"Put One Foot in Front of the Other" is a song featured in the 1970 Rankin/Bass Christmas special Santa Claus is Comin' to Town. It is sung by Kris Kringle to help the Winter Warlock change his nasty ways so he can become a nice person. Although the song was retained in its syndication, the CBC's annual broadcast of the special has it omitted entirely for time.
Lyrics[]
[Speech]
Winter: I really am a mean and despicable creature at heart, you know. It's so difficult to... really change.
Kris: Difficult? [chuckles] Why, why look here. Changing from bad to good's as easy as... taking your first step.
[Chorus]
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking 'cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking out the door
You never will get where you're going
If ya never get up on your feet
Come on, there's a good tail wind blowin'
A fast walking man is hard to beat
[Chorus]
If you want to change your direction
If your time of life is at hand
Well, don't be the rule; Be the exception
A good way to start is to stand
[Chorus]
Winter: If I want to change the reflection
I see in the mirror each morn... [Kris: (Oh, you do.)]
You mean that it's just my election? [Kris: (Just that.)]
To vote for a chance to be reborn? Woo-hoo!
[Chorus: Slowly, at first with "You" on the first line, then goes into tempo on the last two lines]
[Chorus: Pause after "soon" & "walking"; "You'll" is replaced with "You are" in the ending]