The song was written by Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil and arranged by Herbert Hughes to old Irish melody.

Below you can listen to a video of the song, followed by the lyrics.

The Ninepenny Fidil

My father and mother were Irish,
And I am Irish too
I bought a wee fidil for ninepence,
And it is Irish too
I’m up in the morning early
To meet the dawn of day
And to the lint-white’s* piping,
The many’s the tune I play!

One pleasant eve in June time
I met a lochrie man,
His face and hands were weazen**,
His height was not a span.
He boor’d me for my fidil,
"You know" says he, "Like you,
My father and mother were Irish,
And I am Irish too!"

He took my wee red fidil,
And such a tune he turned,
The Glaise in it whisper’d,
The lionan in it m’urned’
Says he "My lad, you’re lucky,
I wish t’ I was like you,
You’re lucky in your birth star,
And in your fidil, too!"

He gave me back my fidil,
My fidil-stick also
And stepping like a may-boy,
He jump’d the Leargaidh Knowe
I never saw him after,
Nor met his gentle kind:
But, whiles, I think I hear him,
A-wheening in the wind!

My father and mother were Irish,
And I am Irish too,
I bought a wee fidil for ninepence
And it is Irish too.
I’m up in the morning early
To greet the dawn of day
And to the lintwhite’s piping,
The many’s the tune I play.

*A lint-white is a linnet (a small finch)
**Wizened

This song was sung by Maureen Hegarty in the video.

Leprechauns are known to be shoemakers.  At the end of the work day, they hide away the money they earned in a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Song of The Leprechaun or Fairy Shoemaker is a perfect poem for St. Patrick’s Day.  You can hear it sung in the mp3 below.

MP3 of Song of the Leprechaun

Song of The Leprechaun or

Fairy Shoemaker

Tip-tap, rip-rap,

Tick-a- tack-too!

Scarlet leather, sewn together,

This will make a shoe.

Left, right, pull it tight;

Summer days are warm;

Underground in Winter.

Laughing at the storm!

Big boots a-hunting,

Sandals in the hall,

White for a wedding-feast.

Pink for a ball.

This way, that way.

So we make a shoe;

Getting rich every stitch,

Tick-a-tack-too!

Rip-rap, tip-tap,

Tick-a-tack-too!

(A grasshopper on my cap!

Away the moth flew!)

Buskins for a Fairy Prince,

Brogues for his son, —

Pay me well, pay me well.

When the job is done!

Sung by Julia Niedermaier.

Enjoy!

Mama Lisa

"Happy Chinese New Year for the 10th of February, this song is very popular in China.  It has a very catchy chorus that I sing at my music classes for preschool children.

The chorus is:

Gong-Xi Gong-Xi Gong-Xi Ni Ya,
Gong-Xi Gong-Xi Gong-Xi Ni."

English translation:

Congratulations, congratulations to you, yeah!
Congratulations, congratulations to you!

The song title, 恭喜恭喜 (Gōngxǐ gōngxǐ) literally means, "congratulations, congratulations".  It’s a sentiment of best wishes for the New Year.  Below you’ll find the video, the Chinese lyrics, Pinyin pronunciation and a translation of the song…

Chinese Lyrics:

每条大街小巷，
每个人的嘴里
见面第一句话，
就是恭喜恭喜。

恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你

冬天已到尽头，
真是好的消息；
温暖的春风，
吹醒了大地。

恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你

English Translation:

On every street and pathway,
On everyone’s lips,
The first thing we say is,
"Good wishes, good wishes."

Good wishes, good wishes to you, yeah!
Good wishes, good wishes to you!

Winter has come to an end,
That is really good news,
A warm spring breeze is
Blowing to wake up the earth.

Good wishes, good wishes to you, yeah!
Good wishes, good wishes to you!

Translation by Mama Lisa.

Pinyin Pronunciation:

Měi tiáo dà jiē xiǎo xiàng,
měi ge rén de zuǐ lǐ,
jiàn miàn dì yī jù huà,
jiù shì gōng xǐ gōng xǐ

Gōng xǐ gōng xǐ gōng xǐ nǐ ya,
Gōng xǐ gōng xǐ gōng xǐ nǐ

Dōng tiān yǐ dào jìn tóu
zhēn shì hǎo de xiāo xī
wēn nuǎn de chūn fēng
jiù yào chuī xǐng dà dì

Gōng xǐ gōng xǐ gōng xǐ nǐ ya
Gōng xǐ gōng xǐ gōng xǐ nǐ

Thanks to Shirley for pointing out this song!

