(BIRDS CHIRPING)
- (MUSIC PLAYING) - (BICYCLE BELL DINGING)
Hi-ho! This is Kermit the Frog,
and I'm here to tell you the story about Emmet Otter's...
(SCREAMING)
(SIGHS) That's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas.
It's a good thing I didn't damage the sign here.
You'll notice that it points the way to Frogtown Hollow.
That's where Emmet and his ma live.
- (SHOUTING IN DISTANCE) - Somebody's coming.
- Hey, look, it's a frog! - No, that's a toad.
Frogs ain't that ugly. Right, Chuck?
Now, wait a second, you guys.
Hey, Chuck-o, you see anything you like?
How about the scarf?
- You got it! - Hey!
(ALL SHOUTING)
(WHOOPING)
That was a bunch known as the "Riverbottom Gang",
and, unfortunately, you're going to be seeing more of them, too.
Because, like Ma and Emmet,
they're all part of Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas.
(SINGING) ¤ong, long ago
There lived a lady
Simple, but elegant
As any on the shore
She was known for her generous silhouette
And yet
She was known even more for
The bathing suit she wore
Once a pirate tried to steal it
It was rumored he was gonna use it For a pirate sail
"I'm innocent of such an act," he cried
"The fact is that's a perfect diaper For a baby whale"
Sweet Grandma's eyes YHow they could charm you
Five generations of loving friends she made
All the children enjoyed her In many ways somedays
When the sun was a scorcher Grandma Otter was their shade
Even so, it was her bathing suit that made her famous
It was almost heaven-sent
Many times when it was drying on the line
A tourist would mistake it for a circus tent
Ahoy, Emmet. I'm fishing. What are you doing?
Deliverin' laundry, and goin' to Waterville.
See you, Wendell!
Now, she has gone
Now, she has left us
Left with sweet memories
And left with something more
We've made curtains
And handkerchiefs
And clothing for the poor
From the one bathing suit
That your Grandma Otter wore
From the one bathing suit
That your Grandma Otter wore
Say, Ma, that sounded pretty nice.
Nice? I should say it did, Emmet.
Why, you can hear the fish applauding.
I think you're right. Maybe I should pass the hat.
Pa used to say,
"If you pass the hat to fish, all you get is a wet hat."
(BOTH LAUGH)
Still, I suppose the fish have just about
as much money as any of us this year.
Couldn't have much less.
- Ma? - Mmm.
What are we gonna do about Christmas this year?
Oh, better lean into that starboard oar.
There's old Gretchen Fox on her dock, waitin' for her laundry.
Ooh. She looks friendly as a polecat today.
Well, it's about time you got here!
Same time we always get here.
Yes, you're late every week.
And last week, when I opened the laundry parcel,
there was a scorch mark on one of the sheets.
Oh...
Well, maybe, I can knock off a little bit on the price.
- I... - You certainly shall.
Remind me of that when I pay you next week.
Ta.
Well, I got the bill right here.
And since it's three days till Christmas,
I'd really appreciate it if you'd
fall off the dock.
(LAUGHS) Way to go, Ma.
(LAUGHS) Yeah, well, sometimes, you gotta talk tough to these people.
- Yep, that's tellin' her, Alice. - Mornin', Will Possum.
- Mornin'. - I didn't see you sittin' there.
Well, that's okay, Alice.
Listen, you got anything to barter with today?
Oh, glad you asked.
Just knitted up a fine pair of wool socks.
Great! I got a few big, old pumpkins.
Pumpkins, huh?
I can make them into pies and sell them at a profit.
Well, they're in the garden, right over here.
Can you make much money on those pumpkin pies, Ma?
Oh... About enough to buy wool for another pair of socks, I guess.
Good thinkin', Ma.
Now, you can knit more socks to buy more pumpkins
- to sell more pies to buy more wool. - (LAUGHING)
All right! All right!
Lean into those oars, or we'll never get to Waterville.
(ENGINE REVVING)
Stop!
