Games galore in Gryphon’s Garden

Songs for the Christmas season (inc Thanksgiving)

A turkey ran away

A turkey sat on a backyard fence

As I came over Yonders Hill

(The turkey song)

Bake a cake for Christmas

Christmas Eve in Trinidad

Christmas is coming

Clap your tiny hands

Dame get up and bake your pies

Five fat turkeys

Five little Christmas trees

I saw three ships

Jingle bells

Jolly old Saint Nicholas

Old man of the woods

Pat-a-pan

Sing a song of mincemeat

The little fir tree

The turkey

The turkey is a funny bird

There was a pig went out to dig

The angel band

Three little angels

Up on the rooftop / housetop

We wish you a merry Christmas

When Santa got stuck up the chimney

Who is coming on Christmas night?

Zumba, Zumba / Zumbale al pandero

Also: Mister Turkey and Mister Duck

Last updated: 11/8/2016 2:52 PM

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:

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.

A turkey ran away O

This Appalachian Thanksgiving song (which possibly has Danish origins) can easily be adapted for the Christmas season; just make up new verses to include seasonal foods. Verses 4&5 are by Derek Pearson. Last verse added by Dany Rosevear.

Roll arms or walk round on the spot each time ‘rolled’ is sung. Jump up for ‘potato’. Flap elbows for each ‘gobble’.

A turkey ran away,

Before Thanksgiving Day.

Said he, “They’ll make a meal of me,

If I should stay!”

A pumpkin rolled away,

Before Thanksgiving Day.

Said she "They’ll make a pie of me,

If I should stay!”

A cranberry rolled away,

Before Thanksgiving Day.

Said he, “They’ll make a meal of me,

If I should stay!”

A nice potato too,

Jumped from the ground and flew.

Said she "They’ll roast me through and through,

If I should stay!”

And then a brussel sprout

Said “Now I must get out,

I’m sure they’ll boil my life away

If I should stay!”

A turkey ran away,

Before Thanksgiving Day.

Crying, “Gobble gobble, gobble, gobble,

Gobble gobble, gobble!”

Yes , “Gobble gobble, gobble, gobble,

I’m off and away!

A turkey sat on a backyard fence O

(Gobble, gobble, gobble)

A song for Thanksgiving by Margaret I. Simpson and June M. Norton from a 1950s book ‘Singing and Rhyming’.

Flap elbows for each ‘gobble’.

A turkey sat on a backyard fence

And he sang this sad, sad tune,

“Thanksgiving Day is coming, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble,

And I know I’ll be eaten soon.

Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble,

I would like to run away,

Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble,

I don't like Thanksgiving Day!”

As I came over Yonders HillO

(The turkey song)

A folk song from Northern Wisconsin;

It is sometimes sung as ’yonder hill’ Roud no: 4234

As I came over Yonders Hill, mime going over a hill

I spied a mighty turkey, make a monocle with hands

He flapped his wings and he spread his tail

Flap elbows then spread hands in front

And his feet were awful dirty.

Point to feet, clap twice and click heels.

Chorus:

Fol link a tidy, Pat legs twice, clap hands twice

Fol de link a tidy o, Pat legs x2, pat shoulders x2

Fol link a tidy, As above

And his feet were awful dirty. As above.

I met him by an old beech tree,

And told him he looked pretty,

He flapped his wings and he spread his tail

But his feet looked awful dirty.

And so I said to that turkey bird,

"How would you taste for dinner?"

He flapped his wings and he spread his tail

And he made himself look thinner.

"You can't catch me, my little laddie,

I've got a wife and children,"

He flapped his wings and he spread his tail

And he took to the woods a running.

So I went back over Yonders Hillf,

Without that mighty turkey,

He flapped his wings and he spread his tail

And his feet looked awful dirty.

Bake a cake for Christmas

A seasonal cooking and feasting rhyme for Christmas.

Haven’t been able to find this rhyme anywhere – any ideas!!!

Bake a cake for Christmas,

Stir it with a spoon,

Pop it in the oven and

Pull it out at noon.

Spread the frosting on it;

What a pretty sight!

For you and me and Santa Claus,

To see on Christmas night.

