Here are the lyrics for all the songs from
Getting Along with Groark

(formerly: Prevent Violence with Groark)

 

IT’S TOUGH TO BE A DRAGON (TITLE SONG)
Music and lyrics by Rita Abrams
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

Sometimes your spirits are high,
But sometimes they are saggin’.
It’s tough to be a dragon.
Whenever things start goin’ wrong.
‘Cause when your temper goes higher and higher,
That’s when I start to breathe fire,
‘Til I say “STOP!–
‘Cause we’ve just got to get along.
Sounds good to me.

So let’s tell Groark:
We don’t bully, and we don’t tease.
Yes, Groark.
I’ll respect you. And vice versa, please.
Oh, Groark.
There’s no need for fussin’ and fumin’.
Go, Groark.
Whether you’re dragon, or whether you’re human.
We’re gonna have good times.
Oh yes and —
We’re gonna do just fine.
And you know why?
‘Cause you and I can get along.
That’s right! Right here, right now.
We’re learning how to get along.

 


THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A FRIEND

(From “Groark Learns to Control Anger”)
Music and Lyrics by Randel McGee
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

There’s nothing like an aspirin when you’re feeling sick.
There’s nothing like some gasoline to make your car go quick.
But if you’re needing someone on whom you can depend.
Then I’ve got to tell you that
There’s nothing like a friend.

CHORUS:
There’s nothing like a friend.
There’s nothing like a friend.
Someone who cares about you
To the very end.

So if you’re mad or lonely,
And your feelings need to mend,
It’s what the doctor ordered.
There is nothing like a friend.

CHORUS:
There’s nothing like a friend.
There’s nothing like a friend.
Someone who cares about you
To the very end.
There’s nothing like a friend.
There’s nothing like a friend.
Someone who cares about you
To the very end.

 

MAD AND MADDER
(from “Groark Learns to Control Anger”)
Music and Lyrics by Rita Abrams
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

Look what you did, you dummy!
I bet you think you’re funny!
You turned my plane into a mushy heap!
Your airplane’s ruined my lunch!
Now I’ve got nothing to munch.
You’re nothing but a clumsy creep.

You’re telling lies about me.
Boy, this is getting ugly!
I know that he’s all wrong and I’m all right.
(aside): He’ll soon be sore and swellin’.
I’m scared, but I’m not tellin’.
Guess the only thing to do is fight.

My anger’s getting worse now!
I think I’m gonna burst now!
Where are the buddies that we used to be?
How could this happen to us?
Feels like a big storm blew us
Into a great big angry sea!

How can we work this thing out?
This fight is weirding me out.
How in the world will it turn out all right?
Feels like we hate each other.
Feels like I’ve lost a brother.
Why end a friendship with a fight?

 

I CAN HANDLE THIS
(From “Groark Learns to Control Anger”)
Music and Lyrics by Rita Abrams
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

Didn’t know if I could do it, didn’t know if I could do it.
Yes! I can do it, I can do it, I can do it.
I can handle this!
He can handle this!

REPEAT

It feels good to know I can get control of my an-GRR!
(spoken) That’s it, kid. That’s it.
When my heart is pounding ’cause something has upset me,
I know how to stop – and not let it get me.
You can try to shake me, and make me lose my cool.
But I can keep control, ’cause I’m nobody’s fool.

I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it.
I can keep control.
He can do it, he can do it, he can do it, he can do it.
He can keep control.

It won’t work to yell, or hit, or call bad names.
You know nobody wins when everybody blames.
And when I lose control, I can’t think straight.
Me neither!
You wanna be on top?
Then STOP, and take a breather.

I can do it.
You can do it, (repeat)
We can keep control.
REPEAT THIS STANZA

BOTH:
It feels good to know we can keep control of our an-GRR!
It feels good to know now we’ve got control of our anger.