Hey, what'd you do that for? Right, boss?
Me and Chuck's going to lunch. We don't wanna stop.
- Right, Chuck? - My neck!
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Yeah, there's a music store over there,
and Snake needs a new string for his guitar.
Get off my shoulder.
I'm goin'. I'm goin'.
Jeez, a fella should be grateful he's got shoulders.
Come on, guys. Let's go in the store.
Are you crazy? Me and Chuck don't wanna go to no dumb music store.
- No, no, I didn't think so. - I'd like to.
- Yeah! - Why not?
I'll stay here. It's too dry in there.
Hey, you, you young rag scamps! You just messed up my fruit stand!
Oh, so sorry!
(SPITS)
(CHEERING)
Right, Chuck?
Sorry about that.
- Is that all the errands we have to do? - No.
But it's the end of the money we have to do 'em with.
Might as well head for the river, then.
Wait now, Emmet.
Didn't Sam Turtle pay you for fixin' his steps yesterday?
No. I was the one who broke 'em.
Oh, Emmet, you with your odd jobs, me with my socks and pumpkins.
- No wonder we're so rich. - We'll make out.
- You gotta have faith, Ma. - Oh, I got plenty of faith.
I spent all those years married to a snake-oil salesman, didn't I?
Well, Pa should have gotten rich on snake oil,
but there just aren't enough...
TOGETHER: ...people who want to oil a snake.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
Pa used to always say that when business was bad.
Yup, he said it a lot.
Wait, now. Would you look at that!
- What? - That swell guitar.
Mother-of-pearl inlays, too.
Now, Ma, that's what you can get me for Christmas.
- (MUSIC PLAYING) - Oh, sure! After all, it's only $40.
Say, what is that racket?
No, no, no!
Please!
I can't believe what's happening here in my store!
- What are you doing? - Who are they, Ma?
Beats me. Hooligans is what they are.
Probably some of those
- Riverbottom boys. - (CLATTERING)
SHOP OWNER: Now see what you've done!
- I want all of you out of here! Now! - (ALL SHOUTING)
You're all the same!
Here you go. It ain't even hurt.
If they didn't want these things to roll,
they should've made them square.
(LAUGHING)
Hey.
- Yeah, Chuck? - I'm hungry.
Hey, everybody! Chuck's hungry!
No, I'm not hungry.
I'm hungry!
Check, Chuck.
- Now! - Let's go eat! Come on!
(ENGINE REVVING)
(CHEERING)
(QUACKING)
(SIGHS) Gettin' colder every day now.
- Be walkin' the river soon. - And skatin' on it.
Got to expect cold weather just a few days before Christmas.
Don't talk about Christmas all the time.
There's no point, is there? We don't have enough for regular days.
Sorry.
I remember the last Christmas before Pa died.
Oh, Emmet.
I remember decoratin' the Christmas branch,
and Pa sang, and you played that old piano we had.
I remember, all right.
Sellin' that old piano was one of the saddest things I ever had to do.
Seems like we've sold just about everything last couple of years.
About all I got left is a sense of humor and a washtub.
Well, at least, there ain't no hole in the washtub.
There ain't no hole in the washtub!
That's what you call your basic
"Keeping warm while you're rowing home" kind of song.
I'm rowin', where's the singin'?
(SINGING) Head full ofgood thoughts Belly full of grub
Money in your pocket When there ain't no hole in the washtub
Sweet as honeysuckle on the vine, Ma.
Your nails won't break And your toes won't stub
You never get a fever When there ain't no hole in the washtub
If you look to the good side Fallin' down's a free ride
Slippin' and a-slidin' in the mud
If your back is hurtin' I can say for certain
I'll be there to treat you To a soothing back rub
When there ain't no hole in the washtub
Lunch with the upper crust Dinner at the club, high on the hog
When there ain't no hole in the washtub
Watermelon gardens, berries on the shrub Cookies in the kitchen
When there ain't no hole in the washtub
Hey, Emmet! Look what I caught!
