More
action songs N-P
Nicky,
knacky, knocky, noo
‘Neath
the spreading chestnut tree
O,
I’m goin’ to sing
Oh
my, fish in the sky
Oh,
what shall we do in our garden?
Okki-tokki-unga
Old
Miss Sally
Old
Missouri had a mule
Oliver
Twist twist twist
One
finger, one thumb
Pickin’
a spot
Pinta
la cara del sol / Paint the round face of the sun
Last updated: 4/16/2022
8:38 AM
The songs below are part of ‘Away we
go’ Round and about
compiled,
adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear
Return to the ‘Singing games for
children’ home
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.
|
‘Neath the spreading
chestnut tree O
Words
possibly by Hamilton and Jimmy. Kennedy and set to music by Hal Kemp; it was
inspired by the first line of the poem ’The village blacksmith’ by Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 – 1832). Find more actions at: http://jabblog-jabblog.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/underneath-spreading-chestnut-tree.html The full version is shown below but to simplify things in order to
play the following cumulative action game just sing the first two verses. Each time the refrain ‘Under
the spreading chestnut tree’ is sung: ‘neath – dip down Spreading
– stretch out arms Chestnut – touch chest then
head Tree – raise hands When song is repeated miss
the first word and replace by the action. Next time omit the first two words and just mime actions.
Continue until only actions are used for the phrase. |
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Underneath the spreading chestnut tree, I loved her and she loved me. There she used to sit upon my knee, 'Neath the spreading chestnut tree. There beneath the boughs we used to meet, All her kisses were so sweet. All the little birds went, “Tweet, tweet, tweet!” 'Neath the spreading chestnut tree. I said, “I love you, and there ain't no ifs nor
buts.” She said "I love you", and the
blacksmith shouted "Chestnuts!" Underneath the spreading chestnut tree, There she said she’d marry me. Now you ought to see our family, 'Neath the spreading chestnut tree. |
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Nicky,
knacky, knocky, noo 🔊
A community song. Identify each part of the
body with a comic name. Each time a verse is sung move progressively
downwards from the head to feet. This is an adapted version from
‘Okki-tokki-unga’ published by A&C Black in 1976. Place hands
on each body part as it is sung and wiggle tap or slap it. ‘What have we
here?’ throw out hands, ‘Nicky, knacky, knocky noo’ alternately tap each
elbow. Shake finger on last line. |
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What have we here? This is my main thinker, My teacher dear. Main thinker, main thinker, Nicky, knacky, knocky, noo. That's what they taught me When I went to school. With my hands on my eyes, What have we here? These are my eye blinkers, My teacher dear. Main thinker, eye blinkers, Nicky, knacky, knocky, noo. That's what they taught me When I went to school. With my hands on my nose, What have we here? This is my smell boxer, My teacher dear. Main thinker, eye blinkers, smell boxer… With my hands on my chin, What have we here? This is my chin wagger, My teacher dear. Main thinker, eye blinkers, smell boxer, chin wagger… With my hands on my chest, What have we here? This is my chest cougher, My teacher dear. Main thinker, eye blinkers, smell boxer, chin wagger, chest cougher… With my hands on my tum, What have we here? This is my bread basket, My teacher dear. Main thinker, eye blinkers, smell boxer, chin wagger, chest cougher,
bread basket… With my hands on my knees, What have we here? These are my knee knockers, My teacher dear. Main thinker, eye blinkers, smell boxer, chin wagger, chest cougher,
bread basket, knee knockers… With my hands on my toes, What have we here? These are my toe tappers, My teacher dear. Main thinker, eye blinkers, smell boxer, chin wagger, chest cougher,
bread basket, knee knockers, toe tappers… |
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O, I’m goin’
to sing 🔊
A song of good cheer. A rhythmic Southern
gospel song. Mime the
actions suggested by the words. |
|
O,
I'm goin' to sing, goin' to sing, goin' to sing, Goin'
to sing all along my way, O, I'm
goin' to sing, goin' to sing, goin' to sing, Goin'
to sing all along my way. O,
I'm goin' to clap, goin' to clap, goin' to clap, Goin'
to clap all along my way, O,
I'm goin' to clap, goin' to clap, goin' to clap, Goin'
to clap all along my way. O,
I'm goin' to tap, goin' to tap, goin' to tap, Goin'
to tap all along my way, O,
I'm goin' to tap, goin' to tap, goin' to tap, Goin'
