Children's Songs | Mama Lisa's World Blog

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We Now Have 100 Languages on Mama Lisa’s World!

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

This week we added two languages to Mama Lisa’s World of International Songs, bringing us up to a hundred languages on the site!

We added a song from West Sumatra in Indonesia where they speak Minangkabau.

We also added a Frisian Lullaby in the West Frisian language. The Frisian language is the closest language to English (after Scots – which some consider to be an English dialect as opposed to a separate language).

Here’s a link to our Languages A to Z Page – to access all of our languages.

We now feature 116 countries and cultures. Here’s a link to our Countries and Cultures A to Z Page – to access all of our songs and rhymes by country/culture.

Once again I would like to thank Monique Palomares’ tireless work in France helping me with the material and all the countless people out there who have contributed songs and time to the sites… also to my husband Jason Pomerantz for his technical support, to my kids for speaking quietly when I’m in the middle of a difficult translation (they’re very patient with me) and to my relatives who generally understand when I don’t call back right away because I’ve been lost in my work for hours or days. Merci à tous!

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Folk Songs, Languages, Mama Lisa, Music | 2 Comments »

Can Anyone Help with a Czech or Slovak Kids Song?

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Lewis Grimm wrote:

Hi. My grandmother used to sing a children’s song to me in Czech or Slovak. I believe it is about a little hunter. It went along the lines of (phonetically):

Ya simali nissli vechek…

Any ideas?

If anyone can help Lewis, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Czech, Czech Republic, Languages, Mama Lisa, Questions, Readers Questions, Slovak, Slovakia | 3 Comments »

Does Anyone Know a Song with the Line, “The Ship Sailed for the White Cliffs of Dover”?

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Dan wrote,

I went to school in Chilton (England) when I was six (1972), in California now, and my class sang this song, but that is the only line I can recall, I even recall the melody…

“And when the journey was all over /
The ship sailed for the /
White Cliffs of Dover.”

Anybody? Was it maybe a song about a ship with two cats and the crew were all mice, and when they got home all that was left were two fat cats?

Dan

If anyone can help Dan, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in British Folk Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, England, English, English Children's Songs, Folk Songs, Great Britain, Languages, Mama Lisa, Questions, Readers Questions | No Comments »

Can Anyone Help with a Korean Kids Song?

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

Curtis wrote asking about a Korean kids song…

Have you ever heard of a Korean song that school girls sing as they clap hands that goes like this:

Pong dong pong dong
dolel (stone) donjiora (throw)…

Thanks, Curtis

If anyone can help with this song, please email me or comment below.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Korean, Korean Children's Songs, Languages, Mama Lisa, Questions, Readers Questions, South Korea | No Comments »

Frere Jacques – Brother John with an MP3 Recording in French and English

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

Here’s a nice recording of Frère Jacques in both French and English by Ezwa.

Here are the lyrics of the French and English versions of Frère Jacques. The version on the mp3 recording mixes these lyrics…

Frère Jacques,
Frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous?
Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines.
Sonnez les matines.
Ding, ding, dong.
Ding, ding, dong.

Are you sleeping?
Are you sleeping?
Brother John,
Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing.
Morning bells are ringing.
Ding, dong, ding.
Ding, dong, ding.

Enjoy!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in American Kids Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, England, English, English Children's Songs, France, French, French Kids Songs, Frère Jacques, Languages, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Recordings of Songs, USA | 2 Comments »

A German Bedbug Song called “Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer”

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

RosaMaria asked me about a German song called Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer on the Mama Lisa’s World Facebook Group. I found the YouTube video below of the song. Below the video I posted the German lyrics, followed by an English translation I did…

Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wanze.
Seht euch nur die Wanze an,
wie die Wanze tanzen kann!
Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wanze.

Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wanz.
Seht euch nur die Wanz an,
wie die Wanz tanz kann!
Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wanz.

Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wan.
Seht euch nur die Wan an,
wie die Wan tan kann!
Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wan.

Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wa.
Seht euch nur die Wa an,
wie die Wa ta kann!
Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wa.

Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine W.
Seht euch nur die W an,
wie die W t kann!
Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine W.

Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
Sitzt ‘ne kleine -.
Seht euch nur die – an,
wie die – - kann!
Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
Sitzt ‘ne kleine -.

This song works a bit like BINGO where you take one letter out of the word in each verse – but you pronounce the word instead of spelling it out like BINGO. In this case there are two words that work like this in the song: “wanze” (bug) and “tanzen” (dance) in German. Wanze means bedbug or bug. I’m going to use “buggy” like the diminutive for bug in my translation to keep a 5 letter word like the German word “wanze”. I used “boogie” for “dance” (the German “tanzen”). I made this change based on the sound of the words, since buggy and boogie are closer to a rhyme like the German “wanze” and “tanzen”.

English Translation

On the wall, on the lookout,
Sits a small buggy.
Look at just the buggy,
How the buggy can boogie!
On the wall, on the lookout,
Sits a small buggy.

On the wall, on the lookout,
Sits a small bugg.
Look at just the bugg,
How the bugg can boog!
On the wall, on the lookout,
Sits a small bugg.

On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small bug.
Look at just the bug,
How the bug can boo!
On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small bug.

On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small bu.
Look at just the bu,
How the bu can bo!
On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small bu.

On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small b.
Look at just the b,
How the b can b!
On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small b.

On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small ___.
Look at just the ___,
How the ___ can ___!
On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small ___.

I always welcome comments, criticism or corrections on my translation or on the original German lyrics.

Enjoy!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, German, German Children's Songs, Germany, Languages, YouTube | No Comments »

Cool Cuban Kids Song – Tiene Pinochito – Little Pinocchio

Saturday, November 7th, 2009

Jeanette wrote to us looking for the lyrics to a Cuban lullaby and I think we can help with this one! Here’s her letter, followed by the song she’s looking for…

Lisa,

There is a nursery rhyme or song that my grandmother used to sing to me (she has been dead about 8 years now) that I can only remember a few lines to… it could be a Cuban nursery song, I’m not really sure… I am dying to find the lyrics to the entire song, I now sing the parts that I can remember to my daughter and wish i could remember it.

It goes something like this…

Quien es me morena que habre su boca, en ella le caben dos mil calabasas un saco de higo y otro de pasas.

I hope you can help me locate this

Thank you so much!!

Jeanette Duque

Here’s a similar version we found in Spanish, with an English translation by Monique Palomares of Mamá Lisa’s World en español…

Original Spanish Lyrics

Tiene Pinochito

Tiene Pinochito
tan pequeña boca
que en ella le caben
cien platos de sopa
trescientos pepinos
y mil calabazas
un saco de higos
y otro de pasas
a la pobre niña
le entró la viruela
calentura mala
y dolor de muelas
el médico le receta
sardinas a la parrilla
a ver si le engordan
esas pantorrillas.

Which means in English:

Little Pinocchio has
such a little mouth
that into it fits
a hundred plates of soup,
three hundreds cucumbers
and a thousand pumpkins,
a bag full of figs
and another one of raisins.
He caught the smallpox,
a bad fever
and his back tooth aches.
The doctor prescribes him
grilled sardines
to see if his calves
get bigger.

This is a jump rope song.

Monique said regarding the original question, “Jeanette’s grandma’s version must have been : ‘¿Quién es mi morena que habre su boca, en ella le caben dos mil calabazas un saco de higos y otro de pasas…?.’ The ‘quién es mi morena que…’ means ‘who is my little brown girl who opens her mouth, into it fits, etc.’ It could have been a version created by her grandma to fit the situation. Perhaps she could sing it to us to help us figure it out…”

Thanks to Monique for providing the English translation and for helping with this song!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Cuba, Cuban Children's Songs, Cuban Lullabies, English, Jump Rope Rhymes, Languages, Lullabies, Mama Lisa, Questions, Spanish, Spanish Kids Songs | 1 Comment »

Can Someone Help with a German Lap Rhyme?

