… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least four performers who record under the name Tom Smith.
1. The only recording artist to appear on both NPR's Sound and Spirit and The Dr. Demento Show, Tom Smith is the quintessential geek rocker, combining high-energy folk rock, SF/fantasy, popular culture, progressive politics, cartoon voices, unbelievably bad puns, and the occasional recipe into a show you will not forget. He has won thirteen Pegasus Awards for Excellence in Filking and a spot in the Filk Hall of Fame. His most recent projects include iTom, releasing a free song every week, and The Funny Music Project.
2. Tom Smith http://www.TomSmithMusic.com, also known as "The Kitchen Musician" is a collector and performer of traditional folk songs on banjo, harmonica, limberjack and mouth-harp. He has issued a CD Peace on Peabody Hill and has performed at the New England Folk Festival (NEFFA Festival) and at the Mariposa Museum in Peterborough NH. Some of his musical performances support TuneFoolery (http://www.tunefoolery.org/)
3. Tom Smith, the lead vocalist for the English band Editors.
4. Tom Smith who was the drummer for Celebrity Chimp 2008/2009(?)
5. see: To Live And Shave In L.A.
A Boy and His Frog
Tom Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because they think I wouldn't know.
They only can see a cheap gimmick
On their children's favorite show.
They say, "Oh, that's just foam and a wire,
Attached to a green velvet sleeve,
Anyone can do that" -- well, that's true, I suppose,
What can I say without you there to guide me?
How else am I supposed to give?
How can I sing without you there beside me?
How else am I supposed to live?
You could never just do the expected,
I was just an idea in a bog,
But you sewed up your dream and we made quite a team,
Jim and Kermit, a boy and his frog.
It was me, Rolph, and you, but I think that he knew
There was something that you and I had.
The magic we made just kept growing,
And none of it ever was bad.
Then came Ernie and Scooter and Gonzo,
Doctor Teeth, Cookie Monster, and more.
But now all of those voices are silent,
And I want to go on... but what for?
No one can make me what you did,
No one could walk in your shoes,
Nothing can make me forget you,
But that's not a thing that I'd choose.
I can't just let it be over,
And you wouldn't want it that way,
So I'll stand up and I'll face it,
And, though not quite in your voice, I'll say:
I will go on without you there to guide me,
There's so much more I can give.
Whenever I sing, you will be there beside me,
As long as I keep you, you'll live.
We just wanted to make people happy,
I was always much more than your toy.
I will never regret and I'll never forget
What we had,
I'll miss you, Dad,
This frog and his boy.
Tom Smith's song A Boy and His Frog is an emotional tribute to the creator of the Muppets, Jim Henson, who passed away in 1990. The song reflects on the unfairness of life as the singer grapples with the loss of his father figure and mentor, Jim Henson. The opening stanza talks about how people often dismiss the complex artistic work of Henson and his team as cheap gimmicks attached to children's favorite shows. However, the singer recognizes the magic that Henson could create with his imagination and unique puppetry skills.
The singer then talks about how lost he feels without Henson's guidance, as he was the one who shaped him and gave him a voice through his beloved puppet, Kermit. The singer is struggling to find meaning in his work and life after the loss of his father figure, but at the same time, he is determined to carry on and spread the joy Henson brought to the world. He recalls the early days of his career, working with Henson, where they created a magical world of characters that touched people's hearts.
The chorus depicts the sadness of losing Henson, but at the same time, the singer believes that Henson will continue to watch over him and guide him in his work. The song ends with the singer thanking his mentor for the vast legacy he left behind and assuring him that he will keep it alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Life is unfair, so they tell me,
People say that life is unfair, but they assume that I don't know that already.
Because they think I wouldn't know.
They think I am too naive or innocent to understand how unfair life can be.
They only can see a cheap gimmick
They only see the superficial parts of our show and think it's just a cheap trick.
On their children's favorite show.
They underestimate the impact that our show has on their children, who love it dearly.
They say, "Oh, that's just foam and a wire,
They belittle the hard work and creativity that goes into making our puppets and show.
Attached to a green velvet sleeve,
They reduce our puppets to their basic components, ignoring the skill and artistry involved in making them come alive.
Anyone can do that" -- well, that's true, I suppose,
They begrudgingly acknowledge that anyone could technically create a puppet like ours, but miss the essence of what makes Kermit and Jim special.
