I Am a Lonely Toad (Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Billie Joe Armstrong)

Last year I went to a Green Day concert, and I actually enjoyed it. So I figured I'd temper all these oldies with Boulevard of Broken Dreams, a song that is practically brand-new. This parody imagines Toad from Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad books at a point in his life prior to meeting Frog. Unsurprisingly, he is feeling sorry for himself.

I Am a Lonely Toad

I am a lonely toad,
The loneliest that I have ever known.
I am in the throes
Of abject misery, and I walk alone.

I'm sitting in the stream,
Thinking about flowers and ice cream.
Oh, yes, I can dream
But never act because I must walk alone.
(I walk alone, I walk alone.
I walk alone, I walk a...)

The tadpole I once was cries out inside me.
Whatever happiness I feel is fleeting.
I wish a friendly frog would come and find me.
Till then, I walk alone.

Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah,
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah

The whole world should be mine.
All the other toads are doing fine.
I can't help but whine,
I'm a lonely toad; I walk alone.

Can you see the lines
On my face from all the times I've cried?
Just send me a sign
To show that one day I will not walk alone.
(I walk alone, I walk alone.
I walk alone, I walk a...)

The tadpole I once was cries out inside me.
When I find happiness, the feeling's fleeting.
I wish a friendly frog would come and find me.
Till then, I walk alone.

Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah
Ah-ah, Ah-ah

I walk alone, I walk a...

I'm sitting in the stream,
Thinking about flowers and ice cream.
Oh, yes, I can dream
But never act because I must walk alone.

The tadpole I once was cries out inside me.
When I find happiness, the feeling's fleeting.
I wish a friendly frog would come and find me.
Till then, I walk alone.

A Friend Until the End (Blowin' in the Wind, Bob Dylan)

Having recently immersed myself in Arnold Lobel's gentle, funny Frog and Toad stories, I thought a little tribute to the long-suffering Frog was in order. Here it is, to the tune of Blowin' in the Wind.

A Friend Until the End

How much of Toad's foolishness can Frog take
Before he's had it with him?
Yes, and how many dumb inquiries must Toad make
Before Frog knows that he's dim?
Yes, and will they eventually stop being friends?
I'd say the chances are slim.
For Frog is a friend who's loyal to the end.
Yes, Frog is a friend until the end.

How many times will Frog drag Toad from bed
Before he just lets him sleep?
Yes, and how many times will he offer aid
When Toad gets himself in too deep?
Frog made a promise to stand by his friend,
And that is a vow he will keep.
For Frog is a friend who's loyal to the end.
Yes, Frog is a friend until the end.

How did Toad happen to stumble upon
A frog so faithful and true?
If unexpectedly Frog was gone,
I do not know what Toad would do.
I think that all of us could benefit
From such a great buddy, don't you?
For Frog is a friend who's loyal to the end.
Yes, Frog is a friend until the end.