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Gloria wrote to me:

Hi, my grandma (born in Eisleben in 1875, emigrating to the Midwest in 1902, married her second husband (my grandfather) in St. Paul, lived most of her life in Wisconsin with her third husband), recited a rhyme when dandling a baby on her extended foot, either with legs crossed at the hips (or just straight out, but the dad’s were best at that). The rest of the family did it for every baby/little child, including myself. We never saw it in print, and we only have the phonetic sound from listening to it. Phonetically, it went something like what follows. I would dearly love to know exactly what it meant, although it is obvious based on what happened to the child:

Grandma (and all the rest of us who had children) would cross her legs at her hips, sit the baby on her upper ankle, hold the baby’s two hands in hers, and bounce the baby lightly up and down, until the end of the rhyme, when she would let the child fall back, laughing, and then lift the child back up, and begin again!

Scheckle, scheckle, reiderlein,
Ven die kinder kleinerschein
Reiden zie auf steckerlein,

Ven zie greis auf verten
Reiden zie auferten
Zen zie verten,
Klip, Klop, Klip Klop
Reiden zi (then something like a scary word or sounds)

“Boom stehl leckta!” really loud!

The adult lets the child fall back, usually grinning happily. (Sometimes a baby didn’t like it but others wanted you to pull them up onto your ankle and do it again! Some kids got a little dizzy if you did this action too fast! But mostly they loved it. I don’t remember their doing it with me, but I am certain they did, that’s where the phonetic sound and rhythm of the lines as I remember them come in, as well as my mother’s saying it to me when I was older and wanted her to tell me what it was, but it would always have been a phonetic memory, since she never really learned much German except what was common… the words you aren’t supposed to say!) This was done several times, until either one’s leg was tired, or the child needed a rest. I just used the phonetic version when I treated my kids as babies to the fun game, but for some reason I never asked my grandma. I was told that it meant something like, “When a child is little it rides on a stick horse, but when it tries to ride a real horse, he will go faster and fall off.” Have you ever heard this? I possibly have some of the phonetics wrongly remembered, but the rhythm and sounds and actions are still in my brain.

Thanks for any help you can give. I do like your website, I found it by way of BING. I think it is very interesting as to the German, lots of Germans settled in America. My father’s ancestors may have come from Austria, as well as Germany, but came to Wisconsin in the 1840’s, met and married, learned English, so they never spoke German at all when we knew them. A grandson, age 12, who has been learning German, took to it immediately, and loves it, as well as Norwegian, so there must be an inherited acclimation to the sound of a language.

Sincerely,

Gloria Koeser Laundrie

Thanks for sharing your song with us Gloria! If anyone can help with the German version and/or an English translation, please let us know in the comments below.

Cheers!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in 1512, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, German, German Children's Songs, German Nursery Rhymes, Germany, Horse Trotting Rhymes, Languages, Lap Rhymes, Lap Rhymes, Mama Lisa, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions, Rhymes by Theme | 8 Comments »

Ghost of John – Halloween Song with MP3 Recording

Monday, October 26th, 2009

My daughter and her friends Marisa and Melisa taught me this Halloween song, which seems to be traditional American. It’s called Ghost of John. Below are the lyrics and two renditions, one by Marisa and one by Melisa, plus a drawing by Melisa.

But first, here’s Marisa announcing it with a Halloween song about Halloween songs…

Halloween is coming soon,
One, Two Three,
If you want a spooky song,
Call on me.

Here’s the Ghost of John song…

MP3 of Ghost of John by Marisa

MP3 of Ghost of John by Melisa

Ghost of John

Have you seen the Ghost of John?
Long white bones and the rest all gone,
Ooh, ooh!
Wouldn’t it be chilly with no skin on?

