Introduction blah blah... The animation was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2003.

Clearly the music is one extremely popular aspect of the film and is closely associated with the frog. For example, Looney Tunes message boards frequently see questions along the lines of "What is the name of that frog that sings "Hello My Baby, Hello my Darling"?" Fans - even casual ones - tend to remember some of the songs years after the experience.

But do they know anything about the songs themselves? I've had many pleasant conversations with fans who were curious about hearing more about these songs. They are eager to know whether they were "real" songs or if they written by the people who breathed life into the dancing frog. And what are those lyrics exactly? The songs are not familar to people today but it did seem rather distressing to hear one person ask about the misheard lyrics "Come back to wearin' my Barney my Barney" and another to wonder about whether "come over to my house and play like you're my little girl" was hinting at perversion and pedophilia (it is not).

I decided that I was overdue for creating another LT&MM webpage and so I decided to tackle this subject in detail. It is my sincere hope that fans of this film enjoy this little peek at some of the layers of musical trivia just beyond the frog and the people who brought it to life.

Frog Trivia One of the most beloved films in the history of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies features a green frog. Although at the time of the film he was given no name, his popularity forced the director, Chuck Jones, to create one. He first called him Michigan Frog but later added a middle initial of "J" when a friend named Jay suggested it would sound better with a middle initial. So the most famous frog in the history of animation finally had a moniker: Michigan J. Frog.

Rip the horned toad - possible inspiration?

Bill Roberts supplied the voice


Introduction
One Froggy Evening - Trivia

Song List
Hello, Ma Baby
Michigan Rag
Come Back to Erin
I'm Just Wild About Harry
The Great McCloskey Fight
Won't You Come Home to My House
Largo al factotum
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
Hello Ma Baby
a.k.a. Telephone Rag
Written: 1899
Words and Music by Ida Emerson & Joseph E. Howard
Midi
Hello, Hello, Hello,
Hello, Hello, Hello,
[Verse 1]
I've got a little baby, but she's out of sight,
I talk to her across the telephone.
I've never seen my honey but she's mine all right,
So take my tip and leave this gal alone.
Every single morning you will hear me yell,
"Hey Central! Fix me up along the line."
He connects me with ma honey, then I rings the bell,
And this is what I say to baby mine,

[Chorus:]
Hello! ma baby, Hello! Ma honey, Hello! ma ragtime gal.
Send me a kiss by wire, baby my heart's on fire!
If you refuse me, Honey, you'll lose me, then you'll be left alone;
Oh baby, telephone and tell me I'm your own.
Hello! Hello! Hello! Hello there.

[Verse 2]
This morning through the phone she said her name was Bess,
And now I kind of know where I am at.
I'm satisfied because I've got my babe's address
Here pasted in the lining of my hat.
I am mighty scared, 'cause if the wires get crossed,
'Twill separate me from ma baby mine,
Then some other man will win her, and my game is lost,
And so each day I shout along the line,

Hello, hello, hello.
Hello, hello, hello.
More stuff More stuff - right side