Bein' Green, also known as It's Not Easy Bein' Green, is a 1970 song written by Joe Raposo and originally performed by Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show (in the Peter Ustinov and Peter Sellers episodes). It was first released in 1970 on The Sesame Street Book & Record album. The lyrics tell Kermit’s story of lamenting his green color and how it blends in, then discovering that being green has positive associations with spring, nature, and authenticity. The song is widely regarded as Kermit the Frog’s signature tune and has been covered by many artists, including Frank Sinatra (1971), Lena Horne (1971), Van Morrison (1973) and Ray Charles (1975) among others. A notable moment in its history is Big Bird singing it at Jim Henson’s memorial services in 1990. The song also appears in various albums and projects beyond Sesame Street and has even been referenced in political discussions about environmental issues.