While the girls would sing the song they would all stand in the mirror, looking for the ghost of John. Of course, someone would see part of the ghost… like his ear, in the mirror. Then they would all scream. Finally, they ended the game because they were freaking each other out. I guess that’s what Halloween is all about… ghosts!

Drawing of Ghost of John

Many thanks to Marisa and Melisa for singing Ghost of John for us and to Melisa for the drawing!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in American Kids Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Ghost of John, Halloween, Halloween Songs, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Recordings of Songs, Traditional Songs, USA | 1 Comment »

A Good Morning Song Featuring African Languages with an MP3

Monday, October 26th, 2009

I woke up this morning with a cup of coffee and by listening to “Good Morning to You” in English, French and some African languages on my computer. What a wonderful way to wake up!

The recording was done by recording a phone call over the internet. Thanks to Nyango Melissa for calling and singing this morning! She made my day! Now you can enjoy her singing too! Just click the mp3 link below and read along with the lyrics. Enjoy!

MP3 of Good Morning to You

Good Morning to You
(In English, French, Hausa, Mbonge & Swahili)

Good morning to you,
Good morning to you,
In English, I speak
In English, I speak
Good morning to you,
Good morning to you,
In English, in English I speak.

Bonjour Mesdames,
Bonjour Messieurs,
En français, je parle
En français, je parle
Bonjour mesdames, bonjour messieurs
In French, in French I speak.

Salam alekum
Alekum sala
In Hausa, I speak
In Hausa, I speak
Salam alekum
alekum sala
In Hausa, in Hausa I speak.

O-we-li-ni-e
O we li ni e
In Mbonge, I speak
In Mbonge, I speak
O we li ni e
O we li ni e
In Mbonge, in Mbonge I speak.

Hujambo bwana,
Hujambo bibi
In Swahili, I speak
In Swahili, I speak
Hujambo bwana
Hujambo bibi
In Swahili, in Swahili I speak!

It’s the 2nd time we were able to easily use this technology of recording a phone call. If anyone else would like to sing a traditional (non-copyrighted) song for us, or recite a rhyme, please email me at lisa@mamalisa.com for directions.

Nyango has sent us many songs from Cameroon over the past couple of years. It’s great for everyone to finally hear her voice! She recorded 6 songs today. You can find them on the Cameroon Pages at the link just above. They’re the ones with the MP3’s.

Many thanks to Nyango Melissa Nambangi of the Minnesota African Women’s Association for contributing and singing these songs for us!

Mama Lisa

*****

Minnesota African Women’s Association has products available that were stitched by their sewing group. They’re available for purchase online at Etsy. They have beautiful pillows, dolls dressed in traditional and contemporary African fashions, tote bags, hats and more!

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Posted in Cameroon, Cameroonian Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, French, Good Morning Songs, Good Morning to You, Hausa, Languages, Languages, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Mbonge, Recordings of Songs, Songs by Theme, Swahili | No Comments »

Laughing is Contagious – A Song from Cameroon with an MP3 Recording

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

Nyango M. Nambangi sent us this Cameroonian song from Africa. What’s even better is that we have a recording to go with it!

Nyango wrote: “Here’s a song our mother taught us and her Middle School students. The tune is very British, in my opinion, but I have not been able to find the lyrics or tune or any reference to it anywhere. The end actually gets the listeners laughing!”

MP3 Recording of Laughing is Contagious

Laughing is Contagious

Ha, ha, ha!
Laughing is contagious.
Ha, ha, ha!
And sometimes advantageous.
Ha, ha, ha!
And very careful be
And laugh with caution now.
Ha, ha!

Ha, ha, ha!
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Ha, ha, ha!
ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Ha, ha ha!

This recording is extra special to us because it was done by recording a phone call! It’s the first time we were able to easily use this technology of having someone call and recording them. Also, Nyango have sent us many songs from Cameroon over the past couple of years. It’s great for everyone to finally hear her voice!

If anyone would like to sing a traditional (non-copyrighted) song for us, please email me at lisa@mamalisa.com for directions.

