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...

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...

Hello! Bread and Butter can be used as a Hello or Goodbye Song.  You clap along as you chant.  You can find the lyrics below with 2 videos showing how to chant and clap to the song.  In the first video it’s used as a Hello Song and in the second video it’s used as a...

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...

Here’s the poem Joys of Youth by English poet John Clare (1793 – 1864). MP3 of Joys of Youth Joys of Youth How pleasing simplest recollections seem Now summer comes it warms me to look back In the sweet happiness of youths...

Where the Bee Sucks is from Shakespeare’s play The Tempest.  In the play, it’s sung by the fairy spirit Ariel.  You can read this lovely song below and listen along to two different renditions of it – one recited, the other sung. Where The Bee Sucks (Shakespeare) Where the bee sucks, there suck I: In a cowslip’s bell...

I’ve posted the song My Pigeon House twice already (click the link for one popular version) and see more versions of Pigeon House on my blog.  I know many people are interested in this song, so when I found a version from 1917 in "Primary Education" (Vol. 25), I became very curious.  But before getting...

Here’s a song called "Brother Come and Dance with Me" from a Librivox rendition of Hansel and Gretel.  You can replace "brother" with "children" (or a child’s name).  This little song and dance can help children learn coordination and how to distinguish left from right. MP3 of Brother Come and Dance with Me ...

Here’s a pretty little song called Good Morning, Merry Sunshine from a Librivox rendition of Little Red Riding Hood… MP3 Recording of Good Morning, Merry Sunshine Good Morning, Merry Sunshine Good morning, merry sunshine, How did you come so soon? You chase the little stars away And shine away the moon. I saw you go to sleep last night...

Have you ever heard of Safety Songs?  If you grew up in New York in the 1940’s, like our correspondent Richard Stark, I bet you have.  In the New York City school system, teachers would teach them to kids.  Richard remembers growing up singing them. The Safety Songs that Richard grew up with were written by...

The Pigeon House is a song many people grew up singing.  I’ve been asked about it several times and now know that different versions exist.  Here’s one of them with a midi and score: The Pigeon House We open the pigeon House again, And set all the happy flutt’rers free; ...

Who’s That Up the Chimney? is a Christmas song written by Scottish singer Ewan McVicar.  Ewan sent this song to us when we asked him if he knew of any Christmas songs from Scotland.  Here’s what he wrote: I was on a tram in the Urals city of Perm (Russia), and the teacher conveying me said...