1. Tom & Jerry was an early stage act of Paul Simon, as Jerry Landis (whose… Read Full Bio ↴1. Tom & Jerry was an early stage act of Paul Simon, as Jerry Landis (whose last name he borrowed from a girl he had been dating) and Art Garfunkel as Tom Graph (so called because he was fond of tracking ("graphing") hits on the pop charts). They began writing their own songs in 1955, and made their first professional recording, "Hey, Schoolgirl", for Sid Prosen of Big Records in 1957. Released on 45 rpm and 78 rpm vinyl records, with the flip-side song "Dancin' Wild", the recording sold 100,000 copies, hitting #49 on the Billboard Magazine charts. Both Simon and Garfunkel have acknowledged the tremendous impact of The Everly Brothers on their style, and many of their early songs (including "Hey, Schoolgirl") bear the mark of this influence.

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Baby Talk
Tom & Jerry Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

How do you talk to a little baby goat you can't go meow like a cat
When you go meow to a little baby goat he can't go meow right back
No you have to say baaa to a little baby goat you can't say hello like a man
You have to say baaa to a little baby goat that's all he understands
How do you talk to a little baby goat you can't go cackle like a hen
When you go cackle to a little baby goat it doesn't mean a thing to him
So you have to say baaa...
How do you talk to a little baby goat you can't go quack like a duck

When you go quack to a little baby goat it just doesn't mean very much

So you can't go meow cackle quack to a goat you can't say hello like a man
You can't go meow cackle quack to a goat remember you have to say baaa

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Tom & Jerry & Tico & The Triumphs's "Baby Talk" describe the difficulty of communicating with a little baby goat. The writer points out that unlike other animals, goats don't respond to typical animal sounds such as meowing, cackling, or quacking. In order to get through to the goat, the writer tells the listener that they must communicate with the goat in its native language, which is simply to say "baaa."

The song's message is clear - communication isn't always easy. In order to effectively communicate with someone, it's important to understand their language and speak it fluently. The goat in the song is a metaphor for any person or group that we struggle to understand. The song reminds us that if we truly want to connect with others, we need to be willing to learn their language and meet them where they are.

Overall, "Baby Talk" is a lighthearted, fun song that carries a deeper message about the importance of communication and empathy.

Line by Line Meaning

How do you talk to a little baby goat you can't go meow like a cat
It's tough to communicate with a baby goat using cat noises

When you go meow to a little baby goat he can't go meow right back
A baby goat can't imitate cat noises

No you have to say baaa to a little baby goat you can't say hello like a man
To communicate with a baby goat, you need to say 'baaa', not 'hello'

You have to say baaa to a little baby goat that's all he understands
A baby goat only understands 'baaa'

How do you talk to a little baby goat you can't go cackle like a hen
Using hen noises won't help you communicate with a baby goat

When you go cackle to a little baby goat it doesn't mean a thing to him
A baby goat doesn't know what hen noises mean

So you have to say baaa...
Again, to communicate with a baby goat, you need to say 'baaa'

How do you talk to a little baby goat you can't go quack like a duck
Duck noises won't help you communicate with a baby goat

When you go quack to a little baby goat it just doesn't mean very much
A baby goat doesn't understand duck noises

So you can't go meow cackle quack to a goat you can't say hello like a man
None of the noises that humans make will help you communicate with a baby goat

You can't go meow cackle quack to a goat remember you have to say baaa
For the umpteenth time, you need to say 'baaa' to communicate with a baby goat

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HALL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@cornermonster

2y↑2

Apparently it is not Simon and Garfunkel. It is Chris Gantry and Len Chiriaka — also both songwriters from Queens who later moved to Nashville. The full story is in Chapter 4 of “Homeward Bound: The Life of Paul Simon” by Peter Ames Carlin.

@h8jf1

12y↑2

Yes, it is Simon and Garfunkel, performing as Tom and Jerry. They did many records before S&G. Check out "Hey School Girl" on Big Records.

@fromthesea81

11y↑1

Thanks for posting this rare record -

@paolamariefuchsstitelmann7458

11y↑1

Great sound -

@ronaldherrera3479

11y↑1

Gracias por compartirla - forma parte de las consentidas de mi Museo de Hace Rato (acetato)-

@reverendflash

15y↑3

Some are saying that this is Jan & Dean, but if it is, it's not the hit version. There are too many differences. It's also not The Laurels, as some have suggested. I heard The Laurels' version and it's completely different. Plus, this poster appears to own the actual single, complete with photos of the jacket and record (and the flipside on another video), and the info seems to line up with Simon and Garfunkel discographic history. While I agree it doesn't sound like S&G, it just may be them.

@ratz671

11y↑3

This is actually NOT Paul & Art. It is a very common error as this song has been issued on compilations of early S&G songs. I learned recently the circumstances of the record. After Hey Schoolgirl and some followups they parted ways with the record label. The label owned the rights to the Tom & Jerry name so they simply found two other guys to record under the name. The relase of the song on Gala label has a pic of the duo and it ain't S&G

@ronaldherrera1238

8y↑2

Maravillosa canción -

@marieloubrumm4000

Trop chou j'adore

@BedroomScenesMovie

8y↑3

Definitely Simon and Garfunkel (with Art doing lead) covering Jan and Dean.

@cwbruni

11y

This is,Tom and Jerry ( Paul and Art ),Jan and Dean recorded this first,with the help of a few friends,Sandy Nelson ( the drummer ) lived next door to Jan.

@cwbruni

11y

It is,the two of them on lead vocals,however,Jan and Dean recorded this first,in the same year,but,this is indeed Paul and Art,under the names of Tom and Jerry. Sincerely,The Original Chevelles.

