Story Behind The Song

From the cd "Billy The Squid," artist: Tom Chapin.

Song Description

Note: publishing and master are controlled 100% by the authors. There is a wide variety of children's songs of this general humorous vein in our catalog. All instruments are played live.

Lyrics

I got the blues, I got the blues.
I got the "something's-wrong-with-everything-I-do"s.
We're jumping on my parents' bed and--crack!--we break the frame.
My brother gets the sympathy and I get all the blame.
I'm blue, I'm blue, I'm blue.
I got the "nothing's-fair-anywhere-
Plunging-into-deep-despair" blues.

I got the greens. I got the greens.
I got the "greenest-jealousy-you-ever-seen"s.
Today my brother got the greatest bike in history.
Plus everybody likes him more than they like me.
I'm green, I'm green, I'm green.
I got those "jealous-of-the-little-brat-
I-wish-I-had-a-bike-like-that" greens.

I go up, I go down, I go every which way
As the feelings I feel color my day.
(repeat)

I got the reds. I got the reds.
I got those "I'm-so-mad-that-steam-comes-out-my-head"s.
This time I've really had it! My brother's run amuck.
He took my favorite skateboard and he sold it for a buck.
I'm red, I'm red, I'm red.
I got those "madder-than-I've-ever-been-
I'd-really-like-to-throttle-him" reds.

[instrumental]

I'm yellow. I'm yellow.
I got the "scared-to-death-of-the-kid-who-broke-my-cello"s.
This kid was six feet tall and over six feet wide.
And if I hadn't run away I surely would have died.
I'm yellow. I admit it. I'm yellow.
I got those "time-to-swallow-all-your-pride-
Grab-your-stuff-run-and-hide" yellows.

I go up, I go down, I go every which way
As the feelings I feel color my day. (repeat)
The feelings I feel color my day.