Good catch, Wendell!
Yeah, they're really biting today.
I'll be there to treat you To a soothing back rub
When there ain't no hole in the washtub
There go two of the nicest folk on the river.
If you look to the good side Fallin' down's a free ride
Slippin' and a-slidin' in the mud
Though it twists and contorts you That barrel supports you
You can feed and clothe yourself With a rub-a-dub-dub
When there ain't no hole in the washtub
Ain't no hole in the washtub
Ooh.
Boy, it's cold this morning.
The river's frozen up solid.
Boy, Ma will be needing a mess of wood today.
WENDELL: Hey, Emmet! Emmet!
Good morning, Wendell.
Guess what? Old Lady Possum will give me 50 cents if I mend her fence.
Fifty cents? Good deal.
Yeah, but I don't have any tools.
Well, I've got the tools in Pa's old tool chest.
Hey, if you could help, maybe we could split the money.
Sure thing. I'll be right with you.
Good! Let's see.
Half of 50 cents, half of 50 cents...
- Oh. Mornin', Miss Muskrat. - Morning, Emmet.
- Is your ma home? - She sure is.
- Let me get the door for you. - Thank you.
Company, Ma!
Hetty! Come in! Come in!
Don't fuss, Alice.
I'm just here to use the spinning wheel you keep borrowing from me.
Sit down. (GASPS) Mercy!
I don't even have water on for tea.
Goodness gracious.
Ma, me and Wendell got a job.
Real money this time. See you!
Watch out for thin ice along the riverbank.
Okay. Bye, Ma!
Whoa. Can that boy move fast.
Now, where'd I put that teapot?
- Well, Emmet, are you going to enter? - Enter what?
- The contest. - I don't know about any contest.
Golly, it's a talent contest at the town hall on Christmas Eve.
No kiddin'.
And first prize is $50.
Fifty dollars?
That's a lot of money, Hetty.
You sure you got that right?
Fifty dollars cash. That's the prize.
A lot of money.
I thought you might be interested, Alice.
You do have a mighty fine singin' voice.
Anybody'd be interested in $50.
Hey, why don't you enter, Emmet? You're a good singer.
Are you kidding? I couldn't get up there and sing all by myself.
It'd be embarrassing.
- Hi, Harvey! Hi, Charlie! - Hey, Emmet, Wendell.
Hey, listen. You two are just who we've been lookin' for.
- You bet! - Yeah? What's up, Harvey?
Well, you know about the Waterville talent contest?
Sure, everybody's heard of that, right, Emmet?
Well, you see, Charlie and me were just talkin' about
what we should do is organize a jug band.
Yeah, wouldn't that be swell?
See, I play kazoo and washboard,
and Charlie here, plays a good cigar-box banjo.
- I really do! My ma says. - Mmm-hmm.
So, all's we need is a couple of other guys to fill out the band.
Well, how come us?
- You see, you can blow a jug, Wendell. - Yeah!
Hey, this is a good idea, Emmet.
Maybe. What would I play?
What else? You get to play washtub bass.
Why me?
Well, because your ma's got the washtub.
Oh, no, forget it. Count me out. I'm not in your band, and that's final.
- Aw. - Oh.
Come on. Why not, Emmet?
Because, to make a washtub bass,
you have to put a hole in the washtub.
I don't even have a proper costume.
Hetty, I can't possibly enter that contest.
You're right, Alice. Forget the whole thing.
Hetty Muskrat, you stop tryin' to sweet-talk me into this.
This is the fence we're supposed to mend?
Well, yeah.
That's not repairing. That's rebuilding.
Don't just stand around, boys! You got work to do!
ALICE: (THINKING) Just once I'd like to give a fine, store-bought present
to Emmet for Christmas.
And with $50!
EMMET: I've nevergiven Ma a nice Christmas present.
Never gave one to Pa, either,
and now, it's too late.