@ipennilane13

11y↑1

I screwed that up. I meant to say that this particular recording is NOT Dan and Dean. The label on the 45 was blue

@Juliaflo

14y

Yipes! I used to hear this on American Bandstand. Uh-uh, don't figure out my age, LOLOLOLOL.

@cwbruni

11y

That's why you never heard of them,you were a kid then,I was performing with a lot of these people with my own group,The Original Chevelles,1958-2009. Jan and Dean recorded this first.

@paolamariefuchsstitelmann7458

11y↑1

Love my baby - Ronald Herrera -

@lyon406

7y↑8

Neither Tom & Jerry or Jan & Dean were the original artists.
The Laurels on Spring 1112, 1959

@cmf1965

1958!

@mikemlw

3y↑1

No one can sing Baby Talk like Jan And Dean can

@LConde23

11y

I always thought that the vocals on this record were not from S&G. And I also thought the reason for it was exactly what you said: the label used the name with other musicians. Now, it´s all clear.

@larrrypa

13y↑1

thats do wop - in babby talk!!!!!!

@ipennilane13

11y

Dan and Deans recording must be on FB

@WeBuyUSAMade

I have this 45

@elizabethizz

12y↑1

That definitely isn't Paul or Art on lead vocals, so I don't know why it says vocal is Tom & Jerry. And I'm skeptical about them being the backing vocals either.

@sidguill

12y

leadsquirter: You might be right that Tom and Jerry did it first. I'm sure you know what you are talking about. But this is Jan and Dean. I was a kid in 1959 and never heard of Tom and Jerry at all. I will try to look up the song by Tom and Jerry though. Thanks for posting. I wasn't trying to find fault.

@cwbruni

11y↑1

I have to set the record straight here,Jan and Dean recorded Baby Talk first in Jan's studio in 1959,not the Echoes,I know Harry Boyle,and they did not record this first, I know all this because I was a part of Rock "n" Roll of that era,and my group still performs.Also Tom and Jerry ( Paul and Art ),have been around since 1957.

@cmf1965

2y↑1

THE LAURELS RECORDED "BABY TALK' IN 1958! https://youtu.be/NtSvMnrM0Yc

@LConde23

11y

I think that the same happens with the song "Surrender, please surrender", the vocals seem different from S&G.

@ParaBreakdown

Thats JAN and DEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@MickTheQuickk

7y↑5

This is NOT Paul and Art. The sleazy record company which owned the "Tom and Jerry" name put this record out with two other guys they called Tom and Jerry.

@mrderekevan

When I first heard this song on the radio many years ago in the 90's, I remember the DJ saying that the record came out as by "Tom & Jerry" but it was actually Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel recording under a different name. Not to say that the DJ couldn't have been mistaken, but I've also read in other places that "Baby Talk" was done by Simon & Garfunkel recording under the name "Tom & Jerry". What makes you say that this is 2 other guys named Tom & Jerry? Just curious.

@hzh27

14y

I listened to the hit version of Jan and Dean and they start with "Baa ba ba baa, ba um DAT um DAT um wah wah wah", which is different from this "Baa ba ba baa, ba Um BAH um BAH um wah wah wah". Different version definitely.

@paulpayton130

Of course it's a different version - this is a cheap cover knockoff.

@AstroMayan

9y↑8

That is one creepy ass album cover.

@aimeegelineau2451

AstroMayan this is a creepy song

@mntodc

11y

How much is this 45 worth today??

@miketheshanmanmangan

15y

This is the forunner to simon&garfunkel aka tom and Jerry of hey school girl fame.Jan berry and Dean o torrence had a monster hit with the much more polished version as the followup to Jan and arnie story of a stripper named Jennie Lee.all and all you can clearly hear Paul simon with the Everly brothers influence on the Tom & Jerry version...mike

@8thRRFS

15y

It's Jan and Dean, not S&G.

@jonnychingas5757

3y↑1

This is NOT Simon & Garfunkel It's 2 anonymous singers on the budget label BELL Records. It has absolutely nothing to do with Simon & Garfunkel. Even though Simon & Garfunkel had recorded a couple of singles as Tom & Jerry, this is NOT them.

@ipennilane13

11y

OK guys this recording is Jan and Dean. I have a special ability to pick up suttle differences theres no question of who it is on this particular recording

@mungous1000

I picked up on your subtle spelling of "suttle". Hell, even in typing this, the spell check underlined it in red!

Yes, Jan & Dean had the big hit on this. Obviously, Paul & Art did a cover.

@DawnRainWasHere

13y

I couldn't even tell this was Simon & Garfunkel,amazing how they've changed!

@aimeegelineau2451

DawnRainWasHere I know it sounds nothing like they sounded with Mrs Robinson and sound of silence!

@arpionatore

12y

Ba,ba,ba...Barbara Ann...

@baileyellard1

11y

I'm not so sure about the release on the Gala label being the same as this one. I think this may have been Simon and Garfunkel only because Bell, at the time, only turned out these cheesy 49 cent knock-offs of hits and I believe the only other label they had was Little Golden kiddie records. Sid Prosen at Big Records had no reason to retain the Tom and Gerry name ... the last couple of Tom and Jerry records bombed and the label folded ... they went down n flames at the same time.

@MultiBudboy

12y

Thats cause thats the hit you heard on radio in 1959! Hope you dont think the radio hit was always THE first, and the only??

@jml1163

14y

Clearly not Paul nor Art.

@mrderekevan

6y↑1

To me, what stands out most about this recording (besides the fact that it's not nearly as good a JAN & DEAN's hit version) is the fact that the timing of the percussion totally off when it first kicks in during the first few seconds of the song. It soon manages to get in sync with the vocals and the rest of the song is fine, but it's SO off in the first few seconds that it sorta ruins the song for me.