The Disney Song Encyclopedia - fieldi

130 “THE MERCHANTS’ SONG”
a female chorus sing the lilting song on the soundtrack over the opening
credits for the film, merrily urging you to join in and sing when life has got
you down.
“The Merchants’ Song” is a slapstick song about greed written by
producer-director Don Bluth for the animated film short The Small One
(1978). While the young Boy (voice of Sean Marshall) sings the tender
ballad “Small One” and tries to sell his undersized donkey in the town, a
trio of merchants interrupts to sing this harmonizing number about doing
deals, making money, and taking it to the bank. The musical sequence
also includes various businessmen turning down the sale of the animal and
mocking the scrawny creature.
“Merlin Jones” is the peppy song of admiration sung by Annette Funicello
over the opening credits of the movie comedy The Misadventures of Merlin
Jones (1964). Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman wrote the vibrant dance
number, the kind of song likely to be heard at a 1960s sock hop, about a girl
in love with the college science whiz who intrigues her because he is always
working on peculiar things. Funicello sings with a backup chorus and some
interjections by Merlin Jones (Tommy Kirk), and her recording of the pop
song was very popular.
“Merrily on Our Way” is the frantic and funny song that lists all the
destinations you can experience, especially if you are heading nowhere in
particular, in the animated film The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
(1949). Frank Churchill, Oliver Wolcott (music), Larry Morey, and Ray
Gilbert (lyric) wrote the farcical number, which is sung as a vivacious duet
by Mr. Toad (voice of Eric Blore) and his horse, Cyril Proudbottom (J. Pat
O’Malley), as they ride wildly across the English countryside, destroying
nature and man-made structures along the way. The number is sometimes
listed as “The Merrily Song” or “Nowhere in Particular.”
“Mexico” is the Latin-flavored ballad about the land of romance south of
the border written by Charles Wolcott (music) and Ray Gilbert (lyric) for
the animated travelogue The Three Caballeros (1944). Carlos Ramirez sings
the gliding song on the soundtrack while Donald Duck, Joe Carioca, and
Panchito fly over live-action footage of Mexico on a magic serape.
“Miami, You’ve Got Style” is the peppy song of appreciation from an
episode of the television series The Golden Girls (1985) that later became