The Story Behind The Song
In the 1940's shortly after Frank Churchill wrote that brilliant score for Disney's "Snow White," they had discussed an animated version of "Peter Pan"and Churchill had started writing some melodies. Frank Churchill's untimely death put a halt to that project. Years later it was resumed with a different team of writers and the theme Churchill had written for the crocodile in the story was used as background music.
When I was there in 1951, working on "Sleeping Beauty," Walt called me in and asked me to write a lyric to that crocodile theme. The music seemed to have a chuckle built into it; I loved it, came up with the title "Never Smile At A Crocodile" and wrote a tongue in cheek lyric to go with the title.
Once again Disney sent for me and Victor Young who was then orchestrating "Sleeping Beauty." Somehow, the team who had worked on "Peter Pan" had overlooked writing a title song for the film and Walt asked Victor and me to complete one that had been started musically years before by Oliver Wallace.
This song is the result of that three-way collaboration.