You can find the full lyrics to Gong Xi Gong Xi here.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Mama Lisa

Laba is a Chinese festival that has traditionally started off the Chinese New Year preparations. It’s on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Agnes wrote about it from China:

"We eat Laba Rice Porridge and Laba Garlic for the Laba Festival. Laba Porridge is made of mixed grains and corns, like peanuts, chestnuts, dates and lotus seeds.

We put garlic into a bottle of vinegar. When the garlic becomes green, the Laba Garlic is done."

The Laba Garlic is taken out on New Year’s Eve.  The vinegar is used to dip the traditional dumplings in.

Here’s an old song in Chinese and with an English translation about the Laba Spring Festival.  It’s also about preparations for the Chinese New Year and the New Year itself.  Interesting explanations by Agnes can be found below the song.

腊月歌

小孩儿小孩儿你别馋，
过了腊八就是年。
腊八粥，喝几天，
哩哩啦啦二十三。
二十三，糖瓜儿粘；
二十四，扫房子；
二十五，冻豆腐；
二十六，炖白肉；
二十七，宰公鸡；
二十八，把面发；
二十九，蒸馒头；
三十儿晚上闹一宿；
除夕饺子年年有。
大年初一扭一扭；
初二、初三满街走。

The 12th Lunar Month

Kids, kids, don’t be impatient,
Laba is coming, the Spring Festival isn’t far away.
We eat Laba porridge for several days,
The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is coming la la la! 
On the 23rd day, kids have sticky Tanggua candy (1)
On the 24th day, we sweep the house. (2) 
On the 25th day, we make frozen tofu.
On the 26th day, we stew the pork.
On the 27th day, we make the chicken.
On the 28th day, we ferment the dough, (3)
On the 29th day, we cook steamed buns.
On the 30th day, kids go downtown at night to shoot off noisy firecrackers, (4)
On New Year’s Eve we eat dumplings every year. (5)
On the first day of the New Year, we dance the Yangge (秧歌) to celebrate, (6)
And on the 2nd and 3rd days of the New Year, we go to a temple fair or to relatives’ and friends’ houses to pay a New Year’s visit.

Song Notes:

(1) On the 23rd day, people worship the Kitchen God (灶王爷) with Tanggua (a kind of candy).  It is said that the Kitchen God of China is a god who likes to gossip very much. On the 23rd day of the last month of every year, he must go back to heaven to report on the conduct of families. So people give him some sweet and sticky candies called "Tanggua" to gag him.

(2)  From 24th to 29th days, this is a kind of description about how people prepare for the Spring Festival.

(3) The dough for making steamed buns is fermented a day in advance.

(4) On the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, all family members get together to have dinner, to shoot off firecrackers, to pass on good wishes to each other. We must stay up late together to pray for long life, we call it "Shousui" (守岁).

(5) Chuxi is another name of the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month. On the evening of Chuxi, usually at twelve midnight, Chinese people have dumplings to celebrate the New Year.

(6)  On the first day of the New Year, we dance the Yangge (秧歌) to celebrate. We say "Niu Yangge" (扭秧歌) in Chinese. Yangge is a kind of traditional dance that celebrates a good harvest and festival in the most northern areas of China. Below you can see a video of the Yangge Dance…

Agnes wrote, "We have lost most of the old customs for the Chinese New Year in the big cities. Now, we just have dinner and dumplings together on the night of Chuxi. I loved the way of worshiping the Kitchen God of my grandpa and grandma. But I never saw the ritual myself. The atmosphere of the Spring Festival has become less and less interesting."

Many thanks to Agnes for sharing this song and for explaining old Chinese New Year traditions to us.

Song translation by Agnes and Lisa.  (We welcome help to improve the translation.)

Photo Sources:

Laba Porridge Photo
Laba Garlic Photo

"This is a song developed from a school in the USA. 

I am unsure of which state, but I heard it when I was very young an loved it."

