Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf? (Live at the Bon Soir, Greenwich Village, NYC - Nov. 6, 1962)

Song Meaning

This live rendition of "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" opens with a spoken disclaimer, suggesting a playful subversion of expectations. The narrator acknowledges a request for standards but then claims to have forgotten it, setting a stage for a familiar tune delivered with a twist. The initial sung refrain, "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" is immediately followed by a cheerful "Tra la la la la," creating a stark contrast between the implied danger and a carefree, almost dismissive attitude. The narrative quickly establishes the classic Three Little Pigs fable, but with a subtle emphasis on the first two pigs' carefree nature. They are described as "very gay" and "fond of jigs," prioritizing play with flutes and fiddles over diligent work. This contrasts sharply with the third pig, who "said: 'Nix on tricks'" and whose focus on building with bricks means he had "no chance to sing or dance." The lyrics highlight the immediate consequences of this choice: the first two pigs' flimsy houses are easily destroyed by the wolf's "puff puff," while the third pig's sturdy home offers refuge. The most striking element is the framing of the wolf's defeat. After the wolf is "fried" in the chimney, the pigs "three little free little pigs" are depicted as winking and laughing. This triumphant "ah-ah" echoes the earlier carefree attitude, but now it's tinged with the wisdom of survival. The repeated question, "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" takes on a new weight, suggesting that fear can be overcome through preparation and resilience, or perhaps even that the "big bad" wolf is not so formidable after all when faced with unity and a solid foundation. The song's effectiveness lies in its playful deconstruction of a well-known story. The spoken intro and the jaunty "Tra la la" create an atmosphere of lightheartedness that belies the underlying message of preparedness. The final spoken "Me" after the repeated sung question, "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" serves as a punchline, a defiant declaration that, having survived the ordeal, the narrator (or the pigs) no longer fears the threat. It's a clever way to reframe the moral, turning a cautionary tale into an anthem of overcoming adversity with a wink and a smile.