YHarvey says $50 split four ways is $12.50.
A lot of money.
ALICE: That guitar we saw in town, the one with the mother-of-pearl inlays,
Emmet really wants it.
But $40!
EMMET: I can't buy a piano for $12.50, anyway.
But you could put a down payment on a used one.
ALICE: But ifl do enter, I've got to have a costume,
and to buy a costume, I'd have to hock somethin'.
Nothin' left to hock.
Of course, there's Pa's old tool chest.
But Emmet uses that for odd jobs.
EMMET: We would make a good jug band, but to put a hole in Ma's washtub...
ALICE: He sure would like that guitar.
EMMET: Nothin' would make her happier than havin' a good, old piano again.
ALICE: I just don't know
(SIGHS)
EMMET: I just can't decide.
Ma!
I'm home! I cut the Christmas branch.
I see you did.
Well, after all, tomorrow's Christmas Eve,
and even if we don't have presents, at least we can have the branch.
It's a nice one, Emmet.
- Just like Pa used to bring home. - Yup.
Every year, he'd go out, vowing he was gonna bring home
a real whole Christmas tree.
But he never had the heart to do it.
And every year, he would say, "Because I didn't cut it down,
"the rest of that tree will still be alive in 100 years!"
You know, sometimes, you even sound like your pa.
Ma, do you suppose it'd be safe to use Pa's slide now?
Oh. I should think so. The ice must be solid by this time.
- Race you to her! - Hey, wait for me now!
First slide of the year! Whoopee!
(LAUGHING)
Wow. I forgot how much fun that is.
(LAUGHS) Well, stand back. It's my turn.
Whoo!
Isn't that great?
- It's good enough. - Good enough for what?
Good enough to do again!
Hey, now! My turn next!
Watch, Emmet! It's my turn again.
Oh, boy!
Watch this one, Ma.
Oh, boy, that old slide's just about the best thing Pa ever built.
Yeah. He may not have left us much,
but that old slide is just about enough.
Gee, I think he left us a lot.
Well, he left what he could.
Pa used to say,
"A person's got to take some chances, or life'll never come to nothin'."
He took his chances on snake oil.
Fact that it didn't come to much hardly matters.
(THINKING) Pa would hock that tool chest.
EMMET: Pa would put a hole in that washtub.
Ma, remember Pa's favorite song?
(SINGING) When the mountain touches the valley
All the clouds are taught to fly
Thus our souls shall leave this land
Most peacefully
Though our minds be filled with questions
In our hearts, we'll understand
When the river
Meets the sea
Like a flower that has blossomed
In the dry and barren sand
We are born and born again
Most gracefully
Thus the winds of time shall take us
With a sure and steady hand
When the river
Meets the sea
Patience, my brothers
And patience, my sons
In that sweet and final hour
Truth and justice will be done
Like a baby when it is sleeping
In its loving mother's arms
What a newborn baby dreams
Is a mystery
But his life will find a purpose
And in time, he'll understand
When the river
Meets the sea
When the river
Meets
The almighty sea
EMMET: Dear Ma, I'll be gone all day.
I'll explain about the washtub when I see you late tonight.
Love, Emmet.
ALICE: DearEmmet, I'll be home late tonight
and I'll explain about the tool chest when I see you.
Love, Ma.
(CLANGING)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(SINGING) When you meet somebody That don't like soul food
They still got a soul
And it don't mean that you got no rhythm If you don't like rock 'n' roll
Well, if your taste's like mine You like cider, not wine
And your very favorite thing to do
Is get a purty girl dancin' to jug-band music
And a mess of Mama's barbecue
- Barbecue - Lifts my spirit
I swear that it never fails
And the sauce Mama makes Just stays there forever
If you dare to get it under your nails
Well, you
May be poor with a wolf at your door
But money isn't everything
You still have the sun and a river full of fun
And you'll always have a song to sing
So, get the frown off your face We're gonna replace it
With a grin and a dream come true
With a purty girl dancin' to jug-band music
And a mess of Mama's barbecue
- Barbecue - Lifts my spirit
I swear that it never fails
And the sauce Mama makes Just stays there forever
If you dare to get it under your nails
So get the
Frown off your face We're gonna replace it
With a grin and a dream come true
With a purty girl dancin' to jug-band music
And a mess of Mama's barbecue
That's a purty girl dancin' to jug-band music
And a mess of Mama's Mess of Mama's
Mess of Mama's barbecue
A mess of Mama's barbecue
Oh, boy!
