Songs By Theme | Mama Lisa's World Blog

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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 »

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 »

French Hello Song “Bonjour” with MP3

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Hello songs are a wonderful way to help children who are learning a foreign language. It’s also nice for children to always sing the same song at the beginning of a class. Hello songs are great for this.

The song below is called “Bonjour”. It’s a French hello song written and sung by Alain Le Lait. Sit back and enjoy the song by clicking the MP3 below. You can read along with the lyrics in French, followed by an English translation by Alain…

MP3 of Bonjour

Bonjour
(French Lyrics)

Bonjour, bonjour
Comment ça va?
Bonjour, bonjour
Très bien, merci
Je suis content d’être ici
Avec tous mes petits amis
Bonjour, bonjour
Comment ça va?

Merci, merci
Merci d’être ici
Merci, merci
Écoutez
Aimez-vous cette chanson?
J’espère que je suis dans le ton
Merci, merci
Merci d’être ici

Hello
(English Translation)

Hello, hello
How are you?
Hello, hello
Very well, thank you
I am happy to be here
With all my little friends
Hello, hello
How are you?

Thank you, thank you
For being here
Thank you, thank you
Listen up
Do you like this song?
I hope that I am in tune
Thank you, thank you
For being here.

The French and English lyrics to this “Bonjour” song are © 2003 Alain Le Lait.

Merci Alain!

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 American Kids Songs, CD's, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, France, French, French Kids Songs, Goodbye Songs, Hello Songs, Hello and Goodbye Songs, Language Sites, Languages, Languages, Learning, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Recommendations, Recordings of Songs, Sites about Music, Songs by Theme | 1 Comment »

Can Anyone Help with The Afrikaans Song “Ek borsel my tande”?

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

Emanuela wrote to me asking about an Afrikaans song:

Hello Lisa,

I’m looking for the full lyrics to the little tune “Ek borsel my tande…” I’ve been singing it to my niece to encourage her to brush her little teeth, but I only know I tiny part of it. I’m wondering whether you might know the entire song?

Many thanks.

Emanuela

If anyone can help with the lyrics to this song, and/or an English translation, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks in advance!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Afrikaans, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Languages, Mama Lisa, Questions, Readers Questions, Songs about Brushing Teeth, Songs by Theme, South Africa, South African Children's Songs | No Comments »

December Song on the Piano

Saturday, December 20th, 2008

Here’s a song for the piano called December by Jay Rouse and played by Vi Huynh.

You can purchase Jay Rouse’s Arrangements online by clicking the link.

Click the following link to hear another piano arrangement called December by George Winston.

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Posted in Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Mama Lisa, Music, Seasonal, Songs by Theme, Winter, Winter Solstice, YouTube | No Comments »

It’s Lovely Weather for a Sleigh Ride Together – Jazz Animation

Saturday, December 13th, 2008

Elle Fitzgerald sings in this wonderful winter animation!

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Posted in Animation, Christmas, Christmas Songs, Countries & Cultures, Ella Fitzgerald, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Mama Lisa, Music, Seasonal, Snow, Songs by Theme, USA, Video, Weather, Weather, Winter, YouTube | 3 Comments »

Multicultural Songs about the Seasons

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

People often write me looking for songs about the four seasons, from around the world. Here are some! The links below take you to the different pages on Mama Lisa’s World of International Childrens Songs. There, you’ll find the lyrics in the original languages, with English translations.

Songs about Winter

Yuki (Snow) – Japanese
A, a, a, der Winter, der ist da (A, a, a, Winter is Here) – German
La neige tombe (The Snow is Falling) – French from Canada
Zemestoon (Winter) – Persian from Iran
Kış (Winter) – Turkish from Turkey

Songs about Spring

La Primavera (Springtime) – Spanish from Peru
Haru Ga Kita (Spring Has Come) – Japanese
De Colores (All the Colors) – Spanish from Mexico & Spain

Songs about Summer

Trarira, der Sommer, der ist da! (Tilitum, The Summer Has Come) – German

Songs about Autumn or Fall

Couleurs d’automne (Colors of Autumn) – French

Songs or Rhymes about All Four Seasons

Joereszäiten (Seasons) – Franconian from Lorraine Region in France
Les feuilles (Leaves) – French from Canada

When you get to the song pages you can access French and Spanish translations too, and in some cases mp3 recordings, midis and/or scores.

Feel free to add a song about any of the seasons in the comments below or email me.

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, England, English, Fall, France, French, German, Germany, Great Britain, Iran, Japan, Languages, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Mexico, Midis, Recordings of Songs, Seasonal, Songs about Autumn, Songs about Spring, Songs about the Seasons, Songs by Theme, Spain, Spanish, Spring, Summer, Turkey, USA, Winter | 3 Comments »

Poems, Songs and Rhymes about Cleanliness and Washing Up

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

Kishan emailed me requesting a poem about cleanliness.