Faces Faces Funny Faces

Faces, faces, funny faces
You make such a funny sight!
Pumpkins glowing in the night (Echo: with jingle bells).
Witches running, all in fright (Echo: with wooden block).
Ghosts flickering in the sky (Echo: tambourine)
Goblins making a pumpkin pie! (Echo: maracas or rattles).
Owls hooting, what a scare!
Who oo—-, Whoo-oo-oo,
Coyotes howling, tigers growling,
Cats a-prancing, Devils dancing,
Never can you tell what’s behind those faces,
On Halloween night!

Many thanks to Jacquelyn for sharing this Halloween song with us!

Mama Lisa

The carol starts with a child leaving his shoe on the windowsill outside. In Portugal, children do this for the Epiphany (the day that celebrates the Three Kings’ visit to Jesus). Children leave straw and carrots in their shoes in anticipation of a visit from the Three Kings. The kings are the ones who leave gifts for kids in Portugal (like Santa does elsewhere). The carrots and straw in the shoes are for the kings’ horses.

Here’s the video and song lyrics with an English translation…

Deixei Meu Sapatinho
(Portuguese)

Deixei meu sapatinho,
Na janela do quintal.
Papai Noel deixou,
Meu presente de Natal.
Como é que Papai Noel,
Não se esquece de ninguém.
Seja rico ou seja pobre,
O velhinho sempre vem.
Seja rico ou seja pobre,
O velhinho sempre vem.

I Left My Little Shoe
(English Translation)

I left my little shoe
On the windowsill in the yard,
Santa Claus left*
My Christmas gift.
How is it that Santa
Doesn’t forget anybody?
Whether one is rich or poor,
The old man always comes.
Whether one is rich or poor,
The old man always comes.

*In the version of this song from Azores, this line is as follows: "P’ro pai Natal deixar" (For Father Christmas to leave…).

It’s interesting that Santa and Father Christmas are mentioned in this song instead of the Three Kings.  I asked Judy, who sent us the song, about what the tradition is in the Azores and she wrote:

"I know that within my family it’s Baby Jesus who gives the gifts. Generally, most say that Papi Noel (Santa Claus) brings the gifts. I think it mostly comes down to family values and each island region."

Many thanks to Judy Mongiello for sharing this song with us!

Mama Lisa

Here’s a video of the song Dem Bones for Halloween.  It’s a longer version to actually teach kids about dem bones…

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones…

Enjoy dem bones!

Mama Lisa

In the past we’ve posted many versions of The Hearse Song that our readers have sent in.  Recently we received two versions that somewhat differ from the others.  They were sent by Richard Smith.  Here they are:

My mother taught me this approximately 1954…

 

Did you ever think when a hearse went by

That someday it may be you and I.

We’ll travel down that self-sane road

with never a thought of coming back.

 

They’ll nail you in a pine board box

cover you over with dirt and rocks.

The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out

They’ll crawl all in and out your snout.

 

Your eyes fall out and your teeth fall in

The bugs play pinochle on your chin.

 

Here is a nicer one that she also taught me…

 

Did you ever think as the hearse rolled by

That it wont be long until you and I

will go out riding in that big planked hack

and will never remember coming back.

 

Did you ever think in your thirst for gold

that in a dead mans hand, can’t a dollar hold?

You can lie and cheat and strive and save,

but you loose it all when you get to the grave.

 

Now it’s better by far this very day

to send some soul a cheap bouquet

than bushels of roses, white and red,

to strew on his coffin after he’s dead.

 

You come into this world naked and bare,

without a trouble, without a care.

When you leave it to go – you know not where –

If you’ve been alright here, you’ll be all right there.

Many thanks to Richard Smith for sharing these versions of The Hearse Song.

Image: "Gran calavera eléctrica" (Grand electric skull) by José Guadalupe Posada

Thanks to Sara Quintanar (the author and singer of this song) for sharing this video with us!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mama Lisa

Skidamarink a dink a dink
Skiamarink a doo
I love you!

Skidamarink a dink a dink
Skiamarink a doo
I love you!

I love you in the morning
and in the afternoon,
I love you in the evening
and underneath the moon.

Oh! Skidamarink a dink a dink
Skiamarink a doo
I love you!

Thanks to Devon from Super Simple Songs for sharing!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

♥ Mama Lisa ♥

MP3 of Valentine Song

Valentine Song

Dearest, let these roses 
In their purity,
Be a present symbol
Of my love for thee.

Underneath the blossom 
Thorns are sure to grow;
Take heed lest you touch them,
They would pain you so!