Many thanks to Nyango M. Nambangi of the Minnesota African Women’s Association for contributing and singing this song for us!

Mama Lisa

*****

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Posted in Cameroon, Cameroonian Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Languages, Laughing is Contagious, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Recordings of Songs | 1 Comment »

There was an Old Woman All Skin and Bones – A Hallowe’en Song and Video

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

I’ve posted several versions of this great Halloween song in the past… It’s called There Was an Old Woman All Skin and Bones.

Here’s yet another version below from Matt Vaughan and his friend Pam. They explain how to make it spookier for Halloween!

Here are the chords from Matt…
Am – Dm Am / Am Dm Am – ://

There was an old woman all skin and bones
Ooo oo-oo-oooo
She lived down by the old graveyard
Ooo oo-oo-oooo
One night she thought she’d take a walk
Ooo oo-oo-oooo
She walked down by the old graveyard
Ooo oo-oo-oooo
She saw the bones a-laying around
Ooo oo-oo-oooo
She went to the closet to get a broom
Ooo oo-oo-oooo
She opened the door and…
BOO!

Have a spooky-fun Halloween!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in American Kids Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, England, English, English Children's Songs, Folk Songs, Halloween, Halloween Songs, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Mama Lisa, There Was a Women All Skin and Bones, USA, Video, YouTube | No Comments »

Can Anyone Help with a Greek Translation of Palamakia (Clap)?

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

We received a Greek kids clapping song called Palamakia that we could use a little help with. Below is the Greek text, a transliteration and a rough translation. We’d like to know if the English translation is okay or if it needs to be changed at all…

Greek Text

Παλαμάκια

Παλαμάκια παίξετε
κι ο μπαμπάς του έρχεται
και του φέρνει κάτι τι
κουλουράκια στο χαρτί

Παλαμάκια παίξετε
κι η μανούλα έρχεται
να το πάρει αγκαλιά
το μικρούλι της παιδιά.

Παλαμάκια, παλαμάκια
παίζουν όλα τα παιδάκια
Παλαμάκια και χορό
νταχ ντιρντι και
νταχ ντιρντο

Transliteration

Palamakia

Palamakia Peksete
Kai o babas tou erhete
Kai tou ferni kati ti
Koulourakia sto harti

Palamakia Peksete
Kai i manoula erhete
Kai ta perni agalia
Ta mikroulia tis pethia

Palamakia Palamakia
Pezoun ola ta pethakia
Palamakia kai horo
Tihdidi kai Tihdido

Rough English Translation by Penelope Karagouni (with some editing by me)

Clap

Clap your hands
His dad is coming
To bring him something,
Cookies in a paper-wrapper.

Clap your hands
Mommy is coming
To get the little one
To hug the children!

Clap, clap,
All the children clap
Clapping and dancing
Dah didrdi and dah dirdo.*

*Dah didrdi and dah dirdo’ are sounds only with no meaning.

You can hear part of the rhyme in the 2nd part of the YouTube Video below…

If anyone can help with the translation, or let us know if it’s okay, please let me know in the comments below or by emailing me.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Greece, Greek, Greek Children's Songs, Languages, Mama Lisa, Palamakia - Clapping, Questions | 1 Comment »

Two French Goodbye Songs with Recordings

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

I was recently asked for a Goodbye Song in French. While looking for a song I found out that some French school teachers use the French version of Auld Lang Syne, “Ce n’est qu’un au revoir”, as a Goodbye Song. It’s a Scout song that’s also called “Le chant des adieux”. When teachers use it as a Goodbye song, they sing the 1st two verses. Here they are in French with an English translation….

Faut-il nous quitter sans espoir
Sans espoir de retour ?
Faut-il nous quitter sans espoir
De nous revoir un jour ?

Refrain
Ce n’est qu’un au revoir, mes frères,
Ce n’est qu’un au revoir.
Oui, nous nous reverrons, mes frères,
Ce n’est qu’un au revoir.

