Seasonal songs

Spring P-So

Pancake Day

Planting a garden

Pop a little pancake

Pussy got the measles

Pussy willow

Pussy willow’s Springtime song

Sakura / Cherry blossoms

Says the bee

See the dragon dance and prance

See the little hare

“Shall I sing?” said the lark

Sharing seeds

Shower and sunshine

Shrove Tuesday

Silver raindrops patter

Sing a song of Spring

Sleep, little seedling, sleep

Snowdrop bells

Someone’s making pancakes

Sounds of Spring

Also find Spring poems and songs at:

Two little chickens

Little Tommy Tadpole

Pussy willow

If you see a daffodil

Last updated: 2/6/2023 7:51 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:

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Pancake Day 🔊

This song was broadcast on BBC Television for Schools ‘Watch’ programme from the mid 1970s onwards.

It was adapted by Liz Benett from the traditional Dutch song ‘Hop Marjanneke’ which you can find at: http://www.singinggamesforchildren.com/A%20Cluster%202.8%20Dutch/1-6%20In%20Holland%20staat%20een%20huis.htm

Pancake Day, Pancake Day,

Now’s the time to fry them,

Pancake Day, Pancake Day,

Now’s the time to fry.

For today is Sunday,

And tomorrow’s Monday,

Tuesday, hey, is Pancake Day,

Let’s dance our cares away.

Toss them high, toss them high,

Toss them to the ceiling.

Toss them high, toss them high,

Catch them as they fall.

On the table pop them,

Don’t you dare to drop them!

Tuesday, hey, is Pancake Day,

Let’s dance our cares away.

Pop a little pancake O

Shrove Tuesday in Britain is traditionally the time for making pancakes to use up all the good things in the larder before Lent begins. It is also a time for pancake races and the tossing of pancakes.

Pop a little pancake into a pan,

That’s for my dinner today.

Toss it in the air up high, high, high...x3

That’s for my dinner today.

Shake on the sugar with a shake, shake, shake...x3

That’s for my dinner today.

Squeeze on the lemon with a squeeze, squeeze, squeeze...x3

That’s for my dinner today.

Roll it all around with a roly poly roll...x3

That’s for my dinner today.

Pop it in my mouth with a yum, yum, yum...x3

That’s for my dinner today.

Planting a garden 🔊

It’s Spring! Time to get out in the garden.

Could easily be used as a hand play.

By Richard Compton 1921 to a Flemish folk song; from 140 folk songs’ published in 1921. Adapted by Dany Rosevear.

Your rake and shovel and wheelbarrow bring;

We’ll plant us a garden this morning in Spring;

Dig little trenches, pull out all the weeds;

Pour in some water, then drop in your seeds.

Be sure you cover them all as you go;

Now rake the top over and leave them to grow.

Shine, merry sunlight, and fall, gentle rain!

Look after my garden till I come again.

Pussy got the measles O

I found the first verse of this song in Bill Meek’s ‘Moonpenny’.

Jean Ritchie was familiar with the original morbid Irish version which included verses about the death of the cat; she adapted the music to suit her inimitable style of singing and added the more soothing words as below to keep her children happy!

I also remember a playground chant and game ‘The cat’s got the measles, the measles, the measles, The cat’s got the measles, the measles got the cat’.

Pussy got the measles, on the first day of Spring,

The first day of Spring, the first day of Spring,

Pussy got the measles on the first day of Spring,

The poor, the poor, the poor wee thing.

We'll send for the doctor with his pills and things,

Pills and things, pills and things,

We'll send for the doctor with his pills and things,

The poor, the poor, the poor wee thing.

We'll make her some soup on a chicken's wing,

A chicken's wing, a chicken's wing,

We'll make her some soup on a chicken's wing,

The poor, the poor, the poor wee thing.

And all night long we will rock and sing,

Rock and sing, rock and sing,

And all night long we will rock and sing,

The poor, the poor, the poor wee thing.

Pussy willow 🔊

A winter to spring hand play.

A song by Mary Root Kern from ‘Songs of childhood’ published 1923.

Tune adapted and arranged by Dany Rosevear.

