Learn to Play the New Zealand Stick Game - E Papä Waiari

E Papä Waiari is a song and a stick game played in New Zealand. John Archer, of the site New Zealand Folk Song, wrote me, “Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world learn the Maori stick tossing song ‘E Papa Waiari'.” According to his site, this is a stick game which are [...]

Mama Lisa Now Has a Facebook Group

We'd love it if you'd join the Mama Lisa Facebook Group. You can post anything you'd like about your culture. You can post your own musical recordings or YouTube videos… Links to culture and musical sites… Photos of your country… Questions about songs or cultural issues… Anything related to World Culture and [...]

New Recordings of Some American Songs

Heather was nice enough to send me a few recordings of some American children's songs that she did. She sent me mp3's of the following songs: I'm Popeye the Sailor Man (Spoof) Don't Put Your Trash in My Backyard/Fish and Chips and Vinegar Animal Fair Home on the Range/Oh Give Me a Home (the regular song and a [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Maori Chicken Dance Song?

Leah wrote: Hi. I remember singing the chicken dance, as a young child, but can't remember the words. I think the start went “Kapu kapu, ringa ringa, paki paki…” but am unsure how it finishes. Could you help me? Thanks, Leah If anyone can help with this song, please comment below or email me. Thanks! -Mama Lisa

Is Anyone Familiar with a New Zealand Song with the Line “”Taranaki Shoe Shine Boy”"?

Ann Romano wrote me: Hello Lisa Do you know the words to a Kiwi Song that I heard recently? It started with Taranaki Shoe Shine Boy, and 2nd line was, I will follow you etc. I just loved the song, but can't seem to find the wording anywhere. If you have the lyrics [...]

How to Find Sheet Music, Tunes and MP3's on Mama Lisa's World

In addition to this blog, I also host Mama Lisa's World. Mama Lisa's World is a large collection of children's songs and rhymes from countries all around the globe. Matt, a music teacher from Rhode Island, wrote a question to me, the other day, about Mama Lisa's World: Hey Mama, I love the concept of your site. [...]

Mama Lisa's World News and Multimedia Features

A significant part of the Mama Lisa sites is a large collection of songs and nursery rhymes from around the world. We currently have about 750 songs from around 90 countries and cultures. When you consider how many languages there are in those cultures - that's a lot of information! In order to make [...]

New Zealand's “Twelve Days of Christmas - A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree “

Here's the annotated version of A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree - with definitions of the words below the song… A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree (The 12 Days of Christmas) On the first day of Christmas My true love gave to me A pukeko in a ponga tree On the second day of Christmas My true love [...]