Bake a cake for Christmas,

Stir it with a spoon,

Pop it in the oven and

Pull it out at noon.

Spread the frosting on it;

Hip, hip, hooray!

Now you and me and Santa Claus,

Shall eat it on Christmas day.

Mmmmh!

Christmas Eve in Trinidad 🔊

This was a popular song for the Christmas festivities when I taught at Wilkes Green School in Handsworth, Birmingham in the 1960s. Many of the children in class were born of recently arrived Jamaicans immigrants; it didn’t seem to matter that the song was based in Trinidad – the calypso rhythm was the attraction.

Words and music by: Massie Patterson and Sammy Heyward.

Santa, whatya doing Christmas Eve?

At my house what are you going to leave;

Santa how you going to make the reindeer go?

In Port of Spain Santa we don’t have snow.

Christmas Eve in Trinidad,

Children are good not one is bad.

What a night for girls and boys,

Santa will bring them plenty of toys.

Christmas is coming O

This rhyme was written by. The original version has ‘Please to put a penny’ There are several tunes some written commercially. I remember it being chanted or sung with the simple melody below..

Christmas is coming,

The geese are getting fat.

Please put a penny in the old man’s hat.

If you haven’t got a penny,

A ha’penny will do.

If you haven’t got a ha’penny,

Then God bless you!

Clap your tiny hands 🔊

Words and music arranged by Dany Rosevear.

This is a song I half heard one Sunday morning on BBC Radio 4 about thirty years ago, it was sung beautifully by some old fellow in the West Indies.

I adapted it for a Nativity play two decades ago – but didn’t record it!

It is now resurrected in a form that might be recognisable to someone out there though recent research on the internet suggests the original might have been the gospel song, ‘Clap your tiny hands for joy’.

This could be sung to a baby while clapping their hands gently together. Encourage young children to clap along with the music.

Clap your tiny hands, clap your tiny hands,

Clap your tiny hands for me,

Clap your tiny hands, clap your tiny hands,

Clap your tiny hands for me.

Little children sing, Christmas joy we bring,

Clap your tiny hands for me,

Clap your tiny hands, clap your tiny hands,

Clap your tiny hands for me.

Little children come, Christmas time is fun…

Little children shout, Christmas bells ring out…

Dame, get up and bake your pies O

Midwinter festivals are nearly always accompanied by food and feasting. Everyone in the past would have been busy preparing for Christmas making sweetmeats, gingerbread, marzipan treats, cakes, Christmas puddings and pies.; no visits to the supermarket! Mince pies were originally made of meat and an oval shape to represent the manger that the baby Jesus lay in.

Dame, get up and bake your pies,

Bake your pies, bake your pies;

Dame, get up and bake your pies,

On Christmas day in the morning.

Dame, what makes your maidens lie,

Maidens lie, maidens lie;

Dame, what makes your maidens lie

On Christmas day in the morning?

Dame, what makes your ducks to die,

Ducks to die, ducks to die;

Dame, what makes your ducks to die,

On Christmas day in the morning?

Their wings are cut, they cannot fly,

Cannot fly, cannot fly;

Their wings are cut, they cannot fly,

On Christmas day in the morning.

Five fat turkeys are we O

Explore ways of expressing the same words by singing in different tones: quietly in case the cook hears, loudly as if crowing how clever they are, wearily as if tired, angrily – how dare the cook try to cook them! Alternatively use as a hand play as below.

1. Put up five fingers. 2. Put closed hands to cheek. 3-4. Put hand to forehead in seeking mode. 5. Point to self.

Five fat turkeys are we,

We slept all night in a tree,

When the cook came around,

We couldn’t be found,

And that's why we're here, you see!

Oh, five fat turkeys are we,

We slept all night in a tree.

It sure does pay,

On Thanksgiving Day,

To sleep in the tallest tree!

Five little Christmas trees O

Use fingers, hands and arms to mime the actions in this song.

Five little Christmas trees

Standing straight and tall;

Stretch out their branches

As the snow begins to fall.

Along comes a woodcutter,

He’s on his way to town.

Chip chop! Chip chop!

