Articles about 'Children's Songs'
May 10th, 2013
Jeff wrote asking for help with a Yiddish song. Here’s his email:
Hi,
I grew up reciting a Yiddish rhyme or song where we pinched the skin on the back of each others hands and bobbed them up and down while saying something like (and I’m just writing what it sounded like):
"Sipicle sipicle amadal, kimsimir and kamadal,...
May 9th, 2013
Rachel wrote looking for help with an Italian song:
My Italian grandmother used to sing to me a song that went something like.
Peter peter pastela. canavane canela canela cususi felule mascule di...
May 8th, 2013
Peter wrote asking for help with a song his grandmother sang him. Here’s his email:
Hello, I was hoping you’d be able to help with a song my grandmother sang to us when we were kids. It seems nobody can remember the whole thing but it starts like this:
"There was a young man who lived on...
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May 8th, 2013
Kim wrote asking for help with a Russian song. Here’s her email:
I believe this is a Russian folk song I learned at school many years ago. I am unable to remember the last verse, but I do remember the tune. I would appreciate any help to fill in the blanks I believe it ends with,...
April 24th, 2013
Here’s a musical video to inspire kids to speak French. The song is called J’aime parler français. Enjoy! -Mama Lisa
March 26th, 2013
Debbie wrote from Japan about cherry blossoms, which are called sakura in Japanese. Spring is a favorite time to view the sakura and have picnics. Here’s what Debbie wrote:
Everything comes in sakura colors right now. Doughnuts. Noodles. Even the exercise ladies in my morning exercise show were wearing sakura-colored t-shirts. Never mind that the cherry...
March 23rd, 2013
Bonnie wrote asking for help with a Swedish lullaby. Here’s her email:
Hello! I just discovered your lovely site when looking for more words to a Swedish lullaby my father (85) tried to remember all his adult life. We only have this little bit:
Ro, ro sharen
Placka biben baren
Do you know any more? We would love to...
March 22nd, 2013
Cristina wrote asking for help with a childhood song her grandma sang to her. Here’s her note:
Mama Lisa,
I am trying to figure out the name of a song my Nonna used to sing to me as a baby. She is from Bari and I cannot find the song anywhere. It went something like “chic de...
March 22nd, 2013
The song "Pussy Willows" used to be taught in schools. Some people have written to me about it because their grandparents sang it to them as kids. It’s a sweet little song!
Here are the lyrics to Pussy Willows, with a musical score and midi tune…
Midi Tune of Pussy Willows
Pussy Willows
Pretty pussies down by the...
March 20th, 2013
Ed wrote asking for help with a Cuban Kids Song. Here’s his letter:
Dear Mama Lisa,
As a child I heard my father sing a song that he said was sung by Cuban children when he lived there in the 1930’s.
The refrain was “Curi, Curi Canga, malamalamalanga” and, ultimately, was the only part of the song that...
February 13th, 2013
Peter wrote asking for help with some Ukrainian rhymes. Here’s his email:
I wonder if anyone can help me with some verses my father use to recite, all I have is some of the words, and the basic ideas behind the verses.
One involved fish and vegetables dancing:
Пастернак (Parsnip)
Риба (Fish)
The second involved a father sitting on a...
February 8th, 2013
Shirley Stump shared this Chinese New Year Song with the note:
"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...
February 5th, 2013
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...
February 4th, 2013
Mike wrote asking about a Hungarian song. Here’s his email:
My Hungarian mother would sing a song to us as children ….
The first line of the song started “PeePee Madar …”
I know the first line is pronounced:
Peepee Madar; (wee bird) … ‘jetta ega’ ‘hosa’, ‘volta moldra’ ‘kesh kasemba’ ‘hosa’, …. , ‘aba kolba, aba kolba’...
February 4th, 2013
The other day I was adding the Spanish hand clapping rhyme "Chocolate" to our collection, and my daughter heard me play this video of it below…
My daughter pointed out that it has the same "tune" as the American handclapping rhyme "Double Double This This". You can hear that one in the video below…
In both versions...
January 31st, 2013
Jacquelyn Sherst sent me the following song and note:
"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...
November 26th, 2012
A part alatt (By the Shore) is a well-known Hungarian children’s song. Jack, a Hungarian schoolteacher, called it "a pearl of our childhood".
Here you can listen to an mp3 recording of the song as sung by Kállay Maris (pictured in the photo). You can read along with the Hungarian lyrics followed by an English...
November 15th, 2012
This French song about a church bell ringer is amusing! I guess it’s because we’ve all been in the situation where someone around us was making noise that we had no control over.
Below you can listen to the mp3 recording of the song, read the original French lyrics along with an English translation…
MP3 of...
October 28th, 2012
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
October 12th, 2012
Here’s a video of the French rhyme and hand play, J’ai deux mains (I Have Two Hands), with the French lyrics and an English translation.
J’ai deux mains
J’ai deux mains, Elles sont toutes propres, Elles se regardent, Se tournent...
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