Here’s a literal English translation by Monique Palomares…

Must we leave each other without a hope
To see each other again some day
Must we leave each other without a hope
A hope of return

It’s only a goodbye, my brothers
It’s only a goodbye,
Yes, we’ll see each other again, my brothers
It’s only a goodbye.

Here you can hear the whole song…

Another Goodbye Song we have here today was written and sung by Alain Le Lait. It’s in French and English. Sit back and enjoy the song by clicking the MP3 below. You can read along with the lyrics in French and English…

Listen to Alain’s French Goodbye Song

Au revoir
by Alain Le Lait

Au revoir, good bye,
Now it is time for me to go away.
Au revoir, good bye,
But I wish I could stay with you all day.

Thanks for your smiles
And for singing along
I hope to see you again before too long.

Au revoir, good bye,
Il se fait tard et je dois m’en aller
Au revoir, good bye,
Mais j’aimerais rester toute la journée
Pour vos sourires et vos bien jolies voix
Je vous remercie et a une autre fois.

Au revoir, good bye,
Au revoir, good bye,
Au revoir, good bye.

(English Translation of French Verse)

Good bye, good bye
It’s getting late and I must go
Good bye, good bye
But I’d like to stay with you all day
For all your smiles and your pretty voices
I thank you and I’ll see you another time.

The French and English lyrics to this “Au revoir” song are © 1994 Alain Le Lait.

Alain Le Lait is a French native who grew up near Paris, France. He moved to the United States in the 1970s and now lives in Colorado. Alain writes and performs easy to learn children’s songs in French, Spanish and English. Check out his site www.Yadeeda.com to hear samples of his music and to buy his CD’s or mp3’s.

Merci Alain & Monique!

Feel free to share any French Hello or Goodbye songs you know in the comments below.

Mama Lisa

PS Here are some other Hello and Goodbye Songs…

•Two French Goodbye Songs with Recordings

•French Hello Song "Bonjour" with MP3

•Some More Hello and Goodbye Songs with MP3 Recordings

•Hello and Goodbye Songs

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Posted in Boy Scout Songs, Campfire Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, France, French, French Kids Songs, Girl Scout Songs, Goodbye Songs, Hello Songs, Hello and Goodbye Songs, Languages, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Questions, Recordings of Songs, Scouting Songs, Songs by Theme | No Comments »

Can Anyone Help with a Croatian Song that Sounds Like, “Kille killi jakasaka okoama bum”?

Monday, October 19th, 2009

Michael wrote:

Hi Lisa,

We just returned from a vacation in Croatia. We are German and have 3 little girls. They learned a song from a “mini disco”. I hope you can tell me the name of the song.

From what we understood it sounds like this:

Kille killi jakasaka okoama bum (repeats) Olee mal jole…….

Do you know how this song is named and what the lyrics are?

Thanks in advance for any information.

Regards,

Michael Andres

If anyone can help Michael, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Croatia, Croatian, Languages, Mama Lisa, Music, Questions, Readers Questions | 2 Comments »

Can Anyone Help with a Polish Lullaby that Translates as “Sleep My Baby Doll”?

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

Theresa wrote:

I am looking for a Polish lullaby my mother used to sing…

Śpij laleczko moja mała, czas na ciebie już, ja cię będę kołysała, a ty oczka zmruz…

This is all I remember.

If anyone has all the words, I would be very grateful.

Theresa

A rough English translation of the above text is: Sleep my little baby doll, it is the time for you now, I will, I will rock, and you close your eyes.

This is the tune to the Polish Lullaby.

If anyone can help Therese with the original text of the lullaby and/or an English translation, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

UPDATE:

Here’s the text of a slightly different version of the lullaby, thanks to Agnieszka Magnucka:

ŚPIJ LALECZKO

Pod pierzyną czarnej nocy
W blasku srebrnych gwiazd
Gwiżdże swoje kołysanki
Rozśpiewany wiatr.