A tree falls down.

Four little Christmas trees...

Three little Christmas trees...

Two little Christmas trees...

One little Christmas tree

Standing straight and tall;

Stretches out its branches

As the snow begins to fall.

Along comes a woodcutter,

He’s on his way to town.

Chip chop! Chip chop!

The tree falls down.

No little Christmas trees

Standing straight and tall;

Where have they gone

As the snow softly falls?

Each one is in a cosy house

Decked with Christmas cheer.

They wish you Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year!

I saw three ships O

I have failed to find this secular children’s version of the Christmas song on the internet and would be delighted could tell me its origins. The older and more traditional version tells of the Virgin Mary taken to Bethlehem. Find more at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Saw_Three_Ships

I saw three ships come sailing by,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

I saw three ships come sailing by,

On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

And what was in those ships all three,

On Christmas day in the morning.

Three jolly rats were in them then,

On Christmas day, on Christmas day,

Three jolly rats were in them then,

On Christmas day in the morning.

Now one could whistle and one could sing,

And one could play the violin.

They joyfully played at the cat’s wedding,

On Christmas day in the morning.

Jingle bells O

This song was written by James Lord Pierpoint in the 19^th century. To find out more visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_Bells

The chorus of this song is a very compelling one and simple for young children to sing with gusto at Christmas time.

Jingle bells, jingle bells,

Jingle all the way,

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh.

Dashing through the snow

In a one horse open sleigh,

O’er the fields we go,

Laughing all the way.

Bells on bobtail ring

Making spirits rise.

What fun it is to ride and sing

A sleighing song tonight!

Jingle bells, jingle bells...

Jolly old Saint Nicholas O

What is your name for Father Christmas: Santa Claus, Saint Nick?

This American carol was written by Benjamin Hanby. With its simple tune it is a popular recorder or piano favourite for those showing off their burgeoning musical skills at Christmas time.

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas,

Lean your ear this way;

Don't you tell a single soul

What I'm going to say,

Christmas Eve is coming soon,

Now my dear old man,

Whisper what you'll bring to me;

Tell me if you can.

When the clock is striking twelve,

When I'm fast asleep,

Down the chimney broad and black,

With your pack you'll creep;

All the stockings you will find

Hanging in a row;

Mine will be the shortest one,

You'll be sure to know.

Johnny wants a pair of skates;

Susy wants a sled;

Nellie wants a story book;

One she hasn't read.

As for me, I hardly know

What to give the rest;

Choose for me, dear Santa Claus,

What you think is best.

Old man of the woods O

This song for Christmas time comes from ‘Thirty folk settings for children’ words by Anne Mendoza to a Welsh folk tune which I found recently in an Oxfam book shop. It can also be found in the BBC Publication Singing Together, Autumn 1970.

Mime swinging an axe with a strong rhythm as the song is sung.

Chopping trees and cutting branches;

In the wood there is an old man.

In the wood there is an old man,

Chopping trees and cutting branches.

Trees for Christmas tall or short ones,

In the wood the old man's chopping,

Trees for Christmas tall or short ones.

Come and buy now all good people

From the old man in the wood,

Come and buy now all good people.

Pat-a-pan O

Pat-a-pan is a French Burgundian carol that dates back to the 17^th C.

There are many loose translations of this song but this version felt right for young children.

By its very nature it is a perfect Christmas song to accompany with percussion.

William bring your little drum,

Robin, bring your flute and come;

We will listen as you play,

Tu-re-lu-re-lu,

Pat-a-pat-a-pan,

Flute and drum together play,

On a happy Christmas Day.

Children bring your flute and drum,

For it’s time to have some fun!

We’ll be merry as you play,

Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,

Listen to the lovely sound’

Sing and dance and jump around!

Children bring your flute and drum,

For the festive time has come!

We’ll be merry as you play,

Tu-re-lu-re-lu, pat-a-pat-a-pan,

We’ll be merry as you play,

Sing and dance this Christmas Day!

Sing a song of mincemeat O

This poem by Elizabeth Gould works very well with the tune ‘Sing a song of sixpence’

A great excuse for finding a good recipe in the run up to Christmas.

