Once upon a time there was an orchestra
Which was all busy tuning up.
First the oboe gave his A to the strings,
Then to the woodwinds and to the brass.
Up and around the scales they raced helter-skelter,
Faster and faster!
All but Tubby the tuba; he was a fat little tuba
Puffing away, but oh, so slow...
'Oh what lovely music,' thought Tubby, and he sighed...
'Here, what's the matter,' said Peepo the Piccolo
'Oh,' said Tubby, 'every time we do a new piece,
You all get such pretty melodies to play
And I, never, never a pretty melody.'
But people never write pretty melodies for tubas. It just isn't done.
Shhh, there's the conductor
First, the violins danced their lovely little tune on their strings.
Then they cried to the flute 'Catch!'
'Got it!' cried the flute.
'My turn,' tooted the trumpet.
And the rest joined in.
The cello, then the oboe, and the bassoon.
While Tubby went oompah oompah oompah oompah
'Catch me,' cried the little tune. 'Catch me!'
'Hmhmhmhm, I got you,' cried Tubby.
'Oh, you're sitting on me,' said the little tune.
Poor Tubby picked up the flat little tune
And tried to squeeze it back into shape.
'You clumsy fool!' snapped the violins.
'I'm sorry, Mr. Fiddle,' said Tubby.
'Fiddle? Fiddle, indeed!'
And the violins quivered with great indignation.
'You will please address us as violins... fiddles, indeed!'
'Tubby,' said the conductor. 'Tubby, what is the matter?'
'Please, sir, I thought it would be so nice to dance with the pretty little tune. Instead of just going oompah oompah all the time.'
'Dance?' laughed the violins. 'Dance? Well, really!'
The French horn quietly put his hand to his mouth and smiled.
And the whole orchestra began to laugh.
'Stop it!' cried the conductor. 'Stop it, I say!...Tubby.'
'Please sir, I wasn't laughing.' Rehearsal was over.
Tubby was walking home with Pipo the Piccolo.
'Please Peepo,' said Tubby, 'I just feel so bad, I don't think I want any company.'
'I understand,' said Peepo. 'Good night.'
'Good night,' said Tubby.
The moon was out and Tubby went to the river and sat on a log, and he looked at himself in the water.
(Sings) Alone am I, me and I together. If I went away from me, how unhappy I would be. Me and I, oh my.
The trees whispered in the wind and the waterfalls tinkled.
Suddenly, a big bullfrog hopped out of the water and sat beside him.
(Croaking) Lovely evening, I said lovely evening, I said beautiful evening. Hello, hello, hello?
But Tubby just sat.
'Oh, well, said the frog. 'Oh, well, If I'm not wanted...'
'Oh,' cried Tubby. 'Please, Mr. Frog, come back! I didn't mean to be impolite.'
Back hopped the frog. 'Oh, that's all right, I'm used to it. No one pays any attention to me, either.'
'Really?' said Tubby.
'Why, of course. Every night I sit here and sing my heart out, but does anyone listen? No.'
'Can you sing?' asked Tubby.
'Can I sing? Listen.' (sings a melody)
'Oh, that's lovely,' said Tubby.
'You try it,' said the frog.
'Oh, thank you!' said Tubby (repeats melody).
'Say, you're a very fine tuba, do you know it? Tubby, you should try that on your orchestra some time.'
'Oh, I will,' said Tubby. 'Goodbye, Mr. Frog!'
And off went Tubby, as happy as happy could be.
'Hmm,' said the frog. 'Most appreciative audience I've ever had. Fine musician, that tuba. Good night.'
The next day the orchestra was busy tuning up for the rehearsal and buzzing with excitement over the arrival of the great new conductor, Signor Pizzicato.
'Here he comes!" called the French horn. 'Here comes Signor Pizzicato.'
(Taps stick) 'All right, gentlemen, let us begin.' And Tubby began to play-his own little melody. (Plays)
'Oh, that wretched tuba!' snapped the violins. 'He'll disgrace us.'
The trombone stuck out his tongue (blaahh). And the trumpets snickered (ahahahahah).
'Tubby,' said Signor Pizzicato. 'Tubby, I've never heard a tuba play a melody before. Would you play the rest of it?'
"Oh,' said Tubby. (orchestra plays)
'Why, how perfectly wonderful,' said the strings. 'Please Tubby, may we sing your tune, too?'
'How about me?' said the xylophone?
'And me,' said the trombone.
'May I?' said the cellist.
'Here I come,' said Peepo.
And they all played.
'Well, we've done it, haven't we, Tubby?' It was the bullfrog sitting right beside him.
'Oh,' thought Tubby, 'how happy I am!'