Song cupboard T1 a-f
Tadpoles and salamanders
Take time in life
Tell me what the jaybird say
Thank goodness for gravity
The bell cow
The best things in life are
free
The black cat
The blacksmith / Twankdillo
The birch tree (Beriozka)
The bird courting song
The broomsquire’s birdsong
The carrion crow
The cockle gatherer
The cuckoo / Peter’s flowing
stream
The Derby ram
The family of man
The frog and the crow
The frog and the mouse
Last updated: 4/10/2023
10:45 AM
The songs below are part of ‘Away we
go’
compiled,
adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear
Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page
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.
|
Tadpoles and
salamanders 🔊
Just love this song written by Marcia Berman. Find out more about this wonderful
songwriter at: https://oversight.com/marcia/aboutm.php
It sounds like poetry to me and makes me think of pond dipping with my
pupils. In the UK we have newts which are small salamandas and water skaters
instead of water striders – it is wonderful that the other pond creatures are
the same as the ones that live in the USA. |
|
Chorus Tadpoles and
salamanders, Crayfish and minnows, Whirlygigs and
waterboatmen, Dance all around. I like to go down to
the creek, I sit on a rock and
look into the deep. Chorus I like to go down to
the creek, A little frog, hides
in the deep. Chorus Red and green, purple
and blue, Dragonflies and
damselflies, too. Chorus I see the tracks of
somebody’s feet, A shy racoon has been
to the creek. Chorus Water striders skate
on the water, Yellow leaves gently
float down. Chorus |
|
Take time in
life 🔊
A Liberian folk song with a great syncopated rhythm. |
|
Just the other day, My brother called me
in, And he said to me, “You better take time
in life. Better take time in
life, Take time in life, Better, take time in
life, ‘Cause you got far way
to go.” Far way to go, far way
to go, Take time in life you
got far way to go. As before with:
sister, father, mother, auntie, etc. |
|
Tell me what the jaybird say 🔊
A traditional American folk song, also called “That is what he say”. |
|
Tell me my little children, What did the jaybird say? Jaybird say: “Jay jay jay,” “Jay jay jay,” “Jay jay jay,” That is what he say. …What did the mockingbird say, … “Whee dee dee…” …What did the chee-dee say, … “Chee dee dee…” …What did the old crow say, … “Craw craw craw…” …What did the old hawk say, … “Chick chick chick…” …What did the partridge say, … “Bob bob white…” …What did the old owl say, … “Whoo whoo whoo…” |
|
Thank goodness
for gravity 🔊
Written by Dany Rosevear to a familiar tune in response to my eldest
grandchild asking his grandad why penguins don’t fall off the world because
they are upside down on the Earth. |
|
Way down South the
penguins go, Waddle, waddle,
waddle, in the ice and snow. Can you tell me, for I
don’t know, Why they don’t drop
off our world below? We’re the right way up
but they’re upside down, So how come they keep
their feet on the ground? Listen and learn, it’s
gravity, That stops us floating
off into space you see. Chorus Boom, boom, thank
goodness for gravity, Boom, boom, for the
pull of the Earth on me!, If we jump up we’ll
come right down, Boom, boom, thank goodness
for gravity! The world isn’t up,
the world isn’t down, Spinning on its axis,
it goes round and round. And if you sent a
penguin to the moon, It wouldn’t waddle,
waddle, waddle, It would float or
zoom. With a jet pack on its
back and a helmet on its head, Watch it zoom around
the craters instead. Poor little penguin
dizzy as can be Back to Earth in the
rocket in time for tea! |
|
The bell cow 🔊
From ‘American Mountain Songs’ published 1927 and usually heard with a
banjo accompaniament. The bell cow is usually the leader of the herd; the
bell she wears serves to keep her charges from straying too far. Visit: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=103143 for more verses. |
|
Partridge in the pea
patch, pickin' up the peas, Along comes the bell
cow, kickin' up her heels! Chorus: Oh, the bell cow,
catch her by the tail, Oh, the bell cow, milk
her in the pail! The bell cow has a
couple a horns, Ain’t been milked
since I was born. Went down the
cornfield to pick a mess of beans, Along come the bell
cow a-pecking at the greens. The milk ain't whipped
and the butter ain't fat, The darned old cow ate
my best hat. Some of these days
when I learn how, I'm gonna milk that
old bell cow. |
|
The best things
in life are free 🔊
Appreciate what we have and make the most of our natural world. Written for the 1927 musical ‘Good News’ with lyrics by Buddy DeSylva
and Lew Brown and music by Ray Henderson. There was a revival of the song in
the 1950s by a number of well known singers. Find
out more. |
|
The Moon belongs to
ev'ryone, The best things in
life are free. The stars belong to
ev'ryone, They gleam there for
you and me. The flowers in spring, The robins that sing, The sunbeams that
