The Case of the Three Billy Goats Gruff

 

Made with AI

Friday, I received an unexpected email from Ken in Connecticut, a man I do not know. He'd stumbled across a blog post I'd written in 2012 about childhood songs. In it, I had talked about a version of the story song of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. I couldn't find it online, but I vividly remembered it.

Ken wrote: "I have searched several times online for the specific version of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" record I had when I was a kid around 1968 or 1970. . . .  I just have to ask if you may have ever found it anywhere, because I'd really love to somehow obtain a copy of this recording."

I hadn't found a copy and wrote and told Ken so. I then did a quick search and came up empty. Ken thanked me and I thought that was the end of it, but darn it, I used to be an investigative reporter, so I kept looking.

The clue to finding the missing song was actually in the comments section of the 2012 blog post. Someone mentioned they thought it was on Teddy Bear's Picnic on YouTube. I couldn't find it there, but a search eventually brought it up on Spotify.

I didn't have a Spotify account before, but I have one now.

This version is dated 1978, so I am guessing it is a re-release. I believe what I had was a 45 record from about 1970. The song is currently on an album called Teddy Bear's Picnic and Other Animal Favorites by Mr. Pickwick Players.

The version of Three Billy Goats Gruff is definitely the one I remember from my earlier childhood.

I listened to the song to be sure it was the right one, then copied the link to send to the mysterious Ken. I also sent along a copy of the voice memo I'd made so he wouldn't have to navigate Spotify if he didn't already have an account.

He was delighted. He wrote, "I cannot believe my ears! I’ve been looking for this for years and wow, you found it! You get the investigative reporter of the year award! You were able to do what AI couldn’t accomplish! I am forwarding this to my brothers right now, and they will be blown away, too. So glad I found your blog online! Have an awesome day and thank you again."

He also noted that he'd read on my blog that my husband was a firefighter, and that he too was a retired firefighter in his northern state. That made me so happy, that I helped out another member of the brotherhood. Firefighters are such good people.

And now, for posterity, and because Ken and I can't be the only people who remember this song, I am going to cross my fingers and do a little copyright infringement and put the words to the song up.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Mr. Pickwick Players

This is the story of three Billy Goats Gruff
And a giant who owned a bridge.
One was named Cream Puff, and one was called Taffy,
And the tiniest goat was called Midge.

There were three Billy Goats living in the meadow.
One was big, one was small, and one was in between.
And a great big bridge on the edge of the meadow
Was owned by a giant who was big and strong and mean.

When the three Billy Goats went to leave the meadow,
They would hop, they would clop, to get the sweet green grass,
Since it grew in a patch down the road from the meadow.

They walked to the bridge, and the first to cross was Midge.

"Don't you cross my bridge or I'll eat you!"
Said the giant with a terrible roar.

"Please don't eat me, sir, 'cause I'm tiny,
And my brother's right behind,
And he weighs a great deal more."

So the giant let him pass, and he sang this song:
"I'll just wait here till Taffy comes along."

AND HERE HE IS NOW!

"Don't you cross my bridge or I'll eat you!"
Said the giant with a terrible roar.

"Please don't eat me, sir, 'cause I'm tiny,
And my brother's right behind,
And he weighs a great deal more."

So the giant let him pass, and he sang this song:
"I'll just wait here till Cream Puff comes along."

AND HERE HE IS NOW!

"Don't you cross my bridge or I'll eat you!"
Said the giant with a terrible roar.

"Go ahead and try, 'cause I'm just too big for you!"

And when Cream Puff hit the giant,
He was gone forevermore.

Now the three Billy Goats slipped down in the meadow.
One is big, one is small, and one is in between.
They eat all the grass down the road in the meadow,
And they never worry when they have to cross the bridge,
'Cause the big bad giant is never seen.