Uncle Remus Said

Uncle Remus Said

Words and music by Johnny Lange, Hy Heath and Eliot Daniel.
Performed by the Hall Johnson Choir
© 1946 Walt Disney Music Company

That's what Uncle Remus said.
That's what Uncle Remus said.
Listen now to what I say:
That's how the critters got that way.

The leopard's pappy got the gout,
From eatin' too much speckled trout.
His mammy dreamed of polka dots—
That's how the leopard got his spots.

That's what Uncle Remus said.
That's what Uncle Remus said.
Speckled trout and polka dots—
That's how the leopard got his spots.
More, more, tell us more!

The camel crossed the dessert sands,
With all them mighty caravans.
His bed was full of sandy lumps—
That's how the camel got those humps.
That's what Uncle Remus said.
That's what Uncle Remus said.
Bed was full of sandy lumps—
That's how the camel got those humps.
More, more, tell us more!

The pig he saw his monkey friend,
A-swinging by his other end.
He tried the same thing on a rail—
That's how the pig got a curly tail.
That's what Uncle Remus said.
That's what Uncle Remus said.
Tried the same thing on a rail—
That's how the pig got a curly tail.
More, more, tell us more!
More, more, more.

Note: Only verses 1, 2, and 6 were performed in the movie. However, there was also an introduction, verses 3, 4, 5 and the coda, which appeared in the sheet music version and were performed by other popular artists in 1946-1947:

Introduction:
Uncle Remus, Uncle Remus, Uncle Remus Said,
"Gather 'round me, little children, before you go to bed.
Just give me your attention, hear what I've got to say;
I'll tell you how the animals got that way.

Verse 3:
They threw the fox into a cage,
But Brother Fox was very sage.
He used his tail to pick the locks,
And that's why they call him "sly old fox."

Verse 4:
Brother turtle and brother hare,
They ran a race and I was there.
The hare dropped in at "Barney's Place,"
And that's how the turtle won the race.

Verse 5:
The little ostrich went to school,
But couldn't learn the golden rule.
The kids all yelled, "Is your face red!"
And that's why the ostrich hides his head.

Coda:
That's all, little children,
That's all, little children,
Be good, little children,
It's time to go to bed.
No more, little children,
No more, little children,
Goodnight, little children,
That's what Uncle Remus Said.

An article from the 1946 Song of the South campaign book describes this song:

New Disney Feature Has Chain-Reaction Song
The chain-reaction, endless song, of which American folk music is so plentiful, is revived in 'Song of the South,'... The number is 'Uncle Remus Said,' and it consists of a single, brief melody repeated as often as new lyrics come along. Each verse tells how animals got their characteristic shapes, natures, looks and habits. Disney remembered the song form from his days in the first world war as an ambulance driver, listening to perpetual-tune songs of soldiers of all nationalities. Later he heard many occupational ballads in the same style, and discovered that the South was particularly rich in them.