- That was fun. - That was fantastic!
I can feel the prize money in my pocket.
Really?
- We sound great! - Well, we sound fair. Let's do it again.
- Gee, haven't we done it enough? - Yeah, we done it all afternoon.
Well, let's do it some more.
I put a hole in Ma's washtub for this contest, and we gotta win.
Now, here we go.
- Gee, Mr. Big-time Conductor. - Are you ready, Harvey?
Sure. Sure.
Thanks for lettin' me come over and use your sewing machine, Hetty.
I still can't believe it.
You actually took that tool chest and hocked it to buy dress fabric.
I had to. I've got to wear somethin' for the contest, don't I?
Besides, when I win, I'll have enough money to un-hock it.
What if you don't win?
Got to win!
Emmet is gonna have a guitar with mother-of-pearl inlay this Christmas.
Whatever you say, Alice.
Well, we better head for Waterville.
I'd like to be there early for the contest.
Boy, I know we're gonna win.
- I just know it. - (ENGINES REVVING)
Hey, fellas, do you hear something?
Sounds like a car, or a motorcycle.
Hey, who are those guys?
I think they're from Riverbottom.
Look at the birds up in the trees.
Yeah? Well, we're not birds. We're a jug band.
Yeah. Practicing for the talent contest.
Sure. They're gonna win the talent contest.
Right, boss?
(LAUGHING)
Shut up.
Come on, everybody. Let's go!
Here we go!
What was that all about?
HARRISON: Contestants, contestants,
I'd like you all to go to your dressing rooms now, please, if you would.
All ladies over here to the left, and men to the right, please.
Miss, to the left here,
and, boys, yes, over there to the right.
Ladies to the left, and men to the right. And...
- Sorry, dear. - See you later, Nat.
Sorry to split you up like that.
Pardon me. Is this the talent contest?
Why, yes, it is. Your dressing room is right over there.
Thank you. I'm very nice to have helped you.
Oh. I mean, I'm very nice you... Excuse me.
- You're terribly nervous. - (CLATTERING)
Sorry!
Well, guys, this is the competition.
I tell you it's a snap.
Two quick choruses of Barbecue, and the money is ours.
Quiet! It's starting. The show is starting!
(SIGHS)
Okay, Will, stand by on the house lights.
Dim the house lights, and fade up on the spotlights.
Thank you. Thank you.
Welcome to Waterville's first annual Christmas talent contest.
(PIANO PLAYING CHORDS)
As some of you may know...
I am Harrison Fox, mayor of Waterville.
And first off, let me introduce ourjudges for tonight.
Now, right down in the front row, we have James Badger,
my lovely wife, Gretchen,
and this year's chairman of the judges, the owner of the Riverside Rest,
Waterville's favorite cafe and nightspot, Doc Bullfrog.
(APPLAUSE)
And right now, let's get things started
with Shirley and Nat Muskrat as Carrots the Dancing Horse.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Bitter fail, Harrison, we're off to a shaky start.
Okay, yes, thank you.
Thank you. That was Lindsay and Deidre Mole
with their duet for snare drum and piccolo.
Well, if the acts don't get any better than that, we've got no trouble.
And now, Mr. Yancy Woodchuck
to sing for you, the ever-popular Barbecue.
Barbecue? But that's our song.
(SINGING) Doggone, when you meet somebody
That don't like soul food
They still got a soul
And it don't mean that you got no rhythm If you don't like rock 'n' roll
We can't do this song after he's done it.