Sing a song of mincemeat,

Currants, raisins, spice,

Apples, sugar, nutmeg,

Everything that’s nice.

Stir it with a ladle,

Wish a lovely wish,

Drop it in the middle,

Of your well-filled dish.

Stir again for good luck,

Pack it all away,

Tied in little jars and pots,

Until Christmas Day.

The angel band O

An Afro-American spiritual with a great rhythm and a fun way to count to ten.

There was one, there were two,

There were three little angels,

There were four, there were five,

There were six little angels,

There were seven, there were eight,

There were nine little angels,

Ten little angels in the band.

Wasn't that a band one Christmas morning,

Christmas morning, Christmas morning,

Wasn't that a band one Christmas morning, Christmas morning so soon!

The little fir tree O

This Christmas song comes from ‘Making music your own 2’; I presume it has been translated from another language by Margaret Marks possibly German as it is classed as traditional but I can find nothing about it on the internet.

The fir trees in the silent wood

Grew slowly tall and strong.

All through the summer there they stood,

And all the winter long.

The furry rabbits hopped about

Beneath their boughs all day,

Until a wolf came bounding out

To frighten them away.

There came a woodsman in the sleigh

To cut a fir tree down.

He chose a tree and chopped away

And carried it to town.

The little fir tree bright with toys

Stands here on Christmas day,

And all the children gather round

To clap hands, dance and play.

The turkey O

A Hungarian children’s song ‘Debreczenbe kene menni’ Bela Bartok used this tune for one of his piano compositions.

Mime driving and bumping up and down.

This old road is hard and bumpy,

Our new turkey's wild and jumpy.

Driver! Driver! Not so jerky!

Or you'll make us lose our turkey.

Debre tsenbe kayne menni,

Puykahkahkasht kayne venni,

Veedyaz kocheesh yukash a kash,

Keeehshik a puykahkahkash.

The turkey is a funny bird O

A Thanksgiving song and simple hand play for younger children.

Hold up hand with palm facing out. Wrap other hand over thumb with fingers towards you, and thumb extended

Wag thumb back and forth for second and fourth lines.

The turkey is a funny bird,

It’s head goes wibble, wobble.

And it only knows a single word,

“Gobble, gobble, gobble.”

There was a pig went out to dig O

This song with its delightful minor key (unusual for Yuletide season) originated as a mummer’s carol which linked the farming cycle of ploughing, planting and harvesting to the Christmas festivities.

A great Christmas song for making up rhymes and other seasonal animals could be included – there was a robin went out a-bobbin’.

There was a pig went out to dig,

Chris-i-mas day, on Chris-i-mas day,

There was a pig went out to dig,

On Chris-i-mas day in the morning.

There was a cow went out to plough,

Chris-i-mas day, on Chris-i-mas day,

There was a cow went out to plough,

On Chris-i-mas day in the morning.

There was a sparrow went out to harrow...

There was a crow went out to sow...

There was a sheep went out to reap...

Three little angels 🔊

A comic community song. More verses can be added.

Three little angels all dressed in white,

Tried to get to heaven on the end of a kite;

But the kite string broke and down they all fell,

They couldn't get to heaven so they all went to...

Two little angels...

One little angel...

Three little devils all dressed in red,

Tried to get to heaven on the end of a bed;

But the bed post broke and down they all fell,

They couldn't get to heaven so they all went to...

Two little devils...

One little devil...

Three little leprechauns all dressed in green,

Tried to get to heaven on a sewing machine;

But the needle broke and down they all fell,

They couldn't get to heaven so they all went to...

Two little leprechauns...

One little leprechaun...

Dont get excited, dont lose your head,

Instead of going to heaven they all went to bed!

Up on the rooftop / housetop O

The original music and words of this Victorian Christmas song were written by Benjamin R Hanby around 1864. Originally a preacher from Ohio he introduced it at a Quaker Christmas party in Indiana. Find out more at:

http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/up_on_the_housetop.htm

Several updated adaptations can be found on the internet and in the same spirit I have modified the second and third verse to reflect today’s present giving.

Up on the rooftop reindeer pause,

Out jumps good old Santa Claus.

