Halfway Down the Stairs
Encyclopedia
"Halfway Down" is a poem by A.A. Milne, included in 1924 collection When We Were Very Young
. A "juvenile meditation", Zena Sutherland comments in Children & Books that both the poem and Ernest Shepard's illustration "has caught the mood of suspended action that is always overtaking small children on stairs." Christopher Robin
, the child in Milne's Winnie the Pooh stories, is the presumed narrator of the poem.
, who put many of Milne's poems to music.
"Halfway Down the Stairs" was used in the first season of The Muppet Show
. The performance was staged in the middle of a flight and became Robin's most significant performance of the season. It was used before he became known as Kermit
's nephew. The sequence was reshot for a few different countries' broadcast of the tenth episode, with guest Harvey Korman
.
The song was included on the LP The Muppet Show
, later released separately reaching #7 on the UK Singles Chart
in 1977. The sequence was refilmed for inclusion in Top of The Pops
. The track was also included on the CD The Best of The Muppets and the VHS Playhouse Video: Children's Songs and Stories.
Rowlf the Dog
sang a cover of this song in his album, Ol' Brown Ears is Back. American singer Amy Lee
of the band Evanescence
sang a cover of the song which was included on the 2011 album Muppets: The Green Album
.
When We Were Very Young
When We Were Very Young is a best-selling book of poetry by A. A. Milne. It was first published in 1924, and was illustrated by E. H. Shepard. Several of the verses were set to music by Harold Fraser-Simson...
. A "juvenile meditation", Zena Sutherland comments in Children & Books that both the poem and Ernest Shepard's illustration "has caught the mood of suspended action that is always overtaking small children on stairs." Christopher Robin
Christopher Robin
Christopher Robin is a character created by A. A. Milne, appearing in his popular books of poetry and stories about Winnie-the-Pooh. He has subsequently appeared in Disney cartoons....
, the child in Milne's Winnie the Pooh stories, is the presumed narrator of the poem.
"Halfway Down the Stairs"
A song was created from the poem by Harold Fraser-SimsonHarold Fraser-Simson
Harold Fraser-Simson , was an English composer of light music, including songs and the scores to musical comedies. His most famous musical was the World War I hit, The Maid of the Mountains, and he later set numerous children's poems to music, especially those of A. A...
, who put many of Milne's poems to music.
"Halfway Down the Stairs" was used in the first season of The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
. The performance was staged in the middle of a flight and became Robin's most significant performance of the season. It was used before he became known as Kermit
Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog is puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creation, first introduced in 1955. He is the protagonist of many Muppet projects, most notably as the host of The Muppet Show, and has appeared in various sketches on Sesame Street, in commercials and in public service announcements over...
's nephew. The sequence was reshot for a few different countries' broadcast of the tenth episode, with guest Harvey Korman
Harvey Korman
Harvey Herschel Korman was an American comedic actor who performed in television and movie productions beginning in 1960...
.
The song was included on the LP The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show (album)
The Muppet Show is the first soundtrack album released from the TV show of the same name. It reached number one in the UK Albums Chart in the week ending 25 June 1977.-Overview:...
, later released separately reaching #7 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1977. The sequence was refilmed for inclusion in Top of The Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
. The track was also included on the CD The Best of The Muppets and the VHS Playhouse Video: Children's Songs and Stories.
Rowlf the Dog
Rowlf the Dog
Rowlf the Dog is a Muppet character, a scruffy brown dog of indeterminate breed with a rounded black nose and long floppy ears. He was created by Jim Henson....
sang a cover of this song in his album, Ol' Brown Ears is Back. American singer Amy Lee
Amy Lee
Amy Lynn Hartzler , best known as Amy Lee, is an American singer-songwriter and classically trained pianist. She is co-founder and lead vocalist of the rock band Evanescence. She cites influences ranging from classical musicians such as Mozart to modern artists Björk, Tori Amos, Danny Elfman and...
of the band Evanescence
Evanescence
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...
sang a cover of the song which was included on the 2011 album Muppets: The Green Album
Muppets: The Green Album
Muppets: The Green Album is a cover album of popular Muppet songs by various contemporary music artists. The album was released by Walt Disney Records on August 23, 2011 on CD and as a digital download in the iTunes Store....
.