People will think we're copyin'.
Yeah, we're really gonna lose now.
- No, we aren't. Come on! - Where are we going?
Out in the alley. We're not on for a while yet.
We gotta rehearse a new song.
Just stays there forever If you dare to get it under your nails
Barbecue
(CHUCKLES) Thank you.
Welcome, if you will, George and Melissa Rabbit.
(SIGHS) Well, it's gonna be a long night.
You there. Aren't you in this contest? You get in here this minute.
You might miss your entrance, and we want this show to look professional.
Wonderful! Marvelous!
Wonderful!
And now, we have for you tonight,
one of our own traditional songs of the river,
rendered by a dear little lady, Alice Otter.
(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)
(SINGING) We're closer now than ever before
There's love in our world And we're showing it more
Our world says Welcome, stranger
Everybody's a friend
Favorite stories don't end
In our world
- It's Ma. - Yeah.
And she's better than we are.
Some say our world is getting too small
I say with kindness there's room for us all
Our world is always changing
Every day's a surprise
Love can open your eyes
In our world
When night lays sad upon you
Go watch a simple sunrise
Love can open your eyes
In our world
(APPLAUSE)
Ma, you were fantastic!
Was I all right? They seemed to like me.
Ma, you were the best, hands down!
You've got this contest won.
Wait a minute. Emmet, what are you doin' here?
Well, me and the guys have organized a jug band.
- Emmet, the mayor's introducing us. - So, last, but by no means least...
Uh-oh. Come on.
Four young lads, whom I'm sure you'll enjoy.
They call themselves the Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jug Band.
(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)
(SINGING) How much alike we are
Perhaps we're long-lost brothers We even think the same
You know there may be others
We can always use a friend
This familyjust keeps growing
This family doesn't have to end
Brothers
So many things to learn
But we'll enjoy each lesson
Problems don't worry us
When half the fun is guessin'
Live a lifetime of surprise
We'll all become magicians
And leave the wonder in their eyes
Brothers
(APPLAUSE)
Boys, you were wonderful!
- Did it sound all right, Ma? - You were better than best!
You're certain to win.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, that was to have been our last act.
Normally, we wouldn't allow any last-minute entries,
but these kids have come a long way, all the way from Riverbottom.
Yes, these Riverbottom boys...
Come on, let's clear the way there. Come on, clear it out.
- Where do you want this junk? - They've put together
- a genuine rock band. - Yeah, right there. That's good.
Where do you want this thing?
So, let's welcome please tonight's last contestants...
Here they are. The rock group known as the Nightmare.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(SINGING) We think what we want
We do anything that we wish
We got no respect
For animal, birdie or fish
The grass does not grow
On the places where we stop and stand
Riverbottom Nightmare Band
We know we're a mess
Our type does not like to be clean
We don't brush our teeth
'Cause our toothache can help us stay mean
We don't wish to learn
But we hate what we don't understand
Riverbottom
When you see us comin' You better start a-runnin'
We're always startin' trouble
And we're happiest When things are out of hand
- Woo! - Aah!
Tempers are for boilin' Parties are for spoilin'
We even like to sit and pout Or else, go out and terrorize the land
Riverbottom Nightmare Band
(SCREAMING)
We laugh in your face
Or we practice our growl and our sneer
Yeah!
We break up your place
We are dangerous when we are near
And when we are done with our song
Who will get the biggest hand
Who?
Riverbottom Nightmare Band
(APPLAUSE)
And so, the winner of our first annual talent contest is...
The Nightmare!
Emmet?
I hocked the tool chest to get the material for my costume.
Oh.
Well, you can see what I did to your washtub.
Yup.
Evenin', Mrs. Otter. Evenin', boys.
- Hi, Dr. Bullfrog. - Hi, Doc Bullfrog.
I think you should know
that the judges were impressed by both of your acts.
They just needed, well, that little something extra.
- Keep workin' on it. - Yes, sir.
