Swingin' on a Star ...

this is a song that i hum / whistle / sing to my nephews every chance i get. i'll probably sing it to my own kids too.

it's called "Swingin' on a Star" and it is by Frank Sinatra - at least that's the version i remember listening to as a child. what i distinctly remember in my mind right now is that i used to see this animated video clip on tv a lot. the animation is very old school - think ... the first 'Cinderella' in colour - can you see it? well, it's that kind of animation. if anyone knows how i can download such an old school animation video - do let me know.

i also remember that the kid looked like a 'Betty Boo' type of drawing - big head, big eyes with visible eye lashes, very cutesy looking, small-ish body (a bit dispropotionate, come to think of it) ... and i remember the kid turning into a mule, a pig and a fish ... and of course - swinging on a star.

now there's a song that sends the right message.

here are the lyrics ...

Would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a mule?

A mule is an animal with long funny ears
Kicks up at anything he hears
His back is brawny and his brain is weak
He's just plain stupid with a stubborn streak
And by the way, if you hate to go to school
You may grow up to be a mule

Or would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a pig?

A pig is an animal with dirt on his face
His shoes are a terrible disgrace
He ain't got no manners when he eats his food
He's fat and lazy and extremely rude
But if you don't care a feather or a fig
You may grow up to be a pig

Or would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a fish?

A fish won't do anything, but swim in a brook
He can't write his name or read a book
And to fool the people is his only thought
And though he's slippery, he still gets caught
But then if that sort of life is what you wish
You may grow up to be a fish

And all the monkeys aren't in the zoo
Every day you meet quite a few
So you see it's all up to you
You can be better than you are
You could be swingin' on a star


i love that last vrese - 'All the monkeys aren't in the zoo, Every day you meet quite a few' - so true. and of course the final message that i guess has stuck with me although i've not really taken the effort to dig up the lyrics till today - "So you see it's all up to you, You can be better than you are, You could be swingin' on a ... star..."