shine, They're yours, they're
mine! And love can come to
ev’ryone, The best things in
life are free. The stars in the sky The Moon on high They're great because
they're free |
|
The black cat 🔊
A cheerful song from Alabama about a favourite pet. The second verse is awash with alliteration! From ‘An Alabama songbook: ballads, folksongs, and spirituals’
collected by Byron Arnold. ‘Relatively few versions of this nursery song have
been recovered from folk tradition. Its origin is unknown, but it seems to be
found only in the southern states. Sung by Mrs. Laurie Cater Carleton, Grove
Hill, 5 July 1947’. Arranged by Dany Rosevear. |
|
Whose so full of fun and glee, Happy as a cat can be? All his sides so nice and fat, How I love my old black cat. Chorus Oh, oh, kitty oh, poor kitty, Sitting so cozy, close by the fire. Pleasant, purring, pretty kitty, Frisky, full of fun, and fussy, Not a fear of mouse and rat, How I love my old black cat. |
|
The blacksmith / Twankydillo 🔊
A traditional English folk song. This children’s version comes from
‘Music Now and Long Ago’ published 1956 by the Silver Burdett Company. Another version can be found in ‘Singing Together’ Spring 1969, BBC
Publications. Find out more about this song at: https://mainlynorfolk.info/watersons/songs/twankydillo.html |
|
Here's a song for the jolly blacksmith, The best of all fellows, He works at his anvil While the boy blows the bellows Which makes his bright hammer To rise and to fall. Here's to old Cole, and to young Cole And to old Cole of all. Twankydillo, twankydillo Twankydillo, dillo, dillo, dillo, And a roaring pair of bagpipes Made of the green willow. Here's a song for the jolly blacksmith, He’s clever, indeed. He shapes every horseshoe To a fit for each steed. He makes his bright hammer…. Here's a song for the jolly blacksmith, He’s handy besides, He rims wheels for wagons, So that we can have rides. And he makes his bright hammer…. |
|
The birch tree
(Beriozka) O
A beautiful old Russian folk song. There are many translations of this song and you can find some more
at: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=60360
|
|
See the lovely birch
in the meadow, See the leaves
a-dancing when the wind blows. Loo-lee-loo, in the
meadow, Loo-lee-loo, when the
wind blows. I will take three
twigs from the birch tree, I will carve three
flutes from its branches. Loo-lee-loo, from the
birch tree, Loo-lee-loo, from its
branches. Then for my old
grandfather’s pleasure, From the birch I’ll
make a balalaika Loo-lee-loo, for his pleasure, Loo-lee-loo,
balalaika. As I play my tingling
balalaika, I will think of you,
my lovely birch tree. Loo-lee-loo,
balalaika, Loo-lee-loo, lovely
birch tree. |
|
There are many more verses to this
song about courting. |
|
"Hi!" said the blackbird,
sitting on a chair, "Once I courted a lady
fair, She proved fickle and turned
her back, And ever since then I've
dressed in black." Chorus: Howdy dowdy diddle-um-dum, Howdy dowdy diddle-um-day, Howdy dowdy diddle-um-dum, Howdy dowdy diddle-um-day. "Hi!" said the blue
jay and away he flew, "If I were a young man
I'd have two; If one proved fickle and
chanced to go, I'd have another string to my
bow." "Hi!" said the
little leather-winged bat, "I will tell you the
reason that, The reason that I fly by
night, Is because I lost my heart's
delight." "Hi!" said the
robin, with a little squirm, "I wish I had a great
big worm; I’d fly away into my nest; I have a wife I think is
best." |
|
The broomsquire’s birdsong 🔊
A traditional English song collected by Ruth Tongue. A broomsquire is a Quantock Hills traveller. The colley-bird is a
blackbird, Missel a missel thrush and Ruddick a robin. Take children outside to different habitats to listen to birdsong. How
many can they see and hear?I sing this in the key of F, on the guitar play in
D with the capo on the 4th fret. |
|
Of
all the birds that ever I see, The
Colley bird’s song is the finest for me. The
Dove she croons for she’d sing if she could, The
old cock Pheasant he crows in the wood. The
Bullfinch pipes in the orchard tree, But
the Colley bird’s song is the finest for me. The
small Jenny Wren, she has a loud song, The
Tits and the Sparrows they all go along, The
Hen, she cackles again and again, But
the Colley bird, The
Colley bird carols after the rain. The
Curlew he calls far out on the hill, The
Rooks and the Jackdaws let go with a will. The
Nightingale sings in the still of the night, The
Thrush he hails the morning light. The
Linnet he goes it so sweet do he, But
the Colley bird’s song is the finest for me. The
Missel he calls when the storm be strong, The
Ruddick he cheers us when winter be long, The
Duck, she quackles and quackles so plain, But
the Colley bird, The
Colley bird carols after the rain. |
|
The carrion crow 🔊
There are many versions of this traditional song, find some of them
here: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=98836 .
