Record of the Song
I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat is a novelty song composed and written by Alan Livingston, Billy May and Warren Foster.[1] It was sung by Mel Blanc, who provided the voice of the bird, Tweety, and of his nemesis Sylvester.[2]
The lyrics depict the basic formula of the Tweety-Sylvester cartoons released by Warner Bros. throughout the late 1940s into the early 1960s: Tweety wanting to live a contented life, only to be harassed by Sylvester (who is looking to eat the canary), and Tweety's mistress shooing the cat away. Toward the end of the song, the two perform a duet, with Tweety coaxing Sylvester into singing with him after promising that his (Tweety's) mistress won't chase him (Sylvester) away.
"I Tawt I Taw A Puddy Tat" reached No. 9 on the Billboard pop chart during a seven-week chart run in February and March 1951, and sold more than two million records.[3]
The song was covered by Helen Kane between 1950–51 with Jimmy Carroll & His Orchestra.
Lyrics[]
Tweety:
(singing) I am a little tiny bird, my name is Tweety Pie
I live inside my birdcage, a-hanging way up high
I like to swing upon my perch and sing my little song
But there's a Tat that's after me and won't let me alone
I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat a-creeping up on me
I Did! I Taw a Puddy Tat as plain as he could be
Sylvester:
(singing) I am that great big bad old cat, Sylvester is my name
I only have one aim in life and that is very plain
I want to catch that lil' bird and eat him right away
But just as I get close to him, this is what he'll say
"I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat a-creeping up on me"
You bet he saw a Puddy Tat, that Puddy Tat is me
Tweety:
(singing) That Puddy Tat is very bad he sneaks up from behind
I don't think I would like it if I knew what's on his mind
I have a strong suspicion that his plans for me aren't good
I am inclined to think that he would eat me if he could
Sylvester:
(singing) I'd like to eat that Sweetie Pie when he leaves his cage
But I can never catch him, it throws me in a rage
You bet I'd eat that lil' bird if I could just get near
But every time that I approach, this is all I hear
Tweety:
(singing) I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat a-creeping up on me
I Did! I taw a Puddy Tat as plain as he could be
And when I sing that little song my mistress knows he's back
She grabs a broom and brings it down upon Sylvester's back
So listen you bad Puddy Tat wet's both be friends, you see
My mistress will not chase you if you sing this song with me
(speaking) Come on now like a good Tat
Sylvester:
(speaking) Oh alright...Sufferin' Succotash!
Tweety & Sylvester
(singing) I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat a-creeping up on me
I Did! I Taw a Puddy Tat as plain as he could be!
Notes[]
- Tony Blair had the sheet music for this song upon his piano during the war against Iraq.[4]
- In 2011, Warner Bros. created a CGI 3D short starring Sylvester, Tweety, and Granny incorporating Blanc's vocals with brand new animation and music. The short premiered in theaters with Happy Feet Two.[5]
- An instrumental of this song was composed specifically for Marriott's Great America and currently plays in the Sky Trek Tower ride.[6]
References[]
- ↑ Sandra Choron, Harry Choron, Arden Moore (2007), Planet Cat, ISBN 9780618812592, at 59
- ↑ Robert Andrews (1997), Famous Lines: A Columbia Dictionary of Familiar Quotations, ISBN 9780231102186, at 64
- ↑ Aljean Harmetz (November 24, 1988), Man of a Thousand Voices, Speaking Literally, The New York Times
- ↑ Peter Stothard (2004), Thirty Days, ISBN 9780060582623, at 61
- ↑
- ↑ [1] Sky Trek Tower Msuic