Księżyc wplata w warkoczyki
Kolorowe sny
Śpij laleczko moja mała
Śpij córeczko, śpij.

W płatkach herbacianej róży
Calineczka śpi
Nawet przemęczony świerszczyk
Zasnął w trakcie gry.

Wszystkie małe grzeczne dzieci
Już od dawna śpią
Dobra wróżka opowiada
Bajkę którą śnią.

Księżyc wplata w warkoczyki
Kolorowe sny
Śpij laleczko moja mała
Śpij córeczko, śpij.

Agnieszka Magnucka and I came up with this English translation…

SLEEP MY BABY DOLL

Under the blanket of dark night
In the glimmer of silver stars
It is whistling its lullabies…
- Singing wind.

The Moon is braiding in plaits
Colorful dreams
Sleep my baby doll
Sleep my daughter, sleep.

Between the tea rose* leaves
Thumbelina is sleeping
Also some overtired little cricket
Fell asleep while playing.

All the good little children
Are sleeping for so long
The good fairy is telling that story
They are dreaming of.

The moon is braiding in plaits
Colorful dreams
Sleep my baby doll
Sleep my daughter, sleep.

*Tea Rose is called Herbaciana which is a rose with peachy/yellow leaves that sometimes have a little pink or cream in them.

*****

Enjoy!

Mama Lisa

PS Thanks so much for your help Agnieszka!

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Languages, Lullabies, Mama Lisa, Poland, Polish, Polish Kids Songs, Polish Lullabies, Questions, Readers Questions | 4 Comments »

Can Anyone Help with a Maori Song that Sounds Like, “Nane paku ana”?

Saturday, October 10th, 2009

Sharon wrote:

Hi Lisa,

This is really a shot in the dark, but I’m wondering if you know of a song, which I believe is Maori. A friend of mine taught it to me, but she doesn’t know the translation or anything else about it. I’m wondering if you’ve heard of it, and if so, if you could tell me anything about it – what it means, who sings it, etc, and perhaps the proper words. My best attempt at writing it out is as follows:

Nane paku ana
Nane paku ana
eh eh eh ua
ua ua
ipea ipea ipea
Kuana Kuana Kuana Kuana Kua…Choo!
Kuana Kuana Kuana Kuana Kua…Choo!

It is a rhythmic song with clapping on the off beats.

Does this seem at all familiar?

Thank you so much!

-Sharon

If anyone can help Sharon with the original Maori words to this song and/or an English translation, please let us know in the comments below. If you have the original text, please email me a copy at lisa@mamalisa.com – so I can make sure the accents show up properly.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Folk Songs, Languages, Mama Lisa, Maori, New Zealand, New Zealand Children's Songs, Questions, Readers Questions | 1 Comment »

Can Someone Help with a Hungarian Lullaby that Sounds Like, “Boulah boulah…”?

Saturday, October 10th, 2009

Nicole wrote:

I have been trying to find an old Hungarian lullaby that my grandmother sang to me and I sing to my kids. I do not know what it means and I do not know all the words. The verse is something like:

Boulah boulah, boulah, boulah boopin do ya.

I am sure I am misspelling everything.

Do you know it? Can you help me find the whole song and the meaning?

Thank you,

Nicole

If anyone can help Nicole with the original Hungarian words to this lullaby and/or an English translation, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Hungarian, Hungarian Lullabies, Hungary, Languages, Questions, Readers Questions | No Comments »

Chanda Mama – “Moon” Video by Playing for Change

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

Chanda Mama is a song from India about the moon. Different versions exist in the various languages of India. This one is in the Telugu language, a language mainly spoken in southern India.

Playing for Change made the Chanda Mama video with musicians around the world. Playing for Change creates music all over the world to make money to build music and art schools in communities that are in need of inspiration and hope. Music and art can have meaning across cultures and be appreciated by people of all economic classes and educational backgrounds. What better way to improve the world!

