Song cupboard L 2w

Little seed

Little Sir Echo

Little spring

Little things

Long, long ago

Long time ago / Kitty and mousie

Look for the beauty

Looking for the moon

Love grows one by one

Love somebody, yes I do

Lovely Rosa

Lots of worms

Louisiana waltz song

Lukey’s boat

Lulabelle

Lychee China white sea

Last updated: 7/12/2021 10:45 AM

The songs below are part of ‘Away we go’

compiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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To listen to music from these songs click on O

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

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· 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.

Little seed 🔊

Written by the wonderful folk singer Woody Guthrie who wrote many other songs including those for young children. Find out more about this musician and songwriter at: http://woodyguthrie.org/biography/biography1.htm.

Take my little hoe, dig a hole in the ground;

Take my little seed and I plant it down.

Tooky, tooky, tooky, tooky, tidalo,

We’ll all dance around and see my little seed grow.

Chorus:

Tooky, tooky, tooky, tooky, tidalo,

Tooky, tooky, tooky, tooky, tidalo,

Let’s all dance around and see my little seed grow.

The rain it come and it washed my ground;

I thought my little seed was going to drown.

I waded and I splashed and I carried my seed;

I planted it again on some higher ground.

Chorus

The sun got hot and my ground got dry;

I thought my little seed would burn and die.

I carried some water from a watering mill,

I said, “Little seed you can drink your fill.”

Chorus

The snow it blowed and the wind it blew;

My little seed grew and it grew and it grew.

It grew up a cradle all soft inside;

And a baby was sleeping there covered over with vines.

Chorus

Little Sir Echo 🔊

A song very familiar to us as youngsters on BBC radio’s ‘Children’s Favourites’. It was sung by several of the popular singers of the day: Bing Crosby, Vera Lyn and Max Bygraves among others.

Change the name to for example ‘Little Sir Ethan’ or ‘Little Miss Milly’ so individual children can echo the words. You could also substitute ‘hello’ with a word in another language ‘Bonjour’ etc.

Learn about opposites: near, far, quiet, loud.

Little Sir Echo, how you do?

Hello, (hello,) hello, (hello.)

Little Sir Echo, I’m calling you.

Hello, (hello,) hello, (hello.)

Hello, (hello,) hello, (hello.)

Won't you come over and play? (and play?)

You're a nice little fellow I know by your voice,

But you're always so far away. (away.)

Little Sir Echo is very shy.

Hello, (hello,) hello, (hello.)

Little Sir Echo will make a reply

Hello, (hello,) hello, (hello.)

Hello, (hello,) hello, (hello.)

Won't you come over and play? (and play?)

You're a nice little fellow I know by your voice,

But you're always so far away. (away.)

Little Sir Echo is very near.

Hello, (hello,) hello, (hello.)

Little Sir Echo is very clear.

Hello, (hello,) hello, (hello.)

Hello, (hello,) hello, (hello.)

Won't you come over and play? (and play?)

You're a nice little fellow I know by your voice,

But you're always so far away. (away.)

Little spring O

A Korean song: Ong Tal Sam by Yoon Suk-Joong.

Translated and arranged by Dany Rosevear.

Here it is sung in Korean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUkrjZMvKr8

Intriguingly the melody appears to be identical to a German folk song, ‘Down in the lowlands’ by Gottfried Weigle 1835: http://www.lieder-archiv.de/drunten_im_unterland-notenblatt_300138.html.

Down the mountain runs little spring,

Who will come to take a drink?

Down the mountain runs little spring,

Who will come to take a drink?

Day breaks and bunnies wake,

Rub eyes and off they race,

In the clear spring wash their face,

Then they drink and go their way.

Cool and clear runs little spring,

Who will come to take a drink?

Roe deer in moonlight peep,

Play games of hide and seek,

Thirstily to the spring they race;

Quickly drink and go their way.

Kip oun san-sok

Ong tal sam

Nou ka wa so

Mok na yo

Sae pyo keh

To kki ka

Noun pi pi ko

Ih ro na

Seh su ha ro

Wat ta ka

Moul man mok

Ko ka tchi yo.

Little things O

These words are adapted from a hymn written by Julia Carney in 1845. I have adapted the second verse.

Little drops of water,

Little grains of sand,

Make the mighty ocean

And a pleasant land.

Little seeds of friendship

Sown by little hands,

Grow to feed the nations

In near and far-off lands.

Little deeds of kindness,

Little words of love,

Make our earth an Eden,

Like the heaven above.

And the little moments,

Humble though they may be,

Make the mighty ages

Of eternity.

Long, long ago 🔊

A nostalgic song from long ago; written in 1833 by Thomas Haynes Bayly (1797-1839). I first came across this song in’This is music 4’ published 1968.

Tell me the tales that to me were so dear,

Long, long ago, long, long ago,

Sing me the songs I delighted to hear,

Long, long ago, long ago.