Ah! my faults like thorns are,
But cannot they be
Hidden ‘neath the flower
Of my love for thee?
Read by Dennis D.
Photo: Wikipedia

At the End of the Feast is an "End of Christmas" Carol from England lamenting the end of holiday festivities.  I find it to be humorous!

This song is also called A Carol for the 12th Day and was first printed in New Christmas Carols in 1642.  It can also be found in Notes and Queries by Oxford University Press (1861).

Here you can listen to the carol and read along with the lyrics.

MP3 of At the End of the Feast

AT THE END OF THE FEAST
by Anonymous

Mark well my heavy, doleful tale,
For Twelfth-day now is come,
And now I must no longer sing,
And say no words but mum;
For I perforce must take my leave
Of all my dainty cheer,
Plum-porridge, roast-beef, and minced-pies,
My strong ale and my beer.

Kind-hearted Christmas, now adieu,
For I with thee must part,
And for to take my leave of thee
Doth grieve me at the heart;
Thou wert an ancient housekeeper,
And mirth with meat didst keep,
But thou art going out of town,
Which makes me for to weep.

God knoweth whether I again
Thy merry face shall see,
Which to good fellows and the poor
That was so frank and free.
Thou lovedst pastime with thy heart,
And eke good company;
Pray hold me up for fear I swoon,
For I am like to die.

Come, butler, fill a brimmer up
To cheer my fainting heart,
That to old Christmas I may drink
Before he doth depart;
And let each one that’s in this room
With me likewise condole,
And for to cheer their spirits sad
Let each one drink a bowl.

And when the same it hath gone round
Then fall unto your cheer,
For you do know that Christmas time
It comes but once a year.
But this good draught which I have drunk
Hath comforted my heart,
For I was very fearful that
My stomach would depart.

Thanks to my master and my dame
That doth such cheer afford;
God bless them, that each Christmas they
May furnish thus their board.
My stomach having come to me,
I mean to have a bout,
Intending to eat most heartily;
Good friends, I do not flout.

Sung by Ezwa in Belgium

I hope you are faring better than the person in this song now that the holidays are over!

Welcome to January!

Mama Lisa

Hello,

Do you have the song about Santa and his cold during Christmas time?  My father used to sing it every Christmas eve, and it ended with Santa sneezing saying, "Achee Achee Achee pruuzee!"…  Or something that sounded like that!  

Thanks so much,
Kendall

If anyone can help Kendall with the original Swedish version of this song and/or an English translation, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks in advance!

Mama Lisa

The story behind the song comes from The Gospel of Mathew in the Bible.  It’s the section called The Massacre of the Innocents, where King Herod was told by a magi about the coming of a new king in Bethlehem.  Herod ordered all the male kids under two in Bethlehem to be executed, so he could avoid losing his throne.

This song is about a mother lamenting the coming loss of her baby son.  It takes the form of a haunting lullaby that she is singing to him.

It can also be interpreted that the mother is Mary singing about the baby Jesus.

There are two different tunes used to sing this song.  You can hear each in the mp3’s below followed by the lyrics. 

MP3 of The Coventry Carol

MP3 of The Coventry Carol with A Different Tune

The Coventry Carol

Lully, lullay,
Thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.
Lullay, thou little tiny Child,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we do sing
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

Herod the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All young children to slay.

That woe is me, poor Child, for Thee!
And ever mourn and say,
For thy parting, neither say nor sing,
Bye, bye, lully, lullay.

1st recording by Ruth Golding
2nd recording by Kim Butler

This song was first written down by Robert Croo in 1534.  The author is unknown.  The oldest known printing of the tune dates back to 1591.

I hope everyone has a happy holiday season.

Mama Lisa

Daria (a children’s performer) wrote to me about her husband’s experience as a child in Greece at Christmas time.  Here’s what she wrote:

"My husband grew up in Greece and loves to remember caroling with a triangle during the Christmas season. He and his brothers and sisters would go door to door and even on the bus to sing special songs with the accompaniment of a triangle. Those who listened and enjoyed the songs would have to give a coin or a small donation to the carolers."

Christmas Carols in Greece are called Kalanta Xristougenon. One of the most popular Greek Carols is called Καλήν εσπέραν άρχοντες – which roughly translates to Caroling Evening.  Below you’ll find a video of kids singing part this song, followed by the pronunciation and translation.  (The full Greek lyrics and translation can be found on our song page for Καλήν εσπέραν άρχοντες.)

