Mary Travers, of the 1960s folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, has died at the age of 72.
Some of you who follow my blog might know that my “internet handle” comes from a Peter, Paul and Mary song; “I’m In Love With A Big Blue Frog.” The song was penned by Lester Braunstein, one of the founding members of Blue Oyster Cult, but the folk trio made it their own. They reworked the lyrics and melody, and released it on ALBUM 1700 in 1967, two years before I was born. It was also one of their live performance staples, and a fan favorite for its message of inclusion and tolerance. I was introduced to the song, not through Peter, Paul & Mary, but through the 1976 version, sung by Fran Brill and released in conjunction with Jim Henson’s Muppet Show. Of all the funny and poignant songs on the album, my favorite was always the one about the girl who had shocked her neighbors by falling for a big, blue frog. Of course, I didn’t know about the political message at the time. It was just a silly song.
As I got older, I started to appreciate the underlying meaning of the song, and I started to identify more and more with that scandalous frog. I wasn’t six-foot-three, and I didn’t wear glasses. I wasn’t a good swimmer. I was often blue, but not noticeably. No, what I identified with was the feeling that I would never be accepted for me. I was always going to be an outsider, a little bit different than my peers. By the time I started college, I’d experienced or witnessed enough ignorance and bigotry, from elementary school to high school, to make me just a little bit proud of my .56% status. [think Ivory soap] Around the time I graduated from college, I had taken on the “big, blue frog” moniker, even though I didn’t yet know what the Internet was. When I signed up for my very first email address in 1995, there was no question what it would be.
There are tears in my eyes as I write this. I’m thankful to Les Braunstein for writing the song. I’m thankful for the group recording it. Most of all, I’m thankful for Mary Travers, backed up by Noah Paul Stuckey and Peter Yarrow on kazoo and washboard, belting it out like she meant every word of it.
…because I know that she did.
I’m in love with a big blue frog,
A big blue frog loves me.
It’s not as bad as it appears
He wears glasses and he’s six foot three.Well, I’m not worried about our kids,
I know they’ll turn out neat.
They’ll be great lookin’, ’cause they’ll have my face,
great swimmers, ’cause they’ll have his feet!Well, I’m in love with a big blue frog,
A big blue frog loves me.
He’s not as bad as he appears,
He’s got rhythm and a PhD.Well, I know we can make things work
He’s got good fam’ly sense.
His mother was a frog from Philadelphia
His daddy an enchanted prince.The neighbors are against it and it’s clear to me
And it’s prob’ly clear to you
They think value on their property will go right down
If the family next door is blue.Well, I’m in love with a big blue frog
A big blue frog loves me
I’ve got it tattooed on my chest
It says P.H.R.O.G. (It’s frog to me!)
P.H.R.O.G.
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I appreciate your appreciating the song. And I always loved watching Mary sing it. She had fun with it and that made it fun for all of us. – Les Braunstein
Thank you so much for your comment. It means a lot to me.
Thank You so much for sharing the background for one of my most loved songs. I too have cherished the lyrics and all that they stand for. There is just one question that remains in my mind… What does P.H.R.O.G. stand for? Or, is it simply an acronym for itself and the social message, and silliness of the song itself?
Thank you again
….btw.. I love your logo Nice Blue Phrog
Me?, I’ve always signed stuff with my own doodle of a Phrog with the words: “Phrog Love” signed below. Mr and Peter Paul and Mary touched more of us than they can ever know.
I’m not sure what the P.H.R.O.G. stands for, if it stands for anything, but Les has a website at lesvegas.com, and I’m sure he’d love to talk to you about it.