"Ferdninand the Bull" was a song written to promote Walt Disney's animated short of the same name, even though it wouldn't be heard in the film itself. The song was sent out to publishers and bandleaders in April 1938, about seven months before the film was released.
The song became a minor hit on radio and on records. It was later featured in the 1947 film Rose of Santa Rosa and on a 1958 episode of The Lawrence Welk Show.
Lyrics[]
Oh, there once lived a bull, a magnificent bull
In a pasture near old Barcelona
He would romp and he'd play through the flowers all day
Till he'd smell just like Eau de Cologne-a
He was gentle and kind, and his "moo" was refined,
Which the rest of the bulls all resented
For when he'd start to "moo," in a moment or two,
He'd have all the cows discontented
Ferdinand, Ferdinand, the bull with the delicate ego
Ferdinand, Ferdinand, the heifers all called him "Amigo"
Ferdinand, Ferdinand, he'd curtsy and greet them politely
Now, he knew how to tango and dance the fandango, but he never learned to fight
Now, there once lived a bee, a magnificent bee
Who was feeling so chuck full of vigor
That he got out of hand and he stung Ferdinand
With his sharp little thing-a-ma-jigger
Ferdinand was so hurt, he was pawing the dirt
When a bold picador chanced to sight him
"Oh," the picador cried, as a matter of pride,
"I'll get my stiletto and fight him!"
Ferdinand, Ferdinand, he smiled when the picador faced him
Ferdinand, Ferdinand, he winked and the picador chased him
Ferdinand, Ferdinand, he viewed the occasion so lightly
When the picador missed him, why, Ferdinand kissed him, for he never learned to fight