Pronunciation

kalin esperan arhontes
an ine orismos sas
Xristu ti thia genissi
Na po st’ arhontiko sas
Xristos gennate simeron
en Vithleem ti poli
I ourani agalonte
Herete I fissis oli

en to spileo tiktete
en fatni ton alogon
o vassilefs ton ouranon
ke piitis ton olon

Translation

Good evening noblemen
If this is your will,
Christ’s holy birth
May I sing in your noble house
Christ is being born today
In the town of Bethlehem
Heavens rejoice
All of nature is happy.

Inside the cave he is being born
In a manger for horses
The King of all the universe
The Creator of everything.

Here are more Greek  traditional carols performed by children in Greece (with English translations of the songs subtitled in the video)…

Daria wrote more about her husband’s childhood traditions in Greece:

"…my husband also loved the special goodies that were made at this time of year. Traditional cookies for Christmas and New Years are melomakarona (semolina wheat, cinnamon and cloves in cookies that are rich with honey) and kourabiedes (rosewater and butter cookies served with powdered sugar). Then there was the tradition he did not care for….

On January 6^th, Christmas celebrations wind down with ‘Theofania’ when all waters are blessed. At that time, a cross is thrown into the water and the first to bring it back is supposed to have great luck for the year. Although this is wonderful in Greece where the waters are reasonably warm in January, my husband will never forget diving to freezing and murky waters here in the USA hoping the good luck he would get was not to catch a cold!"

Thank you for sharing Daria! 

Check out Daria’s music site where she’s having a contest to give away a musical triangle like the ones that Greek carolers use.

Merry Christmas!

Mama Lisa

The First Noël (also called The First Nowell) is from the 18th century or earlier.  There are several versions.  This version comes from Carols, New and Old (1871).  Here are the lyrics followed by a video…

1. The first Nowell the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

(Chorus)
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel.

2. They looked up and saw a star,
Shining in the east, beyond them far:
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.

(Chorus)

3. And by the light of that same star,
Three Wise Men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star where ever it went.

(Chorus)

4. This star drew nigh to the north-west;
O’er Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay.

(Chorus)

5. Then entered in those Wise Men three,
Fell reverently upon their knee,
And offered there in his presence,
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

(Chorus)

6. Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made heaven and earth of nought,
And with his blood mankind hath bought.

(Chorus)

***
You can hear this version of The First Nowell in the video below (they leave out the 4th verse).

Merry Christmas!

Mama Lisa

Santa Lucia’s Day is celebrated on December 13th in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. It commemorates the life of Santa Lucia, who is also known as Saint Lucy.  It’s the beginning of the Christmas season in those countries and is a celebration of light – at the time of year when the world is darker. 

Here’s a video of a group of girls singing one of the most popular Santa Lucia songs called Sankta Lucia with the Swedish lyrics and an English translation…

Sankta Lucia
(Swedish Santa Lucia Song)

Natten går tunga fjät
rund gård och stuva;
kring jord, som sol förlät,
skuggorna ruva.
Då i vårt mörka hus,
stiger med tända ljus,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Då i vårt mörka hus,
stiger med tända ljus,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

English Translation:

Night walks with a heavy step
Round yard and hearth,
As the sun departs from earth,
Shadows are brooding.
There in our dark house,
Walking with lit candles,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
There in our dark house,
Walking with lit candles,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

Many thanks to Ernestine Shargool Montgomerie for pointing out this video!

Here you can learn more about Santa Lucia.

Have a joyous Santa Lucia!

Mama Lisa

If anyone can help, please comment below.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

Up on the Housetop

Up on the housetop, reindeer pause,
Out jumps good ol’ Santa Claus.
Down through the chimney with lots of toys,
All for the little ones, Christmas joys.
Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn’t go?
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, dear Santa, fill it well.
Give her a dolly that laughs and cries,
One that will open and shut her eyes.
Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick.

Next comes the stocking of little Will,
Oh, just see what a glorious fill.
Here is a hammer and lots of tacks,
Also a ball and a whip that cracks.
Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Ho, Ho, Ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down through the chimney with good Saint Nick.

There’s another nice rendition of Up on the Housetop here.

Enjoy!

Mama Lisa

Many children in Europe receive gifts and treats in the shoes they left out last night for St. Nick.

Read all about the traditions of St. Nick here.