 

 

THE ROBOT
(From “Groark Learns to Work Out Conflicts”)
Music and Lyrics by Randel McGee
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

GROARK SINGS:
We went and built our robot, just my friend and me.
He’s big and strong and awesome, but sweet as he can be.
He’ll clean up all the garbage, right before your eyes.
And then he’ll win the contest and get us that first prize.
We worked it out together,
And now he’s looking great.
The best of things can happen,
When you cooperate. (Hee-haw!)

(Stanza from first act of video)
GROARK: I’m gonna build a robot with no one else but me
A scary lookin’ monster–just you wait and see.
It’ll roam around the country and pick up all the mess.
My litter pickin’ robot is gonna be the best.
He’ll run around the city and clean up all the trash.
Get money for recycling and give me all the cash!

 

SHORT CIRCUIT
(From “Groark Learns to Work Out Conflicts”)
Music and Lyrics by Rita Abrams
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

ESSIE & GROARK: We had it all together.
How well we were getting along.
Partners we’d be forever.
How could we have been so — WRONG!

ESSIE: How could you be so rude?
You made us come unglued!
GROARK: Don’t give me attitude!
CHORUS: Short circuit! Short circuit!

ESSIE: You turned a great project
Into a total wreck.
GROARK: Don’t give me disrespect.
CHORUS: Short circuit! Short circuit!

GROARK: Looked like we had it made.
ESSIE: Looked like we’ve made the grade.
BOTH: Thanks to his (her) escapade.
Look — Garbage on parade! (CRASH … Sigh)

BOTH: Wish it were still the old days.
ESSIE: Wish it were still last week.
GROARK: I really miss our old ways
Before we were quite so —
BOTH: FREAKED!

ESSIE: We made the coolest rig,
And then HE blew it big!
GROARK: I think I hear a dig.
CHORUS: Short circuit! Short circuit!
ESSIE: We could have been a team.
We could have built a dream.
GROARK: She shrunk my self-esteem!
ESSIE: Say one more word — I’ll scream.
GROARK: (spoken) Gimme a break. (Essie screams!)

GROARK: We almost had success.
Instead we have a mess.
ESSIE: We’re talking deep distress.
CHORUS: Short circuit! Short circuit! Short circuit! Short circuit!

GROARK AND ESSIE (in turn): Danger, implosion imminent…alarm…disconnect, disconnect…prepare to self-destruct…run for the hills.

 

WORKING IT OUT
(From “Groark Learns to Work Out Conflicts”)
Music and Lyrics by Randel McGee
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

GROARK: I thought I was right, and you were wrong.
ESSIE: I thought I was right, so we didn’t get along.
GROARK: But we found together, we really belong.
BOTH: Now we’re workin’ it, workin’ it out.

CHORUS:
BOTH: Workin’ it out! To keep our act together.
Workin’ it out! Through the stormy weather.
Workin’ it out! We’ll be friends forever.
Workin’ it out! Workin’ it out!

GROARK: Fixin’ this mess won’t take an engineer.
ESSIE: Talkin’ it out, there’s nothin’ to fear.
GROARK: We’ll put our heads together, then everything is clear.
BOTH: ‘Cause we’re workin’ it, workin’ it out. (Sing together now.)

REPEAT CHORUS:

NEIGHBORHOOD SOUNDS
(From “Groark Learns to Listen”)
Music and Lyrics by Randel McGee
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

McGEE SINGS:
One day in my neighborhood
I tried to listen the best I could
To hear what kind of sounds that I might hear.
I stood out on my wide front porch
With my trusty, best friend Groark,
And this is what came rolling in my ears.

I heard my neighbor’s dog bark … Ruff.
Kids in the park … Yippee!
A car speed by … VROOM.
An airplane in the sky … Yeeroum.
The wind in the trees … Whoooo.
The mail-man sneeze … Achoo.
So many different sounds for us to hear.

Later, in my neighborhood
Again I listened the best I could
To hear the many sounds that I could hear.

