"Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee (An Actor's Life for Me)" is a song from the 1940 animated film Pinocchio, notable as being the first Disney Villain song ever. It is performed by Honest John as he and Gideon take Pinocchio to Stromboli's Caravan, telling the wooden boy that he will be a star there. The tune is used throughout the film to represent temptation despite sounding cheery; Honest John again sings it when taking Pinocchio to the Coachman ("It's Pleasure Isle for me!"), and the tune is heard on Pleasure Island while the boys enjoy themselves. Lampwick also whistles it to himself as he plays pool. It is also sung at The Red Lobster Inn. Honest John and Gideon aren't seen again for the rest of the film after the reprise.
The song was also featured in Episode 301 of The Muppet Show and later reused in Episode 305, sung by Fozzie Bear and Rowlf the Dog. The same version was sung by Mickey Mouse and Goofy with Donald Duck interjecting in the 1989-1990 Disneyland show One Man's Dream.
The song was included on the Disney Sing Along Songs VHS Heigh-Ho.
Lyrics[]
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee. An actor's life for me!
A high silk hat, and a silver cane
A watch of gold, with a diamond chain
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Day an actor's life is gay!
It's great to be a celebrity
An actor's life for me!
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dum. An actor's life is fun!
With clothes that come from the finest shop
And lots of peanuts and soda pop
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee an actor's life for me
It's great to be a celebrity
An actor's life for me!
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee, an actor's life for me!
A waxed moustache and a beaver coat
A pony cart and a billy goat
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dum, an actor's life is fun!
You wear your hair in a pompadour!
You ride around in a coach with four!
You stop and buy out a candy store!
An actor's life for me!
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee. An actor's life for me!
With clothes that come from the finest shop
And lots of peanuts and soda pop
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Doo. You sleep 'til after two!
It's great to be a celebrity, an actor's life for me!
Hi-diddle-dee-dee, it's Pleasure Isle for me
Where ev'ry day is a holiday, and kids have nothing to do but play
Hi-diddle-dee-doo, if what I hear is true
At noon each day, there's a big parade
The river's flowing with lemonade
A land of pudding and marmalade
It's Pleasure Isle for me!
The grass is always greener in the other fellow's yard
No matter what your life may be, you'll think your life is hard
If I could pick and choose, and nature wasn't a factor
Here's a bit of news, I'd pick the life of an actor
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee. An actor's life for me!
A high silk hat, and a silver cane
A watch of gold, with a diamond chain
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Doo, you sleep 'til after two
You promenade with a big cigar
You tour the world in a private car
You dine on chicken and caviar
An actor's life for me!
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee. An actor is the king!
An actor could never earn his bread
if he was born with a wooden head
Guess I'll have to be instead
a puppet on a string
Oh, c'mon now, my puppet friend
That isn't the way your life will end
The theater calls, my son
Calling me? Yes, yes, go on
I see your name in lights
I hear wild applause for you,
You're a sensation overnight
The stage is set, there's your cue!
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee. An actor's life for me!
With clothes that come from the finest shop,
And lots of peanuts and soda pop
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dum, an actors life is fun!
You wear your hair in a pompadour!
You ride around in a coach with four!
I'll stop and buy out a candy store!
An actor's life for me!
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee
Tra-laa-laa-laa, tra-laa-laa-lee
Tra-laa-laa, tra-laa-laa
Tra-laa-laa, tra-laa-laa
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Doo
Tra-laa-laa-laa, tra-laa-laa-loo
Tra-laa-laa, tra-laa-laa
Tra-laa-laa, tra-laa-laa
Tra-laa-laa-laa-laa-laa-laa
An actor's life for me!
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee, an actor's life for me!
A high silk hat and a silver cane, a watch of gold with a diamond chain
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Doo, you sleep 'til after two
It's great to be a celebrity, an actor's life for me!
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dum, an actor's life is fun
With clothes that come from the finest shop, and lots of peanuts and soda pop
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Doo, you sleep 'til after two
It's great to be a celebrity, an actor's life for me!
Fozzie: Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee. An actor's life for me!
A high silk hat, and a silver cane
A watch of gold, with a diamond chain
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Doo, you sleep 'til after two
You promenade with a big cigar
You tour the world in a private car
You dine on chicken and caviar
An actor's life for me!
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee. An actors life for me!
A high silk hat, and a silver cane
A watch of gold, with a diamond chain
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Doo, you sleep 'til after two
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee. An actor's life for me!
A high silk hat, and a silver cane
A watch of gold, with a diamond chain
Hi-Diddle-Dee-Doo, you sleep 'til after two
You promenade with a big cigar
You tour the world in a private car
You dine on chicken and caviar
An actor's life for me!
Fozzie and Rowlf: An actors life for me!
Trivia[]
- The song is the first villain one in Disney history.
- The version from Pinocchio's Daring Journey is featured in Disney Sing Along Songs: Heigh-Ho.
- In an episode of DuckTales, Donald Duck began to sing a song similar to this one. He sang "Hi-diddle-dee-dee, a sailor's life for me." when he was trapped in a room, not thinking straight while Scrooge McDuck and their nephews were trying to look for him and save him from becoming a bad spirit pharaoh permanently. Presumably his version was meant as an antithetical version to Pinocchio and Honest John's ideas of a life of luxury and ease, as his sailor job, like many in the Navy, was full of long hours, hard work, cramped quarters, and little time for rest and relaxation.
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