But who else could make them believe?
They miss the fact that Jim and Kermit's magic comes from their ability to spark joy and wonder in people's hearts.
What can I say without you there to guide me?
Jim was my guiding partner in bringing Kermit to life, and without him, I feel lost and unsure.
How else am I supposed to give?
Jim was the source of my inspiration and creativity, and without him, I struggle to find new ideas and ways to give our audience joy.
How can I sing without you there beside me?
Jim was not just my partner in puppetry, but also in music. Without him, I feel like I've lost a part of myself.
How else am I supposed to live?
Jim was more than just my creative partner - he was my dear friend and inspiration. Without him, I feel like a part of me has died.
You could never just do the expected,
Jim was a creative genius who always pushed the boundaries and came up with unexpected ideas.
I was just an idea in a bog,
Kermit was just a vague concept in Jim's mind until he brought him to life through his creativity and skill.
But you sewed up your dream and we made quite a team,
Jim's passion for his puppetry dreams made Kermit the Frog come to life, and together, they were an unbeatable team.
Jim and Kermit, a boy and his frog.
Jim and Kermit's partnership was more than just professional - it was a deep bond between a man and his creation.
It was me, Rolph, and you, but I think that he knew
Other characters like Rolph the Dog were part of our show, but Jim and Kermit's relationship was special and unique.
There was something that you and I had.
Jim and Kermit had a magical chemistry and bond that couldn't be replicated with any other puppet or performer.
The magic we made just kept growing,
Jim and Kermit's creativity and magic expanded and evolved as they worked together, always finding new ways to charm audiences.
And none of it ever was bad.
Their shows and performances were always wonderful, and never failed to delight audiences of all ages.
Then came Ernie and Scooter and Gonzo,
Other Muppet characters were added to our show, creating new possibilities and dynamics.
Doctor Teeth, Cookie Monster, and more.
Other beloved puppet characters like Doctor Teeth and Cookie Monster were also introduced, bringing new dimensions to our already amazing show.
But now all of those voices are silent,
With Jim's passing, all of the voices that made our show so special and unique are forever silenced.
And I want to go on... but what for?
Without Jim and his creative spark, I wonder if I can ever truly go on with our show and make it as magical as it used to be.
No one can make me what you did,
Jim was a once-in-a-lifetime talent who brought joy and magic to people's lives through his puppetry.
No one could walk in your shoes,
Jim's creativity and passion were unique and irreplaceable, and no one could ever truly fill his shoes.
Nothing can make me forget you,
Jim will always be remembered and celebrated for his contributions to puppetry and entertainment.
But that's not a thing that I'd choose.
While I will always remember Jim, I still feel his loss deeply and wish he were still here with us today.
I can't just let it be over,
While Jim is no longer with us, I am committed to keeping his legacy alive and continuing to entertain audiences in the spirit of his creativity and passion.
And you wouldn't want it that way,
Jim would have hated to see his creative legacy wilt and fade away, and would want me to continue to pursue my own passion and creativity in his honor.
So I'll stand up and I'll face it,
In honor of Jim and his creative legacy, I will not give up on my own creativity and passion, but will instead stand tall and embrace the challenge of creating without him.
And, though not quite in your voice, I'll say:
While Jim's voice is forever lost, I will continue to create and entertain in my own voice, as a tribute to his spirit and legacy.
I will go on without you there to guide me,
While Jim was a guiding light in my career, I am determined to continue creating and entertaining audiences without him.
There's so much more I can give.
I believe that I still have much to offer artistically and creatively, and will continue to pursue new projects and ideas for the entertainment of audiences worldwide.
Whenever I sing, you will be there beside me,
Jim's spirit and creative legacy will continue to be a guiding light for me as I create and perform, and will always be present in my work.
As long as I keep you, you'll live.
While Jim has passed away, his creative legacy will live on through his work and the work that he inspired in others.
We just wanted to make people happy,
At our core, Jim and I wanted nothing more than to bring joy, happiness, and laughter to audiences worldwide through our puppetry and creativity.
I was always much more than your toy.
While Kermit was a beloved puppet character, he was also a symbol of Jim's creativity and passion, and a testament to his remarkable achievements in puppetry and entertainment.
I will never regret and I'll never forget
Jim's creative spirit and legacy will live on forever, and I will always cherish the memories I shared with him and the profound impact he had on my life and career.