The one below I heard from the singing of Cyril Tawney, ‘Children’s songs
from Devon and Cornwall’. It was also in English Folk Songs for Schools
collected and arranged by S.Baring Gould and Cecil Sharp, published 1900. It
was taken down from a Cornishman in 1844. |
|
A carrion crow sat on
an oak, Hey, derry down, derry
dido! Watching a tailor
mending his coat; Caw! Caw! the carrion
crow, Hey, derry down, derry
dido! Oh, wife, oh wife
bring here my bow; Hey, derry down, derry
dido! That I may shoot this
carrion crow; Caw! Caw! the carrion
crow, Hey, derry down, derry
dido! The tailor he fired
but he missed his mark; Hey, derry down, derry
dido! For he shot his old sow
right bang through the heart; Caw! Caw! the carrion
crow, Hey, derry down, derry
dido! Oh, wife, oh wife,
bring some brandy in a spoon; Hey, derry down, derry
dido! For our old sow’s
fallen down in a swoon; Caw! Caw! the carrion
crow, Hey, derry down, derry
dido! Well, the old sow died
and the bell did toll; Hey, derry down, derry
dido! And the little pigs
prayed for the old sow's soul; Caw! Caw! the carrion
crow, Hey, derry down, derry
dido! |
|
A song from the Hebrides made famous by Kenneth McKellar.
I came across it on the BBC radio programme Music Box in the 1980s
|
|
The cuckoo / Peter’s
flowing stream 🔊
A community song of German origin; there are more complex versions of
this song, find out more at: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=102225. Slap knees rapidly for
‘Hol-di-ah’ then slap knees, clap hands and snap fingers continuously until
the end of the chorus. |
|
Oh, I went to the flowing stream and what
did I hear? From the quiet wood
came the sound of the cuckoo so clear. Chorus: Hol-di-ah, Hol-di-rah-kiki-ah,
hol-di rah cuckoo, (cuckoo) Hol-di-rah-kiki-ah,
hol-di rah cuckoo, (cuckoo) Hol-di-rah-kiki-ah,
hol-di rah cuckoo, (cuckoo) Hol-di-rah-kiki-ah, oh! After Easter comes
sunny days that will melt all the snow. Then I’ll marry my
maiden fair, we’ll be happy I know. Chorus (add a second
‘cuckoo’) |
|
The Derby Ram 🔊
There are innumerable versions of this hoary old tale; this lesser
known one comes from Toni Arthur’s ‘Everyday Singaway’ (Piccolo) published
1985. There are no clues to its earlier origins, just a note that says
‘English traditional’. The version below has some minor changes. |
|
As I was going to
Derby, All on a market day, I saw the largest ram,
sir, That ever was fed on
hay. Singing Hey dingle
Derby, And hey dingle day, Hey dingle Derby, And hey dingle day. The fleece upon this
ram, sir, It reached up to the
sky, The eagles made their
nests there, You could hear the
young 'uns cry. The horns upon this
ram, sir, They reached up to the
moon, A lad went up in
January And he didn't come back
'til June. And all the boys of
Derby Came a-begging for his
eyes, To kick around the
streets, sir, For they were football
size. The tail upon this
ram, sir, It reached right down
to hell, And every time he
waggled it He rang the devil’s
bell. And now my story’s
ended, I've got no more to
say, So please give us a
New Year’s Box And we'll be on our
way. |
|
The family of
man 🔊
A song for our times - together we can make a difference. Words and music by Karl Dallas. This song from ‘Come and Praise’ BBC radio for schools, was very
popular in assemblies all the years I taught and always sung with much gusto.