The lyrics to the Playing for Change version of Chanda Mama (in the video) are something like this…

Chanda maama chanda maama raavayyaa
nannu yettukoni muddulaadu kovayyaa

maaraalu nenenni cesinaa gaaraalu nive cupinaa
maaraalu nenenni cesinaa gaaraalu nive cupinaa

Chanda maama chanda maama raavayyaa
nannu yettukoni muddulaadu kovayyaa

If anyone can help with the meaning of these lyrics (and/or if you can verify or correct the original lyrics), please let us know in the comments below.

We have another version of Chanda Mama which is a Telugu children’s rhyme, with an mp3. You can click the link to hear it and to read the lyrics in Telugu with an English translation.

Enjoy!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Chanda Mama, Chandamaama, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Folk Songs, India, Indian Folk Songs, Indian Nursery Rhymes, Languages, Mama Lisa, Music, Nursery Rhymes, Playing for Change, Telugu, Traditional Music, YouTube | No Comments »

Gracie’s Art

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Gracie has sent me some illustrations to post with songs over the past couple of months. What’s interesting is that she doesn’t send them for specific songs, so I have to find songs or rhymes on Mama Lisa’s World to match them up to. That can be tricky since we have over 2000 pieces! I end up doing a google seach on the subject of the illustration with "Mama Lisa" to find a song on my site that corresponds with its theme.

Here’s one of my favorite drawings Gracie did…

I posted it on a Hungarian children’s song page called Cifra Palota, "Adorned Palace". It’s a circle game. Below are the English lyrics to the song. It’s a little abstract or symbolic (perhaps the rose is the princess and the violet is a prince?)…

Adorned palace,
Its window is green,
Come out you, rose,
The violet is waiting for you.

I am little,
I’ll grow up someday,
Next year or two years hence
I’ll become a big girl.

Here’s another illustration Gracie sent me…

I posted the animal drawing with the song Animal Fair.

I asked Gracie how she creates these illustrations. She wrote, "I like to create art with patterns. Crazy patterns create great compositions. I like to use watercolor and then use a black sharpie to create patterns."

Thanks for sharing your work with us Gracie!

Mama Lisa

Here are links to song pages where there are more illustrations by Gracie:

Comptine pour dessiner (French) – Drawing Rhyme

Sleep, My Child and Peace Attend Thee (English Lullaby)

El barco chiquitito (Spanish) – The Tiny Ship

Barboleta (Portuguese) – Butterfly

Es schneit! Es schneit! (German) – It’s Snowing, It’s Snowing

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Posted in Arts and Crafts, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Drawing, Illustrations | 2 Comments »

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Contents

Posts

We Now Have 100 Languages on Mama Lisa’s World!

Can Anyone Help with a Czech or Slovak Kids Song?

Does Anyone Know a Song with the Line, “The Ship Sailed for the White Cliffs of Dover”?

Can Anyone Help with a Korean Kids Song?

Frere Jacques – Brother John with an MP3 Recording in French and English

A German Bedbug Song called “Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer”

Cool Cuban Kids Song – Tiene Pinochito – Little Pinocchio

Can Someone Help with a German Lap Rhyme?

Ghost of John – Halloween Song with MP3 Recording

A Good Morning Song Featuring African Languages with an MP3

Laughing is Contagious – A Song from Cameroon with an MP3 Recording

There was an Old Woman All Skin and Bones – A Hallowe’en Song and Video

Can Anyone Help with a Greek Translation of Palamakia (Clap)?

Two French Goodbye Songs with Recordings

Can Anyone Help with a Croatian Song that Sounds Like, “Kille killi jakasaka okoama bum”?

Can Anyone Help with a Polish Lullaby that Translates as “Sleep My Baby Doll”?

Can Anyone Help with a Maori Song that Sounds Like, “Nane paku ana”?

Can Someone Help with a Hungarian Lullaby that Sounds Like, “Boulah boulah…”?

Chanda Mama – “Moon” Video by Playing for Change

Gracie’s Art