I heard a robin sing … Tweet-tweet.
The telephone ring … Brr-ing.
My father mow the lawn … Zhoom.
The cat give out a yawn … Meyawn.
A sprinkler splash … Shplish-shplish.
Then Groark let out a laugh … Ha.
All these happy sounds are music to my ears.

One day in my neighborhood
I tried to listen the best I could
To hear what kind of sounds that I might hear.
I stood out on my wide front porch
With my trusty, best friend Groark,
And that was what came rolling in my ears.

 

 

MY FRIENDS DON’T WANT ME BLUES
(From “Groark Learns to Listen”)
Music and Lyrics by Randel McGee
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

GROARK SINGS:
They say that they don’t want me, they tell me go away.
They think that I don’t listen to a single word they say.
They cry that I don’t care about the way they feel,
Or try to understand them. Tell me what’s the Big Deal?

I’ve got the “My-Friends-Don’t-Want-Me-Hangin’-Around-Here” Blues.
Tell me, what should I do?
I’ve got the “My-Friends-Don’t-Want-Me-Hangin’-Around-Here” Blues.

They say I don’t pay attention, they gripe that I don’t hear.
They think their words go in one side and out the other ear.
What can a dragon do to get out of this mess?
I’m lookin’ for some help, an’ I am ready to confess!
I’ve got the “My-Friends-Don’t-Want-Me-Hangin’-Around-Here” Blues.

BACK-UP SINGERS: They don’t want you. Nobody wants you.
GROARK: I’ve got the “My-Friends-Don’t-Want-Me-Hangin’-Around-Here” Blues.
BACK-UP SINGERS: They don’t want you. Nobody wants you.
GROARK: One more time! I’ve got the “My-Friends-Don’t-Want-Me-Hangin’-Around-Here” Blu-u-u-ues.
(Spoken) How can a dragon so green, get the blues so bad?
BURNA (spoken): Ah, get lost!

 

I’M SURE LISTENING NOW
(From “Groark Learns to Listen”)
Music and Lyrics by Rita Abrams
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

GROARK: Once I was so caught up in myself.
NUBBS & ESSIE: You weren’t really listening to anyone else.
GROARK: So I found myself alone.
NUBBS & ESSIE: Your friends left you on your own.
GROARK: I wasn’t listening,
ALL: But you’re (I’m) sure listening now!

GROARK: I never really cared about what anyone said.
NUBBS & ESSIE: You only cared about the things in your little head.
GROARK: So I got to be a bore.
NUBBS & ESSIE: And we got to be ignored
GROARK: ‘Cause I wasn’t listening.
ALL: But you’re (I’m) sure listening now!

GROARK: And I can look you in the eye.
Ask you how you feel.
And hear the things you say to me.
NUBBS & ESSIE: And when you show us that you care,
We will do the same.
And we can be a winning team.

NUBBS & ESSIE: Now we’re having fun with you, and it’s a surprise.
GROARK: And you are much more fascinating than I realized.
NUBBS & ESSIE: Yes, we’ve got a lot to say.
GROARK: And listening works both ways.
I finally learned.
NUBBS & ESSIE: You’re taking your turn.
GROARK: I won’t interrupt.
NUBBS & ESSIE: Or make us shut up.
GROARK: I’m finally listening.
ALL: We’re sure listening now!
We’re sure listening now!

HOW DO YOU FEEL?
(From “Groark Learns about Bullying”)
Music and Lyrics by Randel McGee
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

McGEE: How do you feel when you show that you care?
GROARK: I feel good!
McGEE: You feel good.
How do you feel when you’re willing to share?
GROARK: I feel good!
McGEE: You feel good.
How do you feel in the back of your mind,
When you’re being friendly, and helpful and kind,
Your friends are all happy and everything’s fine,
Tell me, tell me, how do you feel?
GROARK: I feel good!

McGEE: How do you feel when you’re singing a song ?
GROARK: I feel good.
McGEE: You feel good.
How do you feel when a friend sings along?
GROARK: I feel good.
McGEE: You feel good.
How do you feel way deep down inside,
Full of excitement and bursting with pride,
Happy and smiling and cheery and light,
Tell me, tell me, how do you feel?
GROARK: I feel great!

