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"Old Songs For New Children"

 

Album Art
Real Audio samples in hypertext below
Click here for printable lyric sheets

CRAWDAD SONG Ed Brooks, Ernest Tubbs 

You get a line, I'll get a pole, Honey, (rep.) 
You get a line, I'll get a pole, 
We'll go down to the crawdad hole, 
Honey, Baby mine. 

What you gonna do when the creek runs dry, Honey? (rep.) 
What you gonna do when the creek runs dry? 
Sit on the river bank catchin' flies, 
Honey, Baby mine. 

What you gonna do when I'm old & gray, Honey? (rep.) 
What you gonna do when I'm old & gray? 
Pull up a chair and rock all day, 
Honey, Baby mine, 
Oh Honey, you Sugar Baby mine. 
 

ANIMAL FAIR Traditional, new verses by Rebecca Wave 

I went to the animal fair. 
The birds and the beasts were there. 
The big baboon by the light of the moon 
Was combing his auburn hair. 
The monkey he got drunk, 
And sat on the elephant's trunk. 
The elephant sneezed and fell on her knees, 
But what became of the monk, the monk, 
The monk, the monk, 
But what became of the monk? 

The kangaroo was dressed 
In an elegant velvet vest. 
The horse and pig were dancing a jig 
To the tune they loved the best. 
The seal began to croon. 
While juggling pink balloons. 
The kangaroo had nothing to do 
But rattle the silver spoons, the spoons, 
The spoons, the spoons, 
But rattle the silver spoons. 

The lion made a bow, 
And tried to kiss the cow. 
The cow refused with several moos, 
Which made the lion howl. 
The parrots in the trees. 
Were watching the chimpanzees. 
The chimps were shy and covered their eyes, 
And swung on the high trapeze, with ease, 
With ease, with ease, 
And swung on the high trapeze. 
 

PEPPER TREE ©Rebecca Wave 

Old pepper tree, old pepper tree, 
The wind keeps you company, 
The birds nestle in your leaves. 
While the sun shines along. 
Old pepper tree, old pepper tree, 
Your roots grow down in the ground, 
Your old bark is rough and brown, 
And your branches hang low. 
I love you, pepper tree, 
Let me climb up to your very top. 
Pepper tree, old pepper tree, 
You red pepper berry tree, 
I'll sit on your leafy knee, 
And sing you my song. 
 

PIO, PIO Traditional 

Los pollitos dicen pio, pio, pio, 
Cuando tienen hambre. 
Cuando tienen frio. 
La gallina busca al maiz y al trigo, 
Y les da calor cuando tienen frio.
 

The chicks say peep, peep, peep, 
When they are hungry, 
When they are cold. 
The hen looks for corn and wheat, 
And keeps them warm when they are cold. 
 

FRERE JAQUES Traditional 

Frere Jaques, Frere Jaques, 
Dormez vouz? Dormez vouz? 
Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines, 
Ding, dong, ding. (rep.) 

Bruder Jacob, Bruder Jacob, 
Schlafst du noch? Schlafst du noch? 
Morgen glocken leuten, 
Morgen glocken leuten, 
Bim. bam, bum, (rep.) 

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping, 
Brother John, Brother John? 
Morning bells are ringing, 
Morning bells are ringing, 
Ding, dong, ding. (rep.) 
(all together) 
 

PAW-PAW PATCH Traditional 

Where, oh where is pretty little Susie? 
(3 times) 
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch. 
Come on, boys/girls/kids, let's go find her, 
(3 times) 
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch. 
Pickin' up paw-paws, puttin' 'em in her pockets, 
(3 times) 
Way down yonder in the paw-patch. 
 

MY BONNIE Traditional, new verses by Rebecca Wave 

My Bonnie lies over the ocean, 
My Bonnie lies over the sea, 
My Bonnie lies over the ocean, 
Oh bring back my Bonnie to me. 

Chorus: 
Bring back, bring back, 
Oh bring back my Bonnie to me, to me. (rep.) 

I gave to my Bonnie a locket, 
I gave her an evergreen tree, 
My Bonnie, she made me a promise, 
That she'd be returning to me. 
(Chorus) 

The north wind blows cold on the ocean, 
The south wind blows warm on the sea, 
The east wind blows wild, but the west wind, 
Will bring back my Bonnie to me. 
(Chorus) 
 

HORSE NAMED BILL Traditional 

I had a horse and his name was Bill, 
And when he ran he couldn't stand still, 
He ran away one day, 
And also I ran with him. 
He ran so fast he could not stop, 
He ran into a barber shop and fell exhaustionized, 
With his eyeteeth in the barber's left shoulder. 

I had a gal and her name was Daisy, 
When she sang, the cat went crazy, 
With deliriums, St. Vitus and 
All kinds of cataleptics. 
One day she sang a song about 
A man who turned himself inside out and 
Jumped into the river, he was so very sleepy. 

