeah, Oh yeah, let’s all sing