1. Shape sun, melt snow away. Hand moves like stream. Hand to eyes.

2. Raise fingers behind hand. Hand moves like brook. Stroke fur.

The sun has melted all the snow,

And icy streams begin to flow,

Pussy Willow, Pussy Willow,

Will you soon be here?

Pussy Willow, Pussy Willow,

Will you soon be here?

Behind a sunny, quiet nook,

Beside a busy little brook,

Pussy Willow, Pussy Willow,

Shows her sil’vry fur,

Pussy Willow, Pussy Willow,

Shows her sil’vry fur.

Pussy willow’s Springtime song 🔊

Winter turns into spring and we look out for the dear pussy willow.

Take a twig of pussy willow, ask the children to close their eyes and gently stroke the little furry catkins on their cheeks.

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

Pussy willow, pussy willow,

With soft downy little pillows,

Pussy willow, pussy willow,

You’ve slept all winter long.

Sil’vry kittens, silky kittens,

With tiny, bright green mittens,

Sil’vry kittens, silky kittens,

Sing to us your Springtime song!

Sakura / Cherry blossoms 🔊

A popular Japanese folk song. It was once played at court and is often accompanied by the koto, a Japanese harp, played on the floor by a kneeling musician.

One of the favourite Spring pastimes in Japan is cherry blossom viewing or ‘hanani’.

Visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakura_Sakura to hear it sung in Japanese and to find out more about this song.

Blossoms pink, blossoms fair,

Floating lightly in the air,

‘Tis not mist or clouds one sees

But countless lovely cherry trees

Wafting fragrance in the breeze.

Come and see, come and see,

Springtime is for cherry trees.

Sakura, sakura,

Yayoino sorawa.

Miwatasu kagiri,

Kasumika kumoka.

Nioizo izuru,

Izaya, izaya,

Mini yukan.

Says the bee 🔊

Get ready for some buzzy business. Bees are busy all through the sunshine season.

Just love this lazy Spring into summer tune, song by Malvina Reynolds, from ‘Tweedles and foodles for young noodles’ published 1961.

The buzzy refrain has been added by Dany Rosevear. It would work well with a percussion accompaniment, washboard, kazoo, scraper for example. In her intro Malvina encourages us to add our own ideas to her songs, such a generous spirit!.

Come with me, says the bee,

Into the daffodil.

All our house has yellow, yellow walls

And honey on the sill.

Chorus

Buzz, buzz, buzzy buzz, buzz,

Buzzy buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz!

Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzzy, buzzy, buzz,

Buzz, buzz, buzzy buzz, buzz!

Come with me, says the bee,

Into the open rose.

Perfume curtains hanging all around

And pollen on your toes.

Come with me, says the bee,

Into the lily flower.

Sun in your window every sunny day

Umbrella for a shower.

See the dragon dance and prance 🔊

Chinese New Year was a great time in school, We made a large dragon head out of boxes and dragony drapes under which the whole class danced, whirling and twirling to songs like this one accompanied by cymbals and other metal instruments.

See the dragon dance and prance, dance and prance, dance and prance.

See the dragon dance and prance on Chinese New Year's Day.

See the lanterns swing and sway, swing and sway, swing and sway,

See the lanterns swing and sway on Chinese New Year's Day.

Hear the fireworks pop and bang, pop and bang, pop and bang, pop and bang,

Hear the fireworks pop and bang on Chinese New Year's Day.

Hear the cymbals clash and clang, clash and clang, clash and clang,

Hear the cymbals clash and clan on Chinese New Year's Day.

See the dragon shake its tail, shake its tail, shake its tail.

See the dragon shake its tail on Chinese New Year's Day.

See the dragon weave and turn, weave and turn, weave and turn,

See the dragon weave and turn, on Chinese New Year's Day.

Hear the children laugh and clap, laugh and clap laugh and clap.

Hear the children laugh and clap, on Chinese New Year's Day.

See the dragon go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep.

See the dragon go to sleep on Chinese New Year's Day.

See the little hare 🔊

A very simple circle game or hand play. One for Easter or any other time.

