“Jeremiah was a bullfrog
Was a good friend of mine
I never understood a single word he
said
But I helped him a-drink his wine
And he always had some mighty fine
wine
Singin’ joy to the world
All the boys and girls now
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me” …
~ “Joy to the World”
“Joy to the World” is a song
written by Hoyt Axton and made famous by the band Three Dog Night. The song is
also popularly known by its opening lyric, “Jeremiah was a bullfrog.” Three Dog
Night originally released the song on their fourth studio album, “Naturally,”
in November 1970, and subsequently released an edited version of the song as a
single in February 1971.
When the song hit #1 on the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100 in 1971, Axton and his mother, Mae Axton, became the first
mother and son to each have written a number one pop single in the rock era.
Mae Axton co-wrote “Heartbreak Hotel,” which was the first number one hit for
the great Elvis Presley.
One of at least four American bullfrogs
who were very vocal in the pond at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown,
Pennsylvania enjoys a mid-June evening in late spring. I don’t often see them
there, but as this day edged toward sunset they loudly made their presence
known!