to tap all along my way. O,
I'm goin' to snap, goin' to snap, goin' to snap, Goin'
to snap all along my way, O,
I'm goin' to snap, goin' to snap, goin' to snap, Goin'
to snap all along my way. O,
I'm goin' to dance, goin' to dance, goin' to dance, Goin'
goin' to dance all along my way, O,
I'm goin' to dance, goin' to dance, goin' to dance, Goin'
to dance all along my way. |
|
Oh, my, fish
in the sky 🔊
A great triple meter rhyme, encourage children
to make up their own tunes; the melody here is by Dany Rosevear. Mime the
actions suggested by the words. |
|
Oh, my, fish in the sky, Shoes on the ceiling and trees walking by. Reaching up low, bending down high. Everything seems to be wrong, right? Everything seems to be wrong. |
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Oh, what
shall we do in our garden? 🔊
This song comes from ‘More singing games’ by
Edith Kay published 1909. The tune is ‘The bluebells of Scotland’ as
suggested in ‘This little Puffin’ published 1969. Dany Rosevear arranged the tune and wrote the
second verse. Mime the
actions suggested by the words. Encourage
children to suggest other gardening activities. |
|
Oh, what shall we do in our garden this fine
day? Oh, what shall we do in our garden this fine
day? We’ll dig and dig and dig well, With our spades this way. Oh, we’ll dig and we’ll dig in our garden
this fine day. Oh, what shall we do in our garden this fine
day? Oh, what shall we do in our garden this fine
day? We’ll weed and weed and weed well, With our trowels this way. Oh, we’ll weed and we’ll weed in our garden
this fine day. |
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Okki-tokki-unga 🔊
This is the story, so it is said, of an eskimo
lad who goes fishing in his canoe. Mark the beat with the actions below. Find out more at: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=102109. Chorus: Sit on floor and paddle from side to side with one
fist on top of the other. Verse 1. Put hand to forehead and
mime looking around. Verse 2. Cast net to one
side then the other. Chorus last time: Paddle slowly home. |
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Okki-tokki-unga, Okki-tokki-unga, Hey, Missa Day, Missa Doh, Missa Day. Okki-tokki-unga, Okki-tokki-unga, Hey, Missa Day, Missa Doh, Missa Day. Hexa cola misha woni, Hexa cola misha woni, Hexa cola misha woni. |
|
Old Miss
Sally 🔊
This song comes from ‘Very favorites of the
very young’ published by World Around Songs in 1986. It is also familiar as a
fiddle tune. Make a circle
with one child in the centre; this named, real or made up, child suggests a
movement which the others copy. Finish with a bow from the waist. |
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Old Miss Sally likes to jumpity jump, Jumpity jump, jumpity jump, Old Miss Sally likes to jumpity jump, And old Miss Sally likes to bow. Old Mr. Bob likes to bobbity bob, Bobbity bob, bobbity bob, Old Mr. Bob likes to bobbity bob, And old Mr. Bob likes to bow. Young Master Ethan likes to hoppity hop… Young Miss Milly likes to clap her hands… Young Master Isaac likes to stretch up high… |
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Old Missouri
had a mule 🔊
This song could well be a precursor of ‘Old
MacDonald’. It is recorded in Ozark Folksongs, volume 3 and collected from
Mr. H. F. Walker, Missouri, 1927. Find out more at: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=63612. It can also be found on one of Burl Ives albums.This
could easily be played as a cumulative song. With hands
to head flop them like ears in all directions. Swish arm every which way for
the tail and use elbows for heel. Children sitting on the floor might like to
stick their legs in the air! |
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Old Missouri had a mule, he-hi-he-hi-ho! And on this mule there were two ears,
he-hi-he-hi-ho! With a flip-flop here, And a flip-flop
there, Here a flop, there a flop, Everywhere a
flip-flop, Old Missouri had a mule, he-hi-he-hi-ho! Old Missouri had a mule, he-hi-he-hi-ho! And on this mule there was a tail,
he-hi-he-hi-ho! With a swish-swish here, And a swish-swish
there, Here a swish, there a swish Everywhere a
swish-swish, Old Missouri had a mule, he-hi-he-hi-ho! Old Missouri had a mule, he-hi-he-hi-ho! And on this mule there were two heels,
he-hi-he-hi-ho! With a kick-kick here, And a kick-kick
there, Here a kick, there a kick, Everywhere a
kick-kick! Old Missouri had a mule, he-hi-he-hi-ho! |
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Learn the name of body parts with this action song for younger children.