What we had,
Jim and I had a once-in-a-lifetime creative partnership and friendship that forever changed the world of puppetry and entertainment.
I'll miss you, Dad,
Jim was not just a creative partner, but also a father figure and dear friend. His loss is deeply felt by me and everyone whose lives he touched.
This frog and his boy.
Jim and Kermit's partnership was a magical bond between a creative genius and his beloved creation, and their legacy will never be forgotten.
Contributed by Elena G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Wirts Peg Leg
Lyrics if anyone wants them:
Life is unfair, so they tell me,
Because they think I wouldn't know.
They only can see a cheap gimmick
On their children's favorite show.
They say, "Oh, that's just foam and a wire,
Attached to a green velvet sleeve,
Anyone can do that" -- well, that's true, I suppose,
But who else could make them believe?
What can I say without you there to guide me?
How else am I supposed to give?
How can I sing without you there beside me?
How else am I supposed to live?
You could never just do the expected,
I was just an idea in a bog,
But you sewed up your dream and we made quite a team,
Jim and Kermit, a boy and his frog.
It was me, Rolph, and you, but I think that he knew
There was something that you and I had.
The magic we made just kept growing,
And none of it ever was bad.
Then came Ernie and Scooter and Gonzo,
Doctor Teeth, Cookie Monster, and more.
But now all of those voices are silent,
And I want to go on... but what for?
No one can make me what you did,
No one could walk in your shoes,
No one can make me forget you,
But that's not a path that I chose.
I can't just let it be over,
And you wouldn't want it that way,
So I'll stand up and I'll face it,
And, though not quite in your voice, I'll say:
I will go on without you there to guide me,
There's so much more I can give.
Wherever I am, you will be there beside me,
As long as I keep you, you'll live.
We just wanted to make people smile,
I was always much more than your toy.
I will never regret and I'll never forget
What we had,
I'll miss you, Dad,
This frog and his boy.
Xanath in the Northwest
I always cry when I hear this, but to hear Tom choke up on, "I'll miss you, Dad" . . . /heartbreak
We still miss you, Jim.
Maicey T.
Jim Henson died before I was born, but I still feel the absence he left in the world. He's one of my heroes, one of the earliest voices of my childhood, and someone I still miss every day. This song comes to me every so often when I think of Jim. It's a beautiful tribute. What he says is true - No one can make Kermit (or by extension, the Muppets) what Jim did. When he died, a piece of real magic left this world with him.
Roxanne .Kateri
Thought I could make it through this without weeping…people told me about the song and I've never heard it before…NOPE. I lost it at "I'll miss you, Dad."
Critter Keeper
"Not quite in your voice" sets it up, and "I'll miss you, Dad" gets anyone not yet sobbing.
Melissa Gerber
I sobbed, when I realized who was singing, and who it was about.
merloon
The most significant thing I took away from Jim Henson's senseless death has remained with me for 24 years: Don't ignore that cough. Seriously.
Janice H
I went through a short phase immediately after hearing he died of being angry and frustrated with him for waiting too long to get medical help.
I grew up watching Sesame Street, played the theme to the Muppet Show in 7th grade band, and marveled at The Dark Crystal. I did not want him to be gone so soon.
Tears run down my face every time I hear this song.
Margret Rosenberg
@Janice H Walking pneumonia is very insidious. We just don't go to the doctor for a simple cold (at least, we didn't, pre-COVID), and that's what it resembles. I remember my mother going to the hospital for walking pneumonia - none of us even suspected how ill she was, and it very nearly killed her. The fever (the one thing that distinguished it from a bad cold) was so high that she lost her hair; it never did grow back in properly after that. So ask your pharmacist or doctor for a pneumonia vaccination, along with your flu and COVID vaccines. It could save your life.
Rob :)
This is the type of song you can play over & over again without getting bored. I love this, Jim was such an inspiration and still is! He's inspired me to carry on drawing during the harshest times of my depression. He's moved me in ways no other 'celeb' or public figure has. He was such a humble person, very quiet & shy but with a big imagination! Just like myself I'd like to think. He will always be missed. Thanks Jim.
idratherbeinwdw
I can't believe I never heard about this song until today. It's so very touching and beautiful and a very fitting tribute to Jim Henson. Jim was an amazing man, his legacy lives on.