Song cupboard rounds and partner songs

Ah, poor bird

Brother Martin

Call John the boatman

Canoe song

Chain, chain, daisy chain

Clouds of rain

Come follow

Crimson and red

Dona nobis pacem

Donkeys and carrots

Every night when the sun goes in

Early in the morning / Kum bachur atzeil

Fare thee well

Frogs in yonder pond

Grasshoppers three

Hey, ho, nobody home

Ifca’s castle

Mr. Moon, Mr. Moon / Cuckoo!

Morning song

Now all the woods are waking

Now I walk in beauty

 

Find more rounds at:

A ram sam sam

Ah my little Augustine

Bonjour mes ami

Have you seen the Ghost of Tom?

Hot cross buns

I love the flowers

Kookaburra

London’s burning

Ride a cock horse

Row your boat

Sur le pont

The more we get together

The sun it rises

Three blind mice

Last updated: 5/24/2021 10:46 AM

The songs below compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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To listen to music from these songs click on 🔊

To watch the author sing a song click on the title at:

 

© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

·       you must give the original author credit

·       you may not use this work for commercial purposes

·       for any re-use or distribution, you must make clear to others the licence terms of this work

·       any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder

 

Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.

 

Ah, poor bird O

 

 


An Elizabethan round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Ah, poor bird,

Take thy flight,

Far above the sorrows

Of this dark night!

 

Ah, poor bird,

Mourn the tree,

Where sweetly thou did’st warble

In thy wand'rings free.

 

Ah poor bird,

Spread thy wings,

Soar in joy above the world

And sing, sing, sing!

 


 

 

Brother Martin 🔊

 

 


A three part round and Latin American folk song though I have not been able to find the South American source of this song. I found it in ‘Koloeoko’ published in 1983 by June Tillman. The tune is very similar to ‘O, how lovely is the evening’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Brother Martin climbs the tower,

Climbs the tower,

Pulls the rope to ring the hour,

Ring the hour.

Ding, dong, ding, dong, ding, dong.

 


 

 

Canoe song O

 

 


A traditional Canadian song written to help keep time when rowing a canoe.

This song works well as a round or sung with ‘Land of the silver birch’

My Paddle's Keen and Bright & Land of the Silver Birch

 

Move as in this video http://vimeo.com/31997644. Alternatively sit on the floor in groups of six or so one behind the other and row in time to the music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


My paddles keen and bright,

Flashing with silver,

Follow the wild goose flight,

Dip, dip and swing,

Dip, dip and swing.

 

Dip, dip and swing her back,

Flashing with silver,

Swift as the wild goose flies,

Dip, dip and swing,

Dip, dip and swing,

Dip, dip and swing.

 


 

 

Call John the boatman 🔊

 

 


This three part round is probably 300 years old. It can be found in a collection of Captain Patrick Tayleur of New York who says this was heard aboard British ships and sung by sailors in the foc’s’le. I found it in ‘The Revels’ book of Chanteys and sea songs’ selected and compiled by John Langstaff in 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Call John the boatman, call, call again,

For loud roars the tempest and fast falls the rain.

 

John is a good man, he sleeps very sound;

His oars are at rest and his boat is aground.

 

Red flows the river so rapid and deep;

The louder you call him the sounder he’ll sleep.

 


 

 

 

Chain, chain, daisy chain 🔊

 

 


This round would also make a lovely simple circle game out on the grass, even more fun for young children if they first make a necklace wristlet or coronet of daisies – the youngest might need considerable help!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Chain, chain, daisy chain.

All the pretty flowers,

One for you, and one for me,

And one for Jenny Bowers.

 


 

 

Come follow O

 

A traditional three part call and response round. Words and music by John Hilton (17th century).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Come, follow, follow, follow,

Follow, follow, follow me.

 

Whither shall I follow, follow, follow,

Whither shall I follow, follow thee.

 

To the greenwood, to the greenwood,

To the greenwood, greenwood tree.

 


 

 

Clouds of rain 🔊

 

 


A round for Easter and Whitsun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Clouds of rain, blue above;

Easter sun and Whitsun dove.

 


 

 

 

Crimson and red 🔊

 

 


A very simple Autumn round written by Dorothy Dino Rice for her book ‘Rounds, rhymes and silly songs’ – just wish I could find a copy of this!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Crimson and red, orange and purple,

Falling when the leaves come down.

 


 

 

Dona nobis pacem 🔊

 

 


Just three words, Latin for ‘Give us peace’; something we all wish for in the personal, community and the world wide sense.

This well known round has been attributed to the 16th century Italian composer Palestrina, although most people believe it was composed by Mozart. Find out more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dona_nobis_pacem_(canon)

 

 

 

 

Dona nobis pacem, pacem,

Dona nobis pacem,

Dona nobis pacem,

Dona nobis pacem,

Dona nobis pacem,

Dona nobis pacem.

 


 

 

 

Donkeys and carrots 🔊

 

 


A silly round from Belgium. It works as a two, three or four part round. It can also be used to make up your own crazy verses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Donkeys are in love with carrots,

Carrots aren’t in love at all;

Hee-haw! Hee-haw!

Listen to that loving call!