Well, gotta be gettin' to work. Restaurant's busy tonight.
- And Merry Christmas. - Merry Christmas, sir.
(SIGHS) Well, boys, looks like they're closing things down.
Better head for the river. Quicker to get home if we walk on the ice.
You know, Emmet, if I'd have won that contest,
I would've given you that guitar with the mother-of-pearl inlay.
Would you really? Gosh.
I was gonna get a piano for you.
A piano.
Were you really?
- Yes'm. - Oh, Emmet.
That's about the nicest present anybody ever tried to give me.
You know, Emmet, I guess I should feel pretty bad.
But the funny thing is that I don't. I feel pretty good.
So do I. I don't know why, but I do.
I guess it's 'cause we did just what Pa would've done.
(PLAYING KAZOO)
ALICE: Mighty nice kazoo-blowin', Harvey.
Yeah. It was a great-sounding song.
We should've won.
Well, it just didn't turn out that way.
I thought Ma's song was nice, too.
I hadn't thought of that old song in years.
But when I did, it just felt right.
(HUMMING)
Say! Those two songs could fit together.
- How do you mean, Ma? - Here.
Boys! Boys!
I'm gonna start singin' my song,
and you come in singin' yours when I show you, okay?
- Okay. - Yeah.
(SINGING) We're closer now
Than ever before
How much alike we are
Perhaps we're long-lost brothers
There's love in our world
And we're showing it more
We even think the same
You know there may be others
Our world says Welcome, stranger
Everybody's a friend
We can always use a friend
Favorite stories don't end
Welcome, brother
In our world
Gee, Ma, that sounds fine.
It sure does, Emmet.
Some say our world
Is getting too small
So many things to learn
But we'll enjoy each lesson
I say with kindness
There's room for us all
Problems don't worry us
When half the fun is guessin'
Our world is always changing
Every day's a surprise
Live a lifetime of surprise
Love can open your eyes
Brother, look around
In our world
When night lays sad upon you
Go watch a simple sunrise
See wonder in your eyes
Love can open your eyes
Welcome, brother
To our world
That's fine music, folks.
I thought you needed something a little extra,
but it appears to me that what you needed was each other.
Well, we're mighty honored you liked it.
You wouldn't consider working at the Riverside Rest, would you?
- How about it? - Oh, boy!
Now, wait a minute. Is the pay regular when we play regular?
Sure is, and meals are on the house.
Golly! You got mashed potatoes?
Sure. And you can start tonight.
(GASPS)
Peachy keen!
Emmet, what do you say? Sounds better than sellin' snake oil.
Well, sure. Nobody wants to oil a snake these days.
(SINGING) We're closer now
Than ever before
How much alike we are
There's love in our world We're showing it more
You know there may be others
Our world says Welcome, stranger
Everybody's a friend
- Favorite stories don't end - Welcome
To our world
And so, Ma and Emmet and the boys started to make a little regular money
and a lot of really fine music.
And from then on, Christmas was a little merrier along the river.
I sure enjoyed our first night's work.
Yeah, gonna enjoy the rest of 'em, too.
Golly, I loved the mashed potatoes.
Let's face it, Ma. We're better at singin' and playin'
than we are at laundry and odd jobs.
Yeah.
You know, boys, I'd like to do a song for Pa
right here and now.
He took a chance on snake oil, and you took a chance on a washtub.
Okay by me, Ma.
(SINGING) When the mountain touches the valley
All the clouds are taught to fly
Thus our souls shall leave this land
Most peacefully
Peacefully
Though our minds be filled with questions
In our hearts, we'll understand
When the river
Meets the sea
Patience, my brothers
And patience, my sons
In that sweet and final hour
Truth and justice will be done
Like a baby when it is sleeping
In its loving mother's arms
What a newborn baby dreams
Is a mystery
A mystery
But his life will find a purpose
And in time, he'll understand
When the river
Meets the sea
When the river
Meets
The almighty sea