Clark Gesner
Little Known Facts (1999)
[LUCY]
Do you see this tree? It is a fir tree
It's called a fir tree because it gives us fur for coats
It also gives us wool in the wintertime
[LINUS, spoken]
I never knew that before, Lucy. That's very interesting.
[LUCY]
This is an elm tree. It's very little
But it will grow up into a giant tree, an oak!
You can tell how old it is by counting it's leaves
[LINUS, spoken]
Gosh, Lucy, that's fascinating.
[CHARLIE BROWN, spoken]
Now wait a minute, Lucy. I don't mean to interfere, but—
[LUCY]
And way up there, those fluffy little white things
Those are clouds, they make the wind blow
And way down there, those tiny little black things
Those are bugs, they make the grass grow
[LINUS, spoken]
Is that so?
[LUCY, spoken]
That's right. They run around all day long, tugging and tugging at each tiny seedling until it grows into a great tall blade of grass.
[LINUS, spoken]
Boy, that's amazing!
[CHARLIE BROWN, spoken]
Oh, good grief!
[LUCY]
And this thing here. It's called a hydrant
They grow all over, and no one seems to know
Just how a little thing like that gives so much water
D'you see that bird? It's called an eagle
But since it's little it has another name—a sparrow
And on Christmas and Thanksgiving, we eat them
[CHARLIE BROWN, spoken]
Lucy, how can you say that?! I'm sorry, but I can't stand by and listen to—
[LUCY]
And way up there, the little stars and planets
Make the rain that falls in showers
And when it's cold and winter is upon us
The snow comes up! Just like the flowers
[CHARLIE BROWN, spoken]
Now, Lucy, I know that's wrong. Snow doesn't come up, it comes down!
[LUCY, spoken]
After it comes up, the wind blows it around so it looks like it's coming down but actually it comes up out of the ground, like grass. It comes up, Charlie Brown, snow comes up!
[CHARLIE BROWN, spoken]
Oh, good grief!
[He exits, from off stage there is a hollow thumping sound.]
[LINUS, spoken]
Lucy, why is Charlie Brown banging his head against that tree?
[LUCY, spoken]
To loosen the bark to make the tree grow faster.
(sung)
Clouds can make the wind blow
Bugs can make the grass grow
So, there you go
These are little known facts that now you know!