(Alternative verses)
McGEE: How do you feel when you’re telling a lie?
McGEE: You feel bad.
GROARK: I feel bad.
McGEE: How do you feel when you make someone cry?
McGEE: You feel bad.
GROARK: I feel bad.
McGEE: Well, how do you feel from your head to your feet,
When you’re teasing and mocking and being a creep,
When you climb into bed and you lie down to sleep,
Tell me, tell me, how do you feel?
GROARK: (spoken – emphatically) I feel rotten!

 

 

SOMEBODY’S PUSHING YOU AROUND (NUBBS’ LAMENT)
(From “Groark Learns about Bullying”)
Music and Lyrics by Rita Abrams
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

NUBBS SINGS:
What did I do to them?
How could they be so mean?
Wish I could just wake up from this awful dream.
Maybe it’s all my fault,
Something I said or did,
Maybe it’s what you get when you’re a wimpy kid.

CHORUS:
Did you ever feel so sad you wanted to cry,
Hurt so bad you wanted to die,
Or curl up in a hole underneath the ground?
Did you ever wish that you had stayed in your bed
And pulled the covers over your head,
Because somebody’s pushing you around?

BRIDGE:
It’s such a lonely, helpless, hopeless, worthless feeling,
The one that people who get bullied know too well.
You wonder “Is it me? Am I just unappealing?”
Or is it ’cause they’re really nasty?” I can’t tell.

REPEAT CHORUS

ENDING
Can’t they pick on someone else?
You’re alone, all by yourself.
Just because somebody’s pushing you around.

 

 

IT’S NOT COOL TO BE CRUEL
(From “Groark Learns about Bullying”)
Music and Lyrics by Randel McGee
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

GROARK SINGS:
We thought it might be cool to tease my little pal.
And though we had a couple laughs, I’m the one who’s sorry now.
It’s not cool to be cruel.
We thought a little joke might be a lot of fun.
We got carried away before I knew what we had done.
It’s not cool to be cruel.

BRIDGE: I hurt my buddy’s feelings and made him feel upset.
I really was a bully! I’m hoping he’ll forgive me and forget!
NUBBS:(spoken) Maybe.

GROARK: So if you’re gonna tease or give somebody grief,
STOP! … Think it over some, then sing along with me.
It’s not cool (Others: It’s not cool) to be cruel (to be cruel).
Bully’s not a name (a name) to be proud about (about).
It’s not good for anyone, so let’s all shout it out (shout).
It’s not cool (It’s not cool) to be cruel (to be cruel).

We can always take a tip (a tip) from the Golden Rule (the Rule)
Treat everybody with respect, and I can promise you’ll be feeling cool!
So if you’re gonna tease (to tease) or give somebody grief (some grief)
STOP! … Think it over some, then sing along with me.
It’s not cool (It’s not cool) to be cruel.
It’s not cool to be cruel. (Oh, yeah)

 

 

 

WE ARE FRIENDS
(From “Groark Learns about Prejudice)
Music and Lyrics by Randel McGee
© 1992 Randel McGee

McGEE SINGS:
It’s time to have a party, for everyone around the world,
Every man and woman, every boy and girl.
Just forget your quarrels. Send your troubles on a holiday.
When we get together, this is what we say.

CHORUS:
We are friends. Somos amigos! Wij zijn vrienden. O-tomodachi desu.
Nous sommes amis. Be yow ne kyaa pong yu. Mui druzhya. We are
friends.