Now you are come, all my fears are removed,

Let me forget that for long you have roved,

Let me believe that you love as you loved,

Long, long ago, long ago.

Do you remember the path where we met?

Long, long ago, long, long ago.

Ah, yes, you told me you’d never forget,

Long, long ago, long ago.

Then to all others, my smile you preferred,

Love, when you spoke, gave a charm to each word,

Still my heart treasures the praises I heard,

Long, long ago, long ago.

Out of the past on the winds of the years,

Sung by a voice that could still all my fears,

Softened by laughter and gentled by tears,

Long, long ago, long ago.

Long time ago / Kitty and mousie 🔊

A traditional children’s story song adapted from a poem by Elizabeth Payson-Prentiss. It was then collected, adapted and arranged by Alan and John A .Lomax. This tune is yet another gentler adaptation.

Once there was a little kitty,

White as the snow;

In the barn she used to frolic,

Long time ago.

In the barn a little mousie,

Ran to and fro;

For she heard the kitty coming,

Long time ago.

Two black eyes had little kitty,

Black as a crow;

And they spied the little mousie,

Long time ago.

Four soft paws had little kitty,

Paws soft as snow;

And they caught the little mousie,

Long time ago.

Nine pearl teeth had little kitty,

All in a row;

And they bit the little mousie,

Long time ago.

When the teeth bit little mousie,

Mousie cried out, "Oh,"

But she slipped away from kitty,

Long time ago.

Look for the beauty 🔊

Open your eyes, ears and sense of wonder to the world about each of us.

Words and melody by Anne Mcgregor. It can be found in ‘Songs for all sorts’ published by ‘The Guide Association, Anglia Region’ in 1990.

Look for the beauty in each little thing;

Dewdrops on grass blades, a bird on the wing;

Colours of evening, the rocks on the shore,

Look for it, seek, you will find it.

Look for the music in in sounds that you hear;

Bird song at morning, the stream rippling clear;

Laughter of children, the hum of the bees,

Look for it, seek, you will find it.

Look for the wonders of things great and small;

Love of our family, who care for us all;

Pattern of seasons, the joy of new birth,

Look for it, seek, you will find it.

Looking for the moon 🔊

Missing the moon

Oh, how I miss the moon in the summer months, especially when it has been raining; very occaisionally in the morning there is a glimpse of a paper moon. Roll on the darker nights! (The Chinese called the May moon the dragon moon.)

Looking for the moon in the month of June,

Is it hiding, can you see?

I look and I look ‘til I find that moon;

A paper moon shines down on me!

Smiling at the moon, in the Autumn time,

See it smiling back at me.

A beautiful sight, round, orange and bright,

A Harvest Moon shines down on me!

Singing for the moon in dark December,

It sings sweet lullabies to me.

Sailing through the night all winter-white,

A crescent moon shines down on me!

Looking for the moon in the month of May,

Is it hiding, can you see?

A-glitter with scales and story tales;

A dragon moon shines down on me!

Lots of worms O

A song by Patty Zeitlin c. 1967. A song with swing. Find out more about this wonderful songwriter and access her CDs at: PattyZeitlin.com .

Wiggle fingers for worms and make up actions to fit the words; digging with a spade, bending knees and pointing down etc.

Just use the rhythm of the music and your imagination!

Well there’s lots of worms way under the ground,

Lots of worms that I've never found,

But I bet they’re just there a-diggin' around

Way under the ground.

I dug the biggest hole I ever did dig.

The biggest hole, it sure was big!

And then I got to the bottom, you know what I found,

Way under the ground?

I found a worm to go on a fishing pole

Way down there in that deep dark hole.

But I left him alone ‘cause he liked his own home

Way under the ground.

I found a bumpety bug with big black dots,

Three pairs of legs and twenty two spots.

But I left him alone ‘cause he liked his own home

Way under the ground.

I found an old sow bug curled up in a ball,

He didn't move from there at all.

But I left him alone ‘cause he liked his own home

Way under the ground.

Louisiana waltz song 🔊

A Cajun song possibly known as Rendez-Vous Louisianais / Partout Ou Je Vas / J'Emmne Mon Violon.

It was broadcast on BBC’s School’s Music Time in 1970 and the English words below are from that pamphlet. Acknowledgments credit itas from ‘Louisiana French folk songs’ by Irene T. Whitfield .

Wherever I go

I take my violin;

And when I feel sad

I play dance tunes and sing.

I eat when I’m hungry

And drink when I’m dry.

I sleep when I’m tired

And get up by and by.

I’m free as a skylark

And poor as a mouse.

So if you like waltzing;

I’ll come to your house.

Love grows, one by one 🔊

Come together in friendship and song.

This delightful song by Carol Johnson is often accompanied by sign language as below but you can always make up your own.