The second verse resonates very personally as my larger family is
spread around the world including Perth and Paris! I have very gently tweaked some of the less contemporary words and replaced them with more inclusive language; deleting ‘coolie’ and culling ‘men’! Though the ‘man’ of the title of course refers to ‘mankind’. I love ‘The miner in the Rhondda’ / but if you
wish to be more up to date sing ‘The miner in Wyoming’ as most coal is
produced there. Apparently the songwriter sings it differently each time so I would
imagine this version is an acceptable one! See discussion at: https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/676786-Song-hymn-The-Family-of-Man-I-belong-to-a
|
|
I belong to a family,
the biggest on the earth; Ten thousand every day
are coming to birth. Our name isn't Davis,
or Groves, or Jones, It's a name everyone
can be glad we own: Chorus: It’s the family of
man, keeps growing, The family of man,
keeps sowing The seeds of a new
life every day. I've got a sister in
Perth, a brother in Paree, The whole wide world is
mum and dad to me. Wherever you go you
will find my kin, Whatever the creed or
colour of skin: The miner in the
Rhondda, the builder in Beijing, Those across the ocean
who plough, reap and spin, They've got a life and
others to share it, So let's bridge the
oceans and declare it: Now some people say
the world is a terrible place, But it's just as good
or bad as the human race; Dirt and misery or
health and joy, We can build or we can
destroy: |
|
The frog and the
crow O
Beware of the handsome and persuasive stranger. Also called ‘The jolly fat frog’,
it can be found in Rimbault’s ‘A Collection of Old Nursery Rhymes’ published
1864. It was featured in BBC broadcasts to schools, Spring term 1961 without
the last verse. |
|
A jolly fat frog lived
in the river swim-o! A handsome black crow
lived on the river brim-o! "Come on shore!
Come on shore!" Said the crow to the
frog, and then-o! "No, you'll bite
me! No, you'll bite me!" Said the frog to the
crow again-o! "Oh, there is
sweet music on yonder green hill-o! And you shall be a
dancer, a dancer all in yellow, All in yellow! All in
yellow!" Said the crow to the
frog, and then-o! "All in yellow!
All in yellow!" Said the crow to the
frog again-o! "Farewell, ye little
fishes, that in the river swim-o! I'm going to be a
dancer, a dancer all in yellow." "Oh, beware! Oh,
beware!" Said the fish to the
frog; and then-o! "I'll take care!
I'll take care!" Said the frog to the
fish again-o! The frog began
a-swimming, a-swimming to the land-o! And the crow began
a-jumping, to give him a-hand-o! "Sir, you're
welcome! Sir, you're welcome!" Said the crow to the
frog, and then-o! "Sir, I thank
you! Sir, I thank you!" Said the frog to the
crow again-o! "But where is the
sweet music on yonder green hill-o? And where are all the
dancers, the dancers in yellow? "Sir, they're
here! Sir, they're here!" Said the crow to the
frog —Swallows the frog GULP! |
|
The frog and the
mouse O
As a traditional English folk song such a pairing is not so unusual; some
of these lines and themes can be found in other songs and tunes see: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2338 A ‘buckler’ is a small round shield. |
|
There was a frog lived
in a well, Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! There was a mouse
lived in a mill, Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! This frog he would
a-wooing ride, With sword and pistol
by his side. With a harum scarum
diddle dum darum, Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! He rode till he came
to Mouse's Hall, Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! Where he most tenderly
did call, Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! "Oh! Mistress
Mouse, are you at home? And if you are, oh
please come down." With a harum scarum
diddle dum darum, Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! "My Uncle Rat is
not at home; Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! I dare not for my life
come down." Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! Then Uncle Rat he soon
comes home, "And who's been
here since I've been gone?" With a harum scarum
diddle dum darum, Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! "Here's been a
fine young gentleman, Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! Who says he'll have me
if he can." Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! Then Uncle Rat gave
his consent, And made a handsome
settlement. With a harum scarum
diddle dum darum, Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! Four partridge pies
with season made, Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! Two potted larks and
marmalade, Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! Four woodcocks and a
venison pie, I would that at that
feast were I! With a harum scarum
diddle dum darum, Whipsee diddledee
dandy oh! |
Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page