So let’s all come together, from every country, every land.
It’s time to get acquainted. It’s time to understand
Though everyone is different and looks at life in their own way,
We’ve got a lot in common, that’s why we still can say …

REPEAT CHORUS:

Everyone likes laughing.
Everyone loves a song.
We all like a party.
So, come sing along …

REPEAT CHORUS:

(Foreign language verses)
Spanish:
Venga, todo el mundo! Vamos a una fiesta.
Por cada hombre y mujer, cada chico y chica.
Olvidese sus peleas! Hay otras cosas en que pensar.
Cuando nos juntamos, nos podemos cantar.
REPEAT CHORUS

Japanese:
Party ni shimashoo! Sekai ju no hitotachi.
Anata mo, watashi mo, kodomo mo, otona mo!
Iyana koto wa wasuri, etc.
Minna issho ni natte tanoshiku uttai-masho.
REPEAT CHORUS

 

 

PEOPLE LIKE THAT
(From “Groark Learns about Prejudice)
Music and Lyrics by Rita Abrams
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

BURNA: People like that are trouble.
GROARK SPEAKS: How do you know?
BURNA: People like that are strange.
GROARK: How does she know?
BURNA: When you run into people like that,
The only thing to do is run away!
GROARK: Do you believe this?

BURNA: People like that are different.
GROARK: From whom?
BURNA: People like that are weird.
GROARK: Aren’t we all?
BURNA: There is a place for people like that,
And that is anywhere on earth but HERE!
He makes it obvious, he is inferior,
Unlike the rest of us, who are superior.
I do not trust him as far as I can throw him.
GROARK: She does not TRUST him, huh —
She does not KNOW him!

BURNA: People like that make mischief.
GROARK: Tell me more.
BURNA: People like that mess up.
GROARK: Is that a fact?
BURNA: I’ve got some scary stories about them.
GROARK: What’s scary is she made them up!

BURNA: And you can tell from a mile away when’s someone’s sleazy,
Something about him makes you uneasy.
And if he’s trying to be your friend I would not let him.
GROARK: She would not LET him?
She has not MET him!

BURNA: Well, now that you’ve heard my story,
GROARK: Now that we’ve heard her “FACTS”,
We are not amused, but rather confused
By what you say you know.
There is no way you know.
It’s not OK, you know,
When you don’t even know
These people you call “People like That!”

 

 

I HAVE A DREAM
(From “Groark Learns about Prejudice)
Music and Lyrics by Rita Abrams
©1996 Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc.

GROARK: I have a dream that you’ll accept me
And not reject me
Because o’ my skin.
You’ll look inside me
To where I hide me.
See who I am.
I have a dream. (Sing it, Nubbs!)

NUBBS: I have a dream you won’t exclude me
Or treat me rudely
‘Cause I’m teeny ween.
Just ‘cause I’m little
It don’t mean diddle.
Let’s be a team.
I have a dream. (Take it, Essie)

ESSIE: I have a dream that you won’t judge me
Or think less of me
‘Cause I’m a girl.
And you will show me
That you want to know me
For who I am.
I have a dream.

BRIDGE
ALL: When you prejudge us
Then you begrudge us
The chance to show you
What we’re worth.
If you’re different from us,
That shouldn’t bum us.
There’s room for all of us on earth! (Go, Muggsy!)

MUGGSY: I have a dream
That I won’t be scorned,
‘Cause I was born
In another land.
No matter where we’re from
We’re equals everyone.
Please understand.
I have a dream. (Bring it home, Burna!)

BURNA: I have a dream that it won’t get thrown up
That you’re the grownup
And I’m just green.
If you don’t frown on me
And don’t look down on me
I’ll have esteem.
I have a dream. (Everybody!)

ALL: We have a dream.
That it won’t matter
If we’re thin or fatter
Or in between.
We could look weird to you
But end up dear to you.
So now you see
We have a dream. (One more time!)

REPEAT CHORUS

These songs are from the video series “Getting Along with Groark” (formerly “Prevent Violence with Groark”) featuring the Popcorn Park Puppets.
Produced by Elkind+Sweet Communications, Inc. in association with McGee Puppet Productions.
Published by Live Wire Media • San Francisco, California • (800) 359-5437 • www.livewiremedia.com