Since 1986, Groce has hosted the public radio program Mountain Stage.
Biography:
Groce was born in Dallas, Texas, on April 22, 1948. He attended W.H. Adamson High School with future musicians Michael Martin Murphey, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and B. W. Stevenson.
After school, Groce moved around the States — St. Louis, New York, Los Angeles — singing folk music and rhyming tales. Groce recorded four LPs on small labels like Peaceable and Daybreak in the '70s, with his band—Berke McKelvey (bass), and the Currence brothers, Jimmie (banjo, fiddle) and Loren (guitar, fiddle, mandolin); Walt Disney's Vista label Activity Records issued his "Winnie the Pooh For President" as a single. He also recorded the "Disney Children's Favorites" albums on Disneyland Records, featuring many well-loved children's songs, as well as several other Disney recordings during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including the two "Disney Christmas Favorites" LPs.
Early in the 1970s, Groce went to work for the National Endowment for the Arts program which funded appearances by artists in public schools. Groce was sent to West Virginia where working with kids inspired him to write the humorous "Junk Food Junkie", which was recorded in 1975 in front of a live audience at McCabe's in Santa Monica, California. The song, released as a single in early 1976, quickly became a hit in the United States, where it spent 15 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, peaking at number nine in the week of March 20, 1976.[2] One line in the song says the singer is "a friend to old Euell Gibbons", a naturalist known for appearing in TV commercials for Grape Nuts cereal; ironically, Gibbons died[3] just before "Junk Food Junkie" was released.
The song was followed up by an album and several more novelty numbers. None of them charted, and Groce returned to his work with children. He has written numerous children's songs, several of which have been included on the Disney Children's Favorites albums, including his song "Just For You". He currently lives in Charleston, West Virginia, and is the host of the National Public Radio music program Mountain Stage.
Groce also recorded two albums of hymns in the 1970s and has recently released a Best Of Larry Groce CD, taken from those albums, and another CD of new hymns called On Joyful Wing (Mar 2009).
He has also been in the movie Paradise Park.
[edit]References
Frosty the Snowman
Larry Groce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal
Frosty the Snowman
Is a fairytale they say
He was made of snow
But the children know
There must have been some magic
In that old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around
Frosty the Snowman
Was alive as he could be
And the children say
He could laugh and play
Just the same as you and me
Frosty the Snowman
Knew the sun was hot that day
So he said let's run
And we'll have some fun
Now before I melt away
Down to the village
With a broomstick in his hand
Running here and there all around the square Saying catch me if you can
He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler stop
Frosty the Snowman
Had to hurry on his way
But he waved goodbye
Saying don't you cry
I'll be back again some day
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Look at Frosty go
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Over the hills of snow
The song "Frosty the Snowman" is a cheerful and upbeat Christmas classic that tells the story of how Frosty came to life and his adventures with the children. The opening lines describe Frosty as a "jolly happy soul" with a "corncob pipe and a button nose" and "two eyes made out of coal." Here, the lyrics are painting an image of Frosty as a character full of joy, warmth, and life.
The following lines talk about how Frosty is just a fairytale to many, but the children know how he came to life. The magic that brought Frosty to life is attributed to an "old silk hat they found." This line highlights how the magic of Christmas can make even the most unlikely things possible. The next set of lyrics describe how Frosty comes alive with the hat, and the children excitedly watch as he dances around.
As the song progresses, it takes the listener on a journey of Frosts' adventure. The song mentions how Frosty knows he will melt in the hot sun and encourages the children to have as much fun with him as they can before he melts away. It continues with Frosty leading the children on a chase throughout the town with a broomstick in hand, and they only pause their play when they reach the traffic cop. In the end, Frosty has to leave, but he makes a promise to return someday, leaving the children with joyful memories of their time spent with a magical snowman.
Line by Line Meaning
Frosty the Snowman
Introducing the singer of the story.
Was a jolly happy soul
Frosty was a very cheerful and contented creature.
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
He had a pipe made of corncob, and his nose was just a button.
And two eyes made out of coal
His eyes were made from coal pieces.
Frosty the Snowman
Reiteration of character's name.
Is a fairytale they say
Some people say that the story of Frosty is just make-believe.
He was made of snow
Frosty's body was created from snowflakes.
But the children know
However, the children are aware of a secret that others do not know.
How he came to life one day
The kids know about the day when Frosty became animate.
There must have been some magic
Perhaps there was some sort of enchanted energy that brought Frosty to life.
In that old silk hat they found
It is speculated that the magic resided within a hat discovered by the kids.
For when they placed it on his head
The children witnessed that when the headwear was fitted on Frosty, something wondrous occurred.
He began to dance around
Frosty commenced to move rhythmically in response.
Frosty the Snowman
Reviving the main subject.
Was alive as he could be
Frosty was brimming with vitality and enthusiasm.
And the children say
Kids recount that he could do almost everything a human could.
He could laugh and play
Frosty had a sense of humor and could enjoy games and other activities.
Just the same as you and me
He had comparable mental and emotional abilities to humans.
Frosty the Snowman
Refocusing on the snow creature.
Knew the sun was hot that day
Frosty was aware that the weather was unfavorable for him on that particular day.
So he said let's run
Frosty suggested that they depart quickly.
And we'll have some fun
During their escape, they planned to partake in leisure activities.
Now before I melt away
Frosty was concerned with melting in the sun's heat and made this comment before leaving.
Down to the village
Hostile weather conditions caused them to descend into the town.
With a broomstick in his hand
Frosty had possession of a broomstick for unknown purposes.
Running here and there all around the square
He actively moved around the plaza in a random fashion.
Saying catch me if you can
Frosty jokingly taunted that he was hard to catch.
He led them down the streets of town
Frosty guided the kids through the town's avenues.
Right to the traffic cop
The group confronted a police officer.
And he only paused a moment when
Frosty halted briefly when he heard the officer.
He heard him holler stop
The officer shouted out a command to halt.
Frosty the Snowman
Giving a nod to the snowman character again.
Had to hurry on his way
Frosty had to leave quickly due to the unpleasant effects of the sun.
But he waved goodbye
As he departed, Frosty bade farewell to his companions.
Saying don't you cry
Frosty reassured the children not to worry about him.
I'll be back again some day
Frosty promised to return once again.
Thumpety thump thump
A vocalization that captures the sound of footsteps in the snow.
Thumpety thump thump
Same as above.
Look at Frosty go
A statement of admiration for Frosty's movements.
Thumpety thump thump
Another vocalization similar to footsteps in the snow.
Thumpety thump thump
Similar to the previous line.
Over the hills of snow
Frosty is depicted traveling into the distance, perhaps over hills of snow.
Writer(s): NELSON STEVE, ROLLINS WALTER E
Contributed by Harper P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.