TUNESMITH TUESDAY - "I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along" from The Muppet Movie

The Muppet Movie was the very first film I owned (on the Betamax format, no less!). Filled with cameos from A-list stars (at the time),  great songs, and hysterical puns, it still holds up today. One of the songs, "Rainbow Connection," won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

One of my favorites, though, was this one. Kermit had just lost Miss Piggy (for the first time), and was nursing his troubles in a bar, when he encountered Rowlf, the Dog (who was the first Muppet to reach national stardom as a cast member of The Jimmy Dean Show from 1963 to 1966).

"I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along"

(spoken):

Rowlf: Evenin'. You look like you could use a drink

Kermit: Yeah, I'd like a grasshopper, please

Rowlf: Hey, can we have a grasshopper for the frog?

Kermit: Uh, that's Kermit, Kermit the Frog

Rowlf: Oh. Rowlf, Rowlf the Dog here. Pleased to meet ya

I'm no Heifetz, but I get by. Let me guess. Broken heart, right?

Kermit: Huh, does it show?

Rowlf: Listen, when you've been tickling the ivories as long as I have

You've seen a broken heart for every drop of rain

A shattered dream for every falling star

Kermit: Exactly. She just walked out on me

Rowlf: Yeah, typical. That's why I live alone

Kermit: You do, huh?

Rowlf: You bet. I finish work, I go home, read a book

Have a couple of beers, take myself for a walk, and go to bed

Kermit: Nice and simple

Rowlf: Stay away from women, that's my motto

Kermit: But I can't

Rowlf: Neither can I. That's my trouble

Rowlf:

You can't live with 'em, you can't live without 'em

There's something irresistible-ish about 'em

We grin and bear it 'cause the nights are long

I hope that somethin' better comes along

Kermit:

I see what you mean

It's no good complainin' and pointless to holler

Rowlf:

If she's a beauty, she'll get under your collar

Kermit:

She made a monkey out of old King Kong

Both:

I hope that somethin' better comes along

Rowlf:

Ah, but what could be better than a saucy Irish setter

When puppy love comes on strong?

Or a collie that's classy, a laddie needs a lassie

A lover and wife gives you a new leash on life

(spoken):

Kermit: Uh, was that a new leash on life?

Rowlf: Oh, yeah, sorry about that... 2, 3, 4

Kermit:

I don't mean to scare ya, my friend, but I betcha

Come "Father's Day" the litter bug's gonna getcha

Rowlf:

The urge is righteous, but the face is wrong

Both:

I hope that somethin' better comes along

Kermit:

Still it's fun when they're fetching

And agree to see an etching

That you keep at your lily pad

There is no solution, it's part of evolution

Rowlf:

The pitter patter of soles

The little feet of tadpoles

(spoken):

Kermit: Uh, Rowlf, tadpoles don't have feet

Rowlf: Oh, sorry about that... 2, 3, 4

Kermit: There's no limitation to mixin' and matchin'

Rowlf: Some get an itchin' for a critter they've been scratchin'

A skunk was badgered, the results were strong

I hope that somethin' better

Kermit:

I hope that somethin' better

Both:

I hope that somethin' better comes along

(spoken):

Rowlf: It's not often you see a guy that green that has the blues that bad