The Bird and the Cricket and the Willow Tree

The Bird and the Cricket and the Willow Tree
General information
Short films	Melody
Albums	A Child's Introduction to Melody Music: How It's Made and Played
Composer	Sonny Burke Paul Webster
Performers	Judd Conlon Chorus
Other performers	Anne Lloyd, the Sandpipers, Mitch Miller and orchestra Cliff Edwards and the Rhythmaires

The Bird and the Cricket and the Willow Tree is a song heard in the 1953 animated Disney short, Melody.

In 1955, Cliff Edwards (the voice of Jiminy Cricket) released his version of the song with the Rhythmaires.

Background

It is first heard in the short's opening credits. It is then heard when Professor Owl teaches his class about what melody is, telling his students to listen to the sounds of nature making melody. It is later heard in the end of the short where Professor Owl teaches his students that beautiful symphonies are often created from simple melodies where it features sequences of the titular species.

Lyrics

• First
• Reprise (Short Film)
• Reprise (A Child's Introduction to Melody)
• Sheet music version

Woman: When the robin chirps in the warm spring weather
Man: And the cricket rubs his wings together
Chorus: When the wind blows free through the willow tree
Mother Nature's busy making melody

Oh, the bird and the cricket and the willow tree
Man: Yes, the bird and the cricket and the willow tree
Chorus: Oh, you don't need a ticket for the concert in the thicket
From the birdie and the cricket and the willow tree
Bertie Birdbrain: (spoken) The willow tree?
Chorus: The bird and the cricket and the weeping willow tree

Professor Owl: (spoken) Now students, in conclusion, I wish to point out that beautiful symphonies are often created from simple melodies... like "The Bird and the Cricket and the Willow Tree."

(long instrumental verse)

Chorus: The bird and the cricket and the weeping willow tree

Professor Owl: (spoken) Now students, in conclusion, I wish to point out that beautiful symphonies are often created from simple melodies... like "The Bird and the Cricket and the Willow Tree."

Chorus: Oh, you don't need a ticket for the concert in the thicket
From the birdie and the cricket and the willow tree

The bird and the cricket and the weeping willow tree

When the robin chirps in the warm spring weather
And the cricket rubs his wings together
When the wind blows free through the willow tree
Mother Nature's busy making melody

Oh, the bird and the cricket and the willow tree
Yes, the bird and the cricket and the willow tree
Oh, you don't need a ticket for the concert in the thicket
From the birdie and the cricket and the willow tree

When the bluebird tunes up his flute real mellow
And the cricket bows his big bass cello
Mr. Willow Tree renders thrillingly
Classical selection opus fifty-three

Oh, the bird and the cricket and the willow tree
Yes, the bird and the cricket and the willow tree
Oh, there's no hurdy-gurdy
That could play a tune as purty
Like the cricket and the birdie and the willow tree

When the boy and girl put their heads together
When it's time to spoon in the springtime weather
When a man and miss snuggle up like this
Who supplies the melody for their first kiss?

Oh, the bird and the cricket and the willow tree
Yes, the bird and the cricket and the willow tree
Any gender would surrender
To a melody so tender
From the birdie and the cricket and the willow tree
(The willow tree)

The bird and the cricket and the weeping willow tree