Children are very familiar with rabbits, hares are shyer creatures and and certainly not pets; both feature in Easter traditions. It is well worth making comparisons between the two. Hares remind me of kangaroos!

Adaptation and music by Dany Rosevear.

Action game: Choose one child to be the hare, they sit in the centre of the circle. At the end of the song, jump here ther and everywhere. Eventually they stop in front of another child who becomes the new hare. Hand play: Close fist and put up two fingers. Place hands to cheek. One hand strokes the ‘hare’ hand. Place finger on lips. Make ‘hare’ hand hop.

See the little hare,

So fast, so fast asleep,

Little hare, oh, are you ill

That you lie so quiet and still?

Hop little hare,

Hop, hop anywhere!

“Shall I sing?” said the lark 🔊

Also called ‘April’, The first verse is from ‘The Children's Encyclopedia’ by Arthur Mee. The second two verses by Margaret Lane can be found ‘Harlequin – 44 songs around the year’ published by A&C Black. Music by Dany Rosevear.

This could easily be played as a hand play.

"Shall I sing?" says the lark,

"Shall I bloom?" says the flower;

"Shall I come?" says the sun,

"Or shall I?" says the shower.

You must sing, happy lark,

For cold winter’s sleep is past.

You must bloom lovely flowers,

For Spring has come at last.

Welcome, sun, gently shine,

Give your warmth to the earth.

Welcome, shower, gently fall,

Giving Spring new birth.

Sharing seeds 🔊

A hand play to illustrate the life cycle of a plant.

Your garden may be big or small, a tub or windowsill trough, a packet of seeds and we’re off, life begins.

Sharing with others allows us to have variety from Earth’s bounty.

Helping each other in any task has so very many benefits.

Omit last verse for younger children.

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

Verse 1. Place seed in palm of hand. Pat seed in soil. 2. Move finger down. 3. Move finger up. 4. Open hands in front of the face. 5. Cup hands, share out seeds. 6. Palms together and bow.

One day I planted a little seed,

It lay fast asleep in my garden.

One day a little root grew down,

Grew down, down, down in my garden.

One day a little shoot grew up,

Grew up, up, up in my garden.

One day there was a little flower,

It blossomed and it bloomed in my garden.

One day I had a whole lot of seeds,

To share with my friends in our gardens.

One day we’ll have so very many plants,

And we'll help each other in our gardens.

And say, “Thank you!” to our friends and our gardens.

Shower and sunshine 🔊

A spring poem and hand play.

The only place I could find this poem by Maud Morin was in the wonderful collection of poetry for children ‘The book of 1,000 poems’ published in 1942.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

1. Wiggle fingers downwards for rain and shape a circle with and make fingers wiggle upwards for the sun. Hold up hands with fingers splayed for trees, make flowers bloom by placing palms together and open fingers. Cup hands for nest. Hand to ears. Cross hands at wrist and flap high and away.

Shower and sunshine,

Sunshine and shower,

Green are the treetops

And blooming the flower,

Nesting are wild birds,

Air full of song;

Hark! Now the cuckoo –

It does not stay long.

Shrove Tuesday O

In this traditional song his sister poisons poor Jack - accidently one hopes!

Play this as a ‘Thread the needle’ game. Hold hands in one long line, two children at the end make an arch for the line to pass through as in 'The big ship sails through the Ally ally-o'. The line ends up with everyone's hands crossed in front.

Such games were popular at Shrove Tuesday festivals in Wiltshire. Find out more about such customs and how to play it at: http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/traditional-games-2/traditional-games-2%20-%200330.htm

Shrove Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday,

When Jack went to plough,

His mother made pancakes,

But she didn't know how.

She tipped them, she tossed them,

She made them so black,

She put in some pepper

And she said, ‘Jack, eat that!’

Jack’s father made pudding,

‘Twas done in an hour,

He hadn’t got eggs

And he hadn’t got flour.

He hadn’t got figs

And he hadn’t got fat.

He dropped it on the table

And he said, ‘Jack, eat that!’

Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday,

Jack’s father went to plough,

His sister made pancakes,

But she didn't know how.

