For Frosty the snow man had to hurry on his way, but he waved goodbye saying,
“Don’t you cry, I’ll be back again some day!”
Walter Rollins
Interestingly enough, like so many other songs about winter, “Frosty, the Snowman” has become well-established as a Christmas song, even though Christmas is never actually mentioned. However, some versions of the song change the last lyric to ‘I’ll be back on Christmas Day!’
It has been covered by many artists, including Jimmy Durante, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Conniff, Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Beach Boys, and countless other musical acts including a 2005 recording of the song by actor Burt Reynolds. Gene Autry’s original recording reached #7 in 1950, Perry Como’s #74 in 1957, Johnny Mathis’ #29 in 2003, and Kimberly Locke’s #1 in 2005.
In 1972, the writer of the song admitted in an interview with Life magazine that initial concept for Frosty the Snowman was written as a cautionary tale pertaining to the scare of "nuclear winter." Initially it was said that nuclear fallout mixed with snow and children's dreams of a world without war were what brought Frosty to life, but the publishers and Gene Autry thought that the song would have more commercial appeal as a children's Christmas song and the idea was dropped.
To be clear, the song is about a snowman who comes to life thanks to a magic hat some children found; he then had playful adventures before he "hurried on his way". Near the end of their adventures together, the children are saddened by Frosty having to hurry on his way for the last time. However, Frosty reassures them by exclaiming, "I'll be back again someday."
Gene Autry recorded Frosty the Snowman in 1950 and it proved to be the monster Christmas hit of 1950, and became a part of popular culture.
So how did it get to be so popular?
This particular Christmas Cartoon Classic has its roots in a song and the song might never have been written if not for the success of another Gene Autry song in 1947 Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane). To that end, “Here Comes Santa Claus” led to the even greater success of “Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer” in 1949.
It was the commercial success of Rudolph that inspired a team of writers, Walter Rollins and Steve Nelson, to sit down to write a new holiday song. "Frosty the Snowman" was in many ways an imaginative echo of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Like Rudolph, Frosty was a magical new Christmas character who evoked both delight and sadness. Frosty brought much joy to the children who put the old silk hat on his head, thus bringing him to life.
'Frosty the Snowman’ went on to inspire the Golden Book of 1951 adapted by Annie North Bedford and illustrated by Corine Malverne. The book tells of a snowman that comes alive and takes the children who created it on sledding and ice-skating adventures. But Frosty melts when he and the children go to the village to see the shop windows. Golden Books kept Frosty in the mainstream long after the song was hit.
In 1954, a three-minute animated short illustrating “Frosty, the Snowman” was created and broadcast on television for the first time. Then in 1969, Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass took their animated talents and produced a TV special based upon the song. Unlike their previous puppet animation, the pair decided to venture into traditional drawn animation and aimed for the ‘look’ of a Christmas card. To that end, they hired Paul Coker Jr, who at the time was working as a greeting card illustrator. With the voice talents of Jimmy Durante (narrator) and Jackie Vernon (Frosty), the production was not done on the cheap and it showed. The result was a holiday special that placed Frosty in the heart of millions of children over the decades. “Frosty” is still broadcast regularly during the holiday season.
So, what attracts so many to Frosty?
Frosty’s charisma alone solidifies him as an enduring TV character, right up there with all-time greats such as Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), Charlie Brown (1965), and The Grinch (1966).
He is magical and does things that no snowman has ever done before.
He also gives children the gift of laughter and play.
But I believe what attracts us is his promise to return at the end of the tale that sparks in us all the anticipation of an annually renewed friendship with the jolly soul.
It is this promise that I want to expand on today.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2 NIV
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Luke 1:30-33 NIV
2000 years ago for the countless Jews in and around Jerusalem life was pretty peaceful. The Romans had brought peace to the region, but the Romans still ruled over them and they longed for the prophecies to come true about the King of Kings that was to come and rule again like David. They too hoped for peace.
Unfortunately for most of them, they missed their hope for peace. They missed the magic in the manger that night in Bethlehem. They missed the One who came to bring peace and life everlasting.
As the infant, Jesus, grew in wisdom and stature many came to follow Him and believe in His teachings. He spoke and taught and did things that no one else had done. He brought hope to those who had lost all hope. He brought second chances to those who had been cast aside. He brought the promise of something greater. He brought the promise of peace.
But at the peak of all this, He was taken away and wrongly convicted. He was put to death on a cross and buried in a borrowed tomb. The good news of Christmas is the same good news of Easter: Christ conquered death and sin for you and me. He returned from the grave and promised the same victory for you and me. After his resurrection, He returned to Heaven.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Acts 1:10-11 NIV
This Christmas season, you will, no doubt, countless times hear the song, Frosty the Snowman. This season as you listen to the song, listen to the promise:
”He waved goodbye saying, Don't you cry, I'll be back again some day.”
In this time of unrest and doubt, in this season of expectation, rest assuredly on the promise that begins with God coming to be with us. Encourage one another and find hope in these words:
This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11 NIV)
In other words, Don’t you cry, for God is with us and Christ will return again some day.
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