I went up in a balloon so big, 
The people on the earth they looked like a pig, 
Like mice, like a katydid, 
Like flieses and like fleasens. 
The balloon turned up with its 
Bottom side higher 
And fell on the wife of a country squire 
Who made a noise like a steamhound, 
Like a dogwhistle and also like dynamite. 

Oh what can you do in a case like that, 
Oh what can you do but jump on your hat, 
On your toothbrush, your suspenders, 
And anything that's helpless. 

TINGALEO Traditional, new verses by Rebecca Wave 

Tingaleo, run little donkey, run, (rep.) 

My donkey walk, my donkey talk, 
My donkey eat with a knife and fork, (rep.) 
Tingaleo, run little donkey, run, (rep.) 

My donkey jump, my donkey spin, 
My donkey play on the violin, (rep.) 
Tingaleo, run little donkey, run, (rep.) 

My donkey read, my donkey write, 
My donkey sleep in the hay at night, (rep.) 
Tingaleo, run little donkey, run, (rep.) 

(Spoken: Tingaleo, where are you, my little donkey? 
Oh, there you are--but what's this confetti all 
Over your mane--have you been to another party? 
Why didn't you tell me? Oh, I was fast asleep.. 
But what's this you've brought me--a cupcake? 
What a sweet little donkey you are! Tingaleo...) 
 

I KNOW AN OLD LADY Traditional 

I know an old lady who swallowed a fly, 
I don't know why she swallowed that fly, 
Perhaps she'll die... 

I know an old lady who swallowed a spider, 
That wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her, 
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, 
I don't know why she swallowed that fly, 
Perhaps she'll die... 

I know an old lady who swallowed a bird, 
How absurd, she swallowed a bird! 
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, etc... 
I know an old lady who swallowed a cat, 
Fancy that, she swallowed a cat! etc... 
I know an old lady who swallowed a dog, 
What a hog, she swallowed a dog! etc... 
I know an old lady who swallowed a goat, 
Just opened her throat and swallowed a goat! etc... 
I know an old lady who swallowed a pig, 
It was much too big, but she swallowed that pig! etc... 
I know an old lady who swallowed a cow, 
I still don't know how she swallowed that cow! etc... 
I know an old lady who swallowed a horse... 
She died, of course.

 

DE COLORES Traditional 

De colores, de colores se visten 
Los campos en la primavera, 
De colores, de colores son los pajaritos 
Que vienen de afuera. 
De colores, de colores es el arco iris 
Que vemos lucir, 
Y por eso los grandes amores, 
De muchos colores me gustan a mi. (rep) 

Canta el gallo, 
Canta el gallo kiri. kiri, kiri. kiri, 
Kiri, kiri. kiri, 
La gallina, la gallina con el cara, cara. 
Cara, cara, cara, 
Los polluellos, los polluellos con el 
Pio, pio, pio, pio, pio, 
Y por eso los grandes amores, 
De muchos colores me gustan a mi. (rep.) 

In colors, the fields dress in colors 
In the springtime, 
In colors, the birds that come from outside 
Are in colors, 
In colors, in colors is the rainbow that 
We see glowing, 
And that's why I love the great 
Loves of many colors. 

The rooster sings kiri, kiri, kiri, 
The hen with her cara, cara, cara, 
The chicks with their pio, pio, pio. 
And that's why I love the great 
Loves of many colors. 
 

OLD KING COLE Traditional 

Old King Cole was a merry old soul 
And a merry old soul was he. 
He called for his pipe and he 
Called for his bowl and he 
Called for his fiddlers three. 

Every fiddler, he had a fine fiddle, 
And a very fine fiddle had he. 
Then twee, tweedle-dee, tweedly-dee 
Went the fiddles (rep.) 
And merry we'll all be. 
 

WELCOME ©Rebecca Wave 

Oh my child, the world is made of 
Dreams we believe are true. 
A time and place to understand 
The things we came to do. 
I'm so glad you came to be with me, 
To learn our loving way, 
And I know that we will teach each 
Other well--and I 
Must have been doing something right, 
To welcome in a soul like you, 
And I'm gonna keep on doin' it with 
All my might, 
Just to learn about love from you. 
Oh my child, the wheel of fortune 
Spins and my heart is whole. 
So many tears to earn so many 
Blessings in a row. 
I'm gonna hold on tight to 
Love's own light, and 
Let my burdens go, 
And the star we rode so far 
Will guide us home--and I 
Must have been doing something right, 
To welcome in a soul like you, 
And I'm gonna keep on doin' it with 
All my might, 
Just to learn about love from you. 
 

OVER IN THE MEADOW Traditional 

Over in the meadow 
In the sand in the sun, lived an 
Old mother turtle and her 
Little turtle one. 
"Dig," said the mother, 
"I dig," said the one, and they 
Dug all day in the sand in the sun. 

Over in the meadow where the 
Stream runs blue, lived an 
Old mother fish and her 
Little fishies two. 
"Swim," said the mother, 
"We swim," said the two, and they 
Swam all day where the stream runs blue. 