She buttered them, she sugared them,

She burnt them so black,

She made them so awful

That she poisoned poor Jack!

Silver raindrops patter 🔊

Here comes the gentle rain to help Spring on its way.

Arrangement by Dany Rosevear.

In a circle sit back on lower legs. Make fingers fall gently to the ground and then drum fingers softly on the floor. Rub eyes and stretch, then slowly rise following hands pointed upwards– frame face with outstretched hands.

The silver raindrops patter

Upon the earth today,

Tip tap! Their knock is gentle,

And this is what they say:

“Awake now little flowers

And open wide your door,

Put on your rainbow dresses

For Spring is here once more!”

Sing a song of Spring 🔊

A cheerful ode to Spring.

Spring is on its way, time to appreciate the outdoor life and the natural world surrounding us.

Written by Edith Möller, music by F.W. Möller and English lyrics by Antonia Ridge.

When the green buds show, and the March winds blow,

And the birds all call across the meadow

Glad as bird on wing, we'll go wandering

Sing a song of spring the wide world over.

Chorus:

Tra la la la la la la

Tra la la la la la la,

The wide world over.

Warm will shine the sun, far from home we'll run,

Greeting ev'ryone so kind and friendly.

As we go we'll sing, tell the world it's Spring,

Make sweet echoes ring the wide world over.

Chorus

Sleep, little seedling, sleep 🔊

From a tiny seed comes wonder and joy. Two songs in one.

An action game for Spring. Stillness then movement up towards the light.

For younger children either part of this song can be sung separately. Note it is sung at first in ¾ time and then 2/4 time. Learn to distinguish between left and right.

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

1. Crouch down with hands to cheek.Throw out hands.

2. Yawn. Still crouching interlace fingers with forefingers pointing upwards.

3. Wiggle body upwards following hands as before until fully stretched. Put ot one hand to the left and one to the right. Fan fingers out from face.

4. Children chant the question then take it in turn to think of a letter and suggest a flower that begins with it. Decide if it comes from a seed, bulb or rhizome.

Sleep, little seedling, sleep,

Down in the earth so deep.

What will you be?

Just wait and see,

Wait till the sun shines bright.

Wake, little seedling, awake,

Rise from your cosy place.

Rise up and sing,

For now it is Spring,

Rise up for the sun shines bright.

With a wiggle and a jiggle

See a little shoot grow high,

Up, up, up,

Up towards the sky!

With a green leaf to the left

And a green leaf to the right.

Then a flower opens,

What a lovely sight!

1,2,3, A,B,C! Which flower can you see?

It begins with….

It’s a ….

Snowdrop bells 🔊

A song set to the music of Jean de Neuville a 12^th century troubadour. The words are by Anne Mendoza and Joan Rimmer and can be found in ‘Thirty folk song settings for children’ published in 1960.

Snowdrop bells go ring-a-ding.

Winter’s gone and here is Spring.

Primroses sweet in woodlands grow,

Under trees where breezes blow.

Lambs skip and play in meadows green,

Winter’s gone and Spring is Queen.

Someone's making pancakes O

This rhyme was written by Elizabeth Fleming and was set to music by Herbert Wiseman for ‘A third sixty songs for little children’ published 1960. The word ‘girdle’ rather than ‘griddle’ was used in this publication – no idea why?!

Someone's making pancakes,

The griddles on the grate,

The bowl of batter’s beaten up

So I am going to wait

Until the work is over,

And there perhaps will be,

Among the brown and speckled ones’

A yellow one for me!

Sounds of Spring O

A seasonal action song. Music by Dany Rosevear.

1. Move forefingers downwards. 2. Frog, a loose fist jumps up arm. 3. Cross hands and flap wings, thumb and forefinger open and close. 4. Wind left hand up right arm. 5. Cross forefingers and move around. 6. With palms and forearms together move upwards then fan out fingers.

The melting snow says, "Drop, drop, drop."

The little frog goes, "Hop, hop, hop."

The little bird says, "Peep, peep, peep."

The little vine goes, "Creepetty creep."

The little bee says, "Hum, hum, hum."

The little flower says, "Spring has come!"

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