Ask them to suggest other parts and add more verses. 1. Make a twisting motion
with hands on hips. 2. Wag forefinger from side
to side. 3. Touch named part of body
three times. Repeat this for each verse. Add the last verse if
children are ready for more complex movements. |
|
Oliver
Twist, twist, twist, Can’t
do this, this, this, Touch
his knees, knees, knees, Touch
his nose, nose, nose, Touch
his hair, hair, hair, Touch
his toes, toes, toes. Oliver
Twist, twist, twist, Can’t
do this, this, this, Touch
his ears, ears, ears, Touch
his waist, waist, waist, Touch
his eyes, eyes, eyes, Touch
his face, face, face. Oliver
Twist, twist, twist, Can’t
do this, this, this, Clap
his hands, hands, hands, Touch
the ground, ground, ground, Stamp
his feet, feet, feet, Turn
around, round, round! |
|
A very energetic action song. Move each part of the body
as it is mentioned up and down. |
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One
finger, one thumb keep moving, One
finger, one thumb keep moving, One
finger, one thumb keep moving, We’ll
all be merry and bright. One
finger, one thumb, one arm... One
finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg... One
finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, one nod of the head... One
finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, one nod of the head... One
finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, one nod of the head, stand up, sit
down... One
finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, one nod of the head, stand up, sit down,
and turn around keep moving... We’ll
all be merry and bright! |
|
Pickin’ a spot 🔊
Plant more
trees to reduce the impact of climate change. A
traditional action song for the growing season. 1. Put hand to forehead. 2. Chop with hands. 3.
Pretend to lift and move rocks. 4. Make a smoothing motion with hands. 5.Make
digging motions. 6. Plant seeds in hand. 7. Pat. 8. Finger ‘grows through
fist. 9. Wiggle fingers downwards. 10. Draw circle and wiggle fingers up. 11.
Raise arms and outstretch fingers. 12. Clap hands and eat ‘apples’. |
|
Cuttin’ the weeds down, Movin’ the rocks, Clearin’ the land. Diggin’ a hole Puttin’ the seeds in, Pattin’ it down, Watchin’ it grow. Rain falls, Sun shines, Trees grow. Apples! Whoa! It’s now apple time! |
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Pinta la cara del sol 🔊
This song
was written to link mathematics, music, drawing and rhythm. Draw the sun as
the song is sung, count rays, eyes, mouth and sunspots. Alternatively
make big movements to dramatise doing
the same. Words by
Tita Maya. http://musicalibre.com.co/Cantayensena/Dibujor%C3%ADtmico.aspx
|
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Pinta la cara del sol Pinta la cara del sol Con muchos rayitos a su alrededor Un ojo, dos ojos y un gran bocaton Y muchas pequitas cuando hace calor Paint the round face of the sun, Paint the round face of the sun, With many sunbeams shining brightly all around; Paint one eye, paint two eyes and a great big smile, And a lot of little spots for when it's hot. |
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