Down through the chimney with lots of toys,

All for the little ones, Christmas joys.

Chorus

Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?

Up on the housetop, click, click, click,

Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick.

First comes the stocking of little Nell;

Oh how Santa has filled it well;

Here is a teddy, she laughs and cries,

Each little parcel a big surprise! Chorus

Next comes the stocking of little Will,

Oh, just see what a glorious fill;

Here is a hammer and lots of tacks

Also a train and a railway track. Chorus.

Pa, ma, and uncle, and grandma too,

All I declare have something new;

Even the baby enjoys his part,

Shaking a rattle, well bless his heart. Chorus

Rover come here, are you all alone,

Haven't they tossed you an extra bone?

Here's one to gladden your honest jaws

Now wag a "Thank you!" to Santa Claus.

We wish you a Merry Christmas O

The Christmas pudding has always been eaten for dessert At the Christmas meal. Filled with all sorts of rich and sweet ingredients and decorated with holly. Rum or brandy is poured over the pudding and set alight. Children still hunt for the hidden coins though since the disappearance of the sixpence this practice has become less common.

Sing the chorus after each verse.

We wish you a merry Christmas,

And a happy New Year.

Chorus

Good tidings we bring

To you and your kin,

We wish you a merry Christmas,

And a happy New Year.

Now bring us some figgy pudding x3

And bring some out here.

We all like our figgy pudding x3

With all its good cheer.

We won’t go until we’ve got some x3

So bring some out here.

When Santa got stuck up the chimney O

The version below of this traditional song was sung by Jimmy Grafton but there are many other versions to be found on the internet.

When Santa got stuck up the chimney, he began to shout;

"You girls and boys won't get any toys if you don't pull me out.

My beard is black, There's soot in my sack, My nose is tickling too!"

When Santa got stuck up the chimney, Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!

'Twas on the eve before Christmas day,

When Santa Claus arrived on his sleigh.

Into a chimney he climbed with his sack,

But he was so fat, he couldn't get back.

Oh, what a terrible plight!

He stayed up there all night.

When Santa got stuck up the chimney, he began to yell;

"Oh hurry, please. It's all such a squeeze. The reindeer's stuck as well!

His head's up there in the cold night air, And his nose was red; now it's blue."

When Santa got stuck up the chimney, Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!

So Rudolph tugged with all his might,

But Santa Claus was stuck very tight.

He wiggled and jiggled then cried with a frown:

"I'll never get up. I'll never get down,

Oh, what a terrible fuss!

We should have come by bus."

Who is coming on Christmas night? O

A song written by Claire Senior Burke.

Children love to show that they know the name of this popular festive visitor! A good opportunity for discussing Santa’s many names and origins.

Who is coming on Christmas night?

With a red, red coat and hair so white.

Eyes that sparkle like a starry light?

I know! Don’t you?

Who has a bag all packed with toys

And wonderful things for girls and boys,

And a beautiful sleigh that makes no noise?

I know! Don’t you?

Who brings a dolly and a motor car,

Peppermints and toffees and a chocolate bar?

Who hangs his hat upon the Christmas star?

I know! Don’t you?

Zumba, Zumba / Zumbale al pandero 🔊

This is a Christmas song from Spain. The English verses are completely different from the traditional Spanish words which can be easily found on the internet. I love this video of young Spanish children singing the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZaBM5E6RSk

A great song for using percussion.

Zumba, Zumbale al pandero,

Al pandero y al rabel

Toca, toca la zambomba,

Dale dale al almirez,

Dale dale al almirez.

Born on this night is a baby, Toumba toum!

Everyone brings him a present, Toumba toum!

Brings him a savoury meat pie, Toumba toum!

Made out of partridge and pheasant. Toumba toum!

Zumba, Zumba, strike the cymbal,

Zumba, Zumba, strike the gong,

Zumba, Zumba, beat the timbal,

And the tambourine and drum,

And the tambourine and drum.

What shall I take to the baby? Toumba toum!

What shall I say when I take it? Toumba toum!

I’ll bring a gourd for a rattle, Toumba toum!

I’ll ask his mother to shake it. Toumba toum!

Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page