 

Josie is in love with pancakes,

Pancakes aren’t in love at all;

Hee-haw! Hee-haw!

That’s a crazy, funny call!

 


 

 

 

 

Early in the morning / Kum bachur atzeil 🔊

 

 


A folk song from Israel and a three part round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Early in the morning, arising with the sun,

Early in the morning, arising with the sun.

Crow, rooster, the day has now begun,

Crow, rooster, the day has now begun.

Kukuriku, kukuriku, work for everyone,

Kukuriku, kukuriku, work for everyone.

 


 

 

 

Every night when the sun goes in 🔊

 

 


A campfire, vespers, community spiritual adapted from the Appalachian tradition.Can be sung as an echo

Two groups sing one follows the other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Ev’ry night when the sun goes in,

Ev’ry night when the sun goes in,

Ev’ry night when the sun goes in,

I hang my head and mournful cry.

 

If the stars, in the sky don’t shine,

If the stars, in the sky don’t shine,

If the stars, in the sky don’t shine,

I hang my head, and mournful cry.

 

If the moon hides behind a cloud,

If the moon hides behind a cloud,

If the moon hides behind a cloud,

I hang my head, and mournful cry.

 


 

 

 

 

Fare thee well 🔊

 

 


A round and campfire parting song that can be sung in four parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Fare thee well.

Luck go with thee.

When I’m far remember me.

 

Goodbye my friend,

Be carefree.

When you are far we’ll remember thee.

 


 

 

 

 

 

Frogs in yonder pond 🔊

 

 


A round for the tadpole season.

Crouch on the floor like a frog. At the "Barrrump", everyone leaps in the air and claps their hands over their heads. Once everyone is familiar with the words and actions, singers are split into small groups. Each group starts singing at slightly different times and repeating the song ‘til everyone tires! Aim for an effect of a pondful of frogs croaking in spring!

It will sound even better accompanied by a guiro.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Hear the lively song of the frogs in yonder pond;

“Crick, crick, Crickety, crick, crick!

Barrr-rump!”

 

Hear the lively song of the frogs in yonder pond;

“Crick, crick, Crickety, crick, crick!

Barrr-rump!”

 


 

 

 

 

Grasshoppers three O

 

This cheerful song can be sung as a round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Grasshoppers three a-fiddling went,

Hey! Ho! Never be still.

They paid no money toward their rent,

But all day long with elbow bent,

They fiddled a tune called rillaby, rillaby,

Fiddled a tune called rillaby rill,

They fiddled a tune called rillaby, rillaby,

Fiddled a tune called rillaby rill.

 


 

 

Hey, ho, nobody home 🔊

 

 


This Yuletide round can be sung with partner songs "Rose Rose" and "Ah Poor Bird" to make a three part harmony. Find out more about this canon and Thomas Ravenscroft at: http://www.music4education.com/resources/canon/heyhonobodyhome.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Hey, ho, nobody home.

Meat nor drink nor money have I none,

Yet we will be merry, very merry.

Hey, ho, nobody home.

Meat nor drink nor money have I none,

Yet we will be merry, very merry.

Hey, ho, nobody home.

Hey, ho, nobody home.


 

Ifca’s castle O

 

A round from Czechoslovakia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Above the valley fresh and green,

A young boy’s head is plainly seen;

Hi-ya hi-ya hi-ya ha,

Tumbling goes the river,

Hi-ya hi-ya hi-ya ha,

Tumbling goes the stream.

 

But no it’s not a young boy’s head,

It’s Ifca’s castle there instead.

Hi-ya hi-ya hi-ya ha,

Tumbling goes the river,

Hi-ya hi-ya hi-ya ha,

Tumbling goes the stream.

 


 

 

Mr. Moon, Mr. Moon / Cuckoo! 🔊

 

 


These two partner songs can separately or in unison.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Mr. Moon, Mr. Moon,

You're out too soon,

The sun is still in the sky.

Go back into your bed

And cover up your head

And wait ‘til the day goes by.

 

'Twas on a summer's evening

I walked the forest through.

When suddenly I heard it

A soft and sweet cuckoo.

Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

 


 

 

 

Morning song O

 

This traditional Native American song was published in Singing Together, Summer 1961, BBC Publications.

Just the first verse is normally sung as a round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Morning is come,

Night is away;

Rise with the sun

And welcome the day.

 

Birdies and flowers,

Beasties and men;

Rise with the sun

And join in the ring.

 


 

 

Now all the woods are waking 🔊

 

 


Can be sung as a four parter round. From ‘Very favourites of the very young’ by the Co-operative Recreation Service published in 1986.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Now all the woods are waking,

The sun is rising high!

Wake up, now! Get up, now!

Before the dew is dry!

Now all the birds are chirping,

The air is full of song.

Wake up, now! Get up, now!

And join the happy throng.

 


 

 

Now I walk in beauty 🔊

 

 


A traditional Navajo Prayer. A wish to be in harmony with the world around us.

Seek and you will find; use your eyes to look at the wonders and good things about you in your journey through life. It will make you happier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Now I walk in beauty,

Beauty is before me,

Beauty is behind me,

Above and below me.


 

 

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