The Brothers Four are an American folk group founded in 1957 in Seattle, Wa… Read Full Bio ↴The Brothers Four are an American folk group founded in 1957 in Seattle, Washington. Bob Flick, John Paine, Mike Kirkland, and Dick Foley met at the University of Washington, where they were members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity in 1956. Their first professional performances were the result of a prank played on them in 1958 by a rival fraternity, who had arranged for someone to call them, pretend to be from Seattle's Colony Club, and invite them to come down to audition for a gig. Even though they were not expected at the club, they were allowed to sing a few songs anyway, and were subsequently hired. Flick recalls them being paid "mostly in beer."

They left for San Francisco in 1959, where they met Mort Lewis, Dave Brubeck's manager. Lewis became their manager and later that year secured them a contract with Columbia Records. Their second single, "Greenfields," released in January 1960, hit #2 on the pop charts, and their first album, Brothers Four, released toward the end of the year, made the top 20. Other highlights of their early career included singing their fourth single, "The Green Leaves of Summer," from the John Wayne movie The Alamo, at the 1961 Academy Awards, and having their second album, BMOC/Best Music On/Off Campus, go top 10. They also recorded the theme song for the ABC television series Hootenanny, "Hootenanny Saturday Night," in 1963.

The British Invasion and the ascendance of such folk musicians as Bob Dylan put an end to the Brothers Four's early period of success, but they kept performing and making records, doing particularly well in Japan and on the American hotel circuit.

The band attempted a comeback by recording a highly commercial version of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man." But the band was unable to release it because of licensing issues, and The Byrds eventually stole their thunder by releasing their heralded version.

Mike Kirkland left the group in 1969, and was replaced by Mark Pearson, another University of Washington alumnus. In 1971, Pearson left and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who stayed until 1989 and was replaced by a returning Pearson. Dick Foley left the group in 1990 and was replaced by Terry Lauber. Despite all the changes and having spent 47 years in the business, the group is still active today (2004).

Frogg No. 1
The Brothers Four Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This is a story about a hip frog.
And we're gonna pick up on it now and
He's on his way out to do some shuckin' and jivin'.
You'll be able to tell right away that he's a big mover.

Frogg went a-courtin' and he did go, un-huh
Frogg went a-courtin' and he did go, un-huh
Frogg went a-courtin' and he did go

To the Coconut Grove for the midnight show,
Un-huh un-huh un-huh.

Mollie Mouse was the hat-check girl, woo-woo
(spoken: he knew it all the time)
Mollie Mouse was the hat-check girl, woo-woo
Mollie Mouse was the hat-check girl
He thought he'd give this chick a whirl,
Woo-woo, woo-woo, woo-woo.

He sauntered up to Mollie Mouse's side, un-huh
(spoken: the direct approach)
He sauntered up to Mollie Mouse's side, un-huh
When he got up to Mollie Mouse's side
He whispered "Mollie will you be my bride?"
Un-huh un-huh un-huh.

Not without my Uncle Rat's consent, uh-uh
(spoken: her uncle wrestles on TV)
Not without my Uncle Rat's consent, uh-uh
Not without my Uncle Rat's consent
I wouldn't marry the President,
Uh-uh uh-uh uh-uh.

Well, she said "That's it, Clyde, better hit the road, farewell"
"That's it, Clyde, better hit the road, goodbye"
"That's it, Clyde, better hit the road"
"You ain't no frog you're a horned toad, farewell, goodbye, adios"
Farewell, goodbye, adios
(spoken: You know, I believe that, uh, any more verses to this song would be anticlimactic; think we ought to end it)
Farewell, goodbye, adios
(spoken: Hey, ain't you gonna let me finish up?)
Farewell, goodbye, adios
(spoken: Aw, shut up, I'm your leader)
(spoken: No, no hands, no hands)

(spoken: Auf Wiedersehen)

Farewell, goodbye, adios.
Farewell, goodbye, adios...

Overall Meaning

The Brothers Four's song Frogg No. 1 is a lighthearted story about a hip frog named Frogg who is on his way to the Coconut Grove for the midnight show. He meets Mollie Mouse, the hat-check girl, and tries to persuade her to be his bride. However, Mollie Mouse says she cannot marry without her Uncle Rat's consent, and when Frogg hears this, he decides to hit the road. The lyrics are fun and playful, embodying the carefree spirit of the hippie era.

The song is meant to be taken in jest and is full of puns and double meanings. For instance, Frogg No. 1 is a play on words for Frank Sinatra's song Young at Heart, which was also known as Froggie Goes A-Courtin'. The Coconut Grove is a reference to the famous Hollywood nightclub that was popular in the 1940s and 1950s. The hat-check girl is a nod to the job given to young women at nightclubs, where they would take patrons' hats and coats and assign them a number for retrieval later.

Line by Line Meaning

This is a story about a hip frog.
Let me tell you about this cool frog.

And we're gonna pick up on it now and
Let's hear more of the story.

He's on his way out to do some shuckin' and jivin'.
He's about to go out and have some fun.

You'll be able to tell right away that he's a big mover.
He's a real party animal.

Frogg went a-courtin' and he did go, un-huh
Frogg went out on the town.

To the Coconut Grove for the midnight show,
He went to a night club called the Coconut Grove.

Mollie Mouse was the hat-check girl, woo-woo
A girl named Mollie was working as a hat-check girl.

He thought he'd give this chick a whirl,
He wanted to ask her out.

He sauntered up to Mollie Mouse's side, un-huh
He walked over to Mollie Mouse.

When he got up to Mollie Mouse's side
Once he was next to Mollie Mouse,

He whispered "Mollie will you be my bride?"
He asked Mollie to marry him.