Over in the meadow in a hole in the tree, 
Lived an old mother owl and her 
Little owls three. 
"Whoo," said the mother, 
"We whoo," said the three, and they 
Whooed all day in the hole in the tree. 

Over in the meadow by the old barn door, 
Lived an old mother rat and her 
Little ratties four. 
"Gnaw," said the mother, 
"We gnaw," said the four, and they 
Gnawed all day on by the old barn door. 

Over in the meadow in a snug beehive, 
Lived an old mother bee and her 
Little bees five. 
"Buzz," said the mother, 
"We buzz," said the five, and they 
Buzzed all day in the snug beehive. 

Over in the meadow in a nest built of sticks, 
Lived an old mother crow and her 
Little crows six. 
"Caw," said the mother, 
"We caw," said the six, and they 
Cawed all day in the nest built of sticks. 

Over in the meadow where the grass grows so even, 
Lived an old mother frog and her 
Little froggies seven. 
"Jump," said the mother, 
"We jump," said the seven, and they 
Jumped all day where the grass grows so even. 

Over in the meadow by the old mossy gate, 
Lived an old mother lizard and her 
Little lizards eight. 
"Bask," said the mother, 
"We bask," said the eight, and they 
Basked all day by the old mossy gate. 

Over in the meadow by the old scotch pine, 
Lived an old mother duck and her 
Little duckies nine. 
"Quack," said the mother, 
"We quack," said the nine, and they 
Quacked all day by the old scotch pine. 

Over in the meadow in a cozy, wee den, 
Lived an old mother beaver and her 
Little beavers ten. 
"Beave," said the mother, 
"We beave," said the ten, and they 
Beaved all day in their cozy, wee den. 
 

I SEE THE MOON Anonymous 

I see the moon, the moon sees me, 
Anachnoo ro-eem, echahd at ha shehnee. 
(We see each other, one and two) 
Kahma zeh yaffeh, et ha moon sh'anee ro-eh, 
(How beautiful, the moon I see) 
Al heh hahreem veh ha kvah-oht. 
(On the mountains and the peaks) 

Over the mountain and under the sea, 
Anachnoo ro-eem echahd et ha shehnee. 
Kahma zeh yaffeh, et ha moon sh'anee ro-eh, 
Al heh hahreem veh ha kvah-oht 
(repeat all) 
 

ALLOUETTE Traditional 

Allouette, gentile allouette, 
Allouette, je te plumerais 
(Lark, gentle lark, 
Lark, I will pluck you.) 
Je te plumerais la tete, 
(I will pluck your head,) 
Je te plumerais la tete, 
Et la tete, et la tete, 
(And your head, and your head), 
Allouette, allouette, oh-oh, 
Allouette, gentile allouette, 
Allouette, je te plumerais. 
Je te plumerais le nez (your nose), etc. 
Les yeux (your eyes), la bouche (mouth)
Les bras (arms), les mains (hands)
Les jambes (legs), les pieds (feet) 
 

WHITE CORAL BELLS Traditional 

White coral bells upon a slender stalk, 
Lillies of the valley deck my garden walk. 
Oh, don't you wish, 
That you could hear them ring? 
That will happen only when the fairies sing. 
(sing in rounds) 
 

BOIL THEM CABBAGE DOWN Traditional 

Chorus: 
Boil them cabbage down, boys, 
Turn them hoecakes 'round, 
Only song that I can sing is 
Boil them cabbage down. 

Raccoon has a bushy tail, 
Possum's tail is bare. 
Rabbit ain't got no tail at all but a 
Little bitty bunch o' hair. 
(Chorus) 

Raccoon and the possum, 
Racin' cross the prairie. 
Raccoon ask the possum, 
Did she want to marry. 
(Chorus) 

Possum is a cunnin' thing, 
Travels in the dark, 
Never thinks to curl her tail 
'Til she hears ol' Rover bark. 
(Chorus) 

Possum up a 'simmon tree, 
Raccoon on the ground, 
Raccoon say to the possum, 
"Won't you shake them 'simmons down?" 
(Chorus) 

Jaybird died of the whoopin' cough, 
Sparrow died of the colic. 
'Long come a frog with a fiddle on his back 
Inquirin' his way to the frolic. 
(Chorus) 
 

THERE'S A HOLE IN THE BUCKET Traditional 

There's a hole in the bucket, 
Dear Liza, dear Liza, 
There's a hole in the bucket, 
Dear Liza, a hole. 

Well, fix it, dear Henry, 
Dear Henry, dear Henry, 
Well, fix it, dear Henry, 
Dear Henry, well, fix it. 

With what shall I fix it? (etc.) 
With a board, 
But the board is too long, 
Well cut it, 
With what shall I cut it? 
With an axe, 
But the axe is too dull, 
Well, sharpen it, 
With what shall I sharpen it? 
With a stone (a whetstone)
But the stone is too dry, 
Well, wet it, 
With what shall I wet it? 
With water, 
With what shall I fetch it? 
With a bucket, 
But there's a hole in the bucket!

 

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Click here for printable lyric sheets