When I was a wee lad I loved listening to a song about a little tug boat named Little Toot on the record player. So great was my vigor and enjoyment of this song that I would often dance about, emphasizing the toots in the song with a vigorous leap of joy.
My family was gathered in the living room one evening and I was entertaining them with one of my little toot dances when I leaped with such force and vigor that, to my horror, I ripped a hole in the crotch of my pants. As I stated earlier, I was a wee lad, and as such, was quite embarrassed by this incident.
Here is a short clip of what I think was the song. The lyrics are on the page I linked to above, but I remember them slightly differently. I’m likely in error because it has been quite some time.
Update 22 Dec 2010: A version on YouTube.
And here I thought you were going to talk about leaping across the room with such vigor that you actually tooted. :)
Yeah, I realized some people might think that was the outcome as I was writing it. At least it kept you guessing.
I am searching for the words to a children’s record song about Toot Toot Toodles, the Tugboat.. My children used to sing it at the top of their lungs. My husband and I have been wondering what comes after “Toot toot Toodles the Tugboat, Goes toot toot toot all day. Is this your song?
Tune Zone would not let me into your link. “Forbidden”
shirley: Nope, it’s not my song, and it appears that toon zone is changing their links so mine are now broken. I looked around for the lyrics but didn’t find anything.
i had this record when I was little and played it constantly…i think my brother finally snapped and broke it…i vaguely remember the lyrics
As I remember a few lines, it went: Little Toot was just a tug, just a happy harbor tug and though he tried to be good, he never could behave. I don’t remember anything more than little scraps and bits. I’d like to get a recording of this. I’d like to put together a collection of those childhood memories of mine. I was hoping to find something of that here.
Regards
@bablhous I’ve updated the post with a link to a version on YouTube. It doesn’t sound like the version I remember, but it fits your recollection of the words.
I found an old children’s record in my aquired collection. I tried a search to get more information, and discovered that I can’t find published lyrics for it anywhere on the web. It is a red 78 rpm 6 1/2 inch record titled “Toot Toot Tootles”. The label is Record Guild of America, Inc. Copywrighted 1954 Sage Music, Inc. The song uses both sides of the record. It is sung by Norman Stanley with the Guild Orchestra. I will try posting this message and if it posts successfully, I will post the lyrics.
I realize that this thread is looking for info on Little Toot, but this is the best discussion I’ve found to post the lyrics for Toot Toot Tootles.
Toot Toot Tootles
Toot Toot Tootles the tug boat
Goes “toot toot toot†all day
Toot Toot Tootles the tug boat
Sails up and down the bay
Toot Toot Tootles the tug boat
He has no time to play
Toot Toot Tootles the tug boat
Just tugs and chugs away
Tootles knows all the great big ships
He knows just where they’ve been
As they come in the bay they toot
And Tootles tugs them in
Toot Toot Tootles the tug boat
He gives a toot and then
All the boats in the harbor
Go “toot toot tootâ€
Then Tootles toots again
(instrumental interlude)
Toot Toot Tootles the tug boat
One day went on a spree
Toot Toot Tootles the tug boat
Set out to cross the sea
Toot Toot Tootles the tug boat
Thought he was big and strong
Toot Toot Tootles the tug boat
Sailed right into a storm
Giant waves tossed him up and down
Poor Tootles creaked and groaned
A great big wave turned him around
And Tootles hurried home
Toot Toot Tootles the tug boat
Is back inside the bay
Toot Toot Tootles the tug boat
Will never sail…
Will never sail away
I was thinking about this song all day today. Had the 45 RPM version as a 5 yr old in 1948. I remember the beginning and the end. I cannot remember what goes between “try as he might he just could not behave and the end. Here is The end: “Ship in distress came into view…all by himself he made the rescue…now the other tug boats stand around and root….they root for little toot.”
This is definitely one of those tunes that sticks in your head all through the years of one’s life…Had the pleasure of singing it to my son when I gave him a bath and we would play with little boats while doing so…My son is 23 now and lives on the other side of the country but still remembers when bath time was “Tootles” time…Thanks for the full lyrics! :{)
Ramon
@Ramon That’s cool (though it makes me feel a little old :)). You’re very welcome for the lyrics.
he got so sad, so very very mad…he said oh shoot! a ship in distress came into view; all by himself he made the rescue, now the other tugboats stand around and root: they root the little toot! chug chug chug, heave ho my lad, make a big chug just like your dad!
As a pre-schooler I think I learned to read by following along with the Little Toot song using the book that came with the record. Must’ve driven my family crazy as I was playing it or singing it constantly. Ten years ago I bought a Mini Cooper and my vanity license plates read “Lil Toot.” It just seemed appropriate.
@Judie That’s awesome. And a great idea for a vanity plate :)
These are the lyrics I remember. I have the tiny record from the 50’s, but no way to play it! Anybody remember the middle about him playing in the Barbour?
Little Toot was just a tug,
Just a happy harbor tug,
And he came from a line of tugboats fine and brave.
But it seems that little Toot,
He simply didn’t give a hoot,
Though he tried to be good he just could not behave.
Chorus
He’s cute as a bug,
the chubby little tug called little Toot
Toot toot toot
He gets the goat
of every boat afloat with his little toot
Toot toot toot
—this is the the part I don’t remember
End:
One day a ship in distress
Came into view
All by himself he made the rescue
Now the other tugboats
stand around and root –
They root for little Toot!