Find Carol Johnson’s CDs and Music at: http://www.caroljohnsonmusic.com

Raise one finger on each hand, then two, then four to the beat of the music as the numbers are sung.

‘Love’ - make fists with hands and cross your arms on your chest.

‘Grows’ put right hand behind your left and move it upward to indicate growing.

‘Round like a circle’ - draw a large circle in the air with your finger.

‘Comes back’ - beckon with hand.

‘Knocking’ – ‘knock’ with hand.

‘Door’ - place hands in front of you, palms forward. Move right thumb and hand back toward your face to show an opening door.

Chorus:

Love grows, one by one,

Two by two and four by four,

Love grows 'round like a circle,

And comes back a-knocking at your front door.

Note by note we make a song,

Voice by voice we sing it,

Choir by choir we fill up the world

With the music that we bring it.

Chorus

So let me take your hand, my friend,

We’ll each take the hand of another,

One by one we’ll reach for all,

Our sisters and our brothers.

Chorus

Lovely Rosa 🔊

A German folk song ‘Schöne Rosa’. A minstrel song, which much later the German composer, Brahms, liked so much that he put it into the slow movement of one of his piano sonatas. This translation is by Elizabeth Poston from ‘The Children’s Song Book’ published in 1961.

All secretly the moon comes up,

Blue blue blossom blue;

The silver clouds her silver cup,

Blue, blue, blossom blue.

Blossom in flow’r,

Maiden in bow’r.

O lovely Rosa!

Lukey’s boat 🔊

A Newfoundland folk song. There seems to be several tune, this one can be found in ‘Music now and long ago’ published 1956 and ‘Folk songs North America sing’ published 1984. Find out more about its origins at: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=4774.

Oh, Lukey's boat is painted green,

Aha, me b’ys!

Oh, Lukey's boat is painted green,

The finest boat you've ever seen,

Aha, me-riddle-I-day! x2

Oh, Lukey's boat got a fine fore cutty,

Aha, me b’ys!

Oh, Lukey's boat got a fine fore cutty,

And every seam is chinked with putty,

Aha, me-riddle-I-day! x2

Oh, Lukey's boat got a high stopped jib,

Aha, me b’ys!

Oh, Lukey's boat got a high stopped jib,

And a patent block to her foremast head,

Aha, me-riddle-I-day! x2

Oh, Lukey's boat got cotton sails,

Aha, me b’ys!

Oh, Lukey's boat got cotton sails,

And planks put on with galvanized nails,

Aha, me-riddle-I-day! x2

Oh, Lukey's rolling out his grub,

Aha, me b’ys!

Oh, Lukey's rolling out his grub,

A barrel, a bag and a ten-pound tub,

Aha, me-riddle-I-day! x2

Oh, Lukey he sailed down the shore,

Aha, me b’ys!

Oh, Lukey he sailed down the shore

To catch some fish from Labrador,

Aha, me-riddle-I-day! x2

Love somebody, yes I do 🔊

A song for Valentine’s Day or any other day!

Jean Ritchie suggested playing the game below. It could also be a hand play: crossing heart with hands, nodding and pointing and making other appropriate movements.

One child is chosen to be "it." They thinks of the name of someone in the class, but do not tell the others. At the end of the song children take a turns to guess the secret. If no one guesses, the original child remains "it." If the secret is guessed, the child who guessed becomes "it”.

Love somebody, yes I do,

Love somebody, yes I do,

Love somebody, yes I do,

Love somebody but I won’t say who!

Love somebody, could be you,

Love somebody, could be you,

Love somebody, could be you,

Love somebody and it’s you, you, you!

Sun comes up and the moon goes down,

Sun comes up and the moon goes down,

Sun comes up and the moon goes down,

See my little Sally in her morning gown!

Love somebody, yes I do,

Love somebody, yes I do,

Love somebody, yes I do,

And I know somebody who loves me too!

Lulabelle O

Beware the perils of the bath tub; a crazy song that is great fun to sing with children.

With younger children you might need to explain the impossibility of disappearing down the plughole; some have very vivid imaginations!

Extend arm and make hand imitate a giraffe’s head peering haughtily from side to side for ‘neck of a giraffe’ etc. Raise hands to face and speak in a high distressed voice for the spoken words.

Lychee China white sea 🔊

A song by Evan Jones published in ‘Singing together’ ABC. I love it because it reminds me of my childhood days in Malaya; I always got the best lychees as climbing trees was my forte!

Lychee China white sea,

My three kites fly free,

High tea, sky on pine tree,

By the waterfall and me.

Take a rickshaw ride, see the lantern lights,

Lazy Orient rising sun so bright,

Cross a bamboo bridge, woman with a fan,

Singing nightingale in an old sampan.

Basket on the head, dusty village road.

Monsoon rain comes late, heavy wagon load.

Burning incense smoke, rise in spiral coil.

Stir with wooden spoon, watching water boil.

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