Here are some rhymes and poems I found that are generally about cleanliness, keeping clean or washing up…

First, here’s a traditional nursery rhyme that mentions having a clean face:

The Clock

There’s a neat little clock,
In the schoolroom it stands,
And it points to the time
With its two little hands.

And may we, like the clock,
Keep a face clean and bright,
With hands ever ready
To do what is right.

This next rhyme is about washing feet:

Marguerite

Marguerite, go wash your feet;
The board of health is ‘cross the street.

Here’s a song you can sing when washing up or brushing teeth:

This is the Way We Wash our Hands
(To the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)

This is the way we wash our hands
Wash our hands, wash our hands,
This is the way we wash our hands
In the afternoon (or “To keep us very healthy”)

(You can continue with washing other body parts or substitute the line “This is the way we brush our teeth”.)

Here’s a song about washing away germs:

GERMS!

Wash your face and hands with soap,
Wash them every day!
Keeping clean by using soap
Will help keep germs away

Finally, below you’ll find an old poem called Cleanliness by Charles and Mary Lamb from around 1874. First I’ve given a shortened version that I found and after that you’ll find the full, longer version of it:

Cleanliness

All-endearing cleanliness,
Virtue next to godliness,
Easiest, cheapest, needfull’st duty,
To the body health and beauty;
Who that’s human would refuse it,
When a little water does it?

Here’s the longer version:

Cleanliness

Come, my little Robert, near-
Fie! what filthy hands are here!
Who, that e’er could understand
The rare structure of a hand,
With its branching fingers fine,
Work itself of hands divine,
Strong, yet delicately knit,
For ten thousand uses fit,
Overlaid with so clear skin
You may see the blood within,-
Who this hand would choose to cover
With a crust of dirt all over,
Till it look’d in hue and shape
Like the forefoot of an ape!
Man or boy that works or plays
In the fields or the highways,
May, without offence or hurt,
From the soil contract a dirt
Which the next clear spring or river
Washes out and out for ever-
But to cherish stains impure,
Soil deliberate to endure,
On the skin to fix a stain
Till it works into the grain,
Argues a degenerate mind,
Sordid, slothful, ill-inclined,
Wanting in that self-respect
Which does virtue best protect.
All-endearing cleanliness,
Virtue next to godliness,
Easiest, cheapest, needfull’st duty,
To the body health and beauty;
Who that’s human would refuse it,
When a little water does it?

If you know of any songs, rhymes, poems, or sayings about cleanliness or washing up, please let us know about them in the comments below.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in American Kids Songs, Australia, Canada, Children's Songs, Cleanliness, Countries & Cultures, English, English Children's Songs, English Nursery Rhymes, Great Britain, Health and Safety, Languages, Nursery Rhymes, Poems, Poems about Cleanliness, Poetry, Proverbs, Quotes, Rhymes by Theme, Songs about Washing Up, Songs by Theme, Teaching, USA | 12 Comments »

The Song “Make New Friends”, in Spanish and French

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008

This month I’ve been asked a couple of times for French and Spanish translations of Make New Friends. In one case, it was for Girl Scouts for World Thinking Day. The troop wanted to sing Make New Friends in Spanish to represent Mexico. In another case, a Brownie troop wanted to sing make new friends in French for World Friendship Day. They’re learning about France.

Below you’ll find Make New Friends in English, Spanish and French. The variations are for the singular and plural forms in Spanish and French.

Make New Friends
(Original Version)

Make new friends,
But keep the old.
One is silver,
The other is gold.

A circle is round,
It has no end.
That’s how long,
I will be your friend.

A fire burns bright,
It warms the heart.
We’ve been friends,
From the very start.

You have one hand,
I have the other.
Put them together,
We have each other.

Silver is precious,
Gold is too.
I am precious,
And so are you.

You help me,
And I’ll help you
And together
We will see it through.

The sky is blue
The Earth is green
I can help
To keep it clean.

Across the land
Across the sea
Friends forever
We will always be.

Háganse/ haceos nuevos amigos
(Spanish)

Háganse /haceos nuevos amigos
Pero guarden/ guardad los viejos
Uno es de plata
El otro es de oro.

Un círculo es redondo
No tiene fin
Esto es cuanto tiempo
Seré tu amigo.

Un fuego arde, brillante
Calienta el corazón
Hemos sido amigos
Desde el principio.

Tengo una mano
Tienes la otra
Juntémoslas
Nos tenemos el uno al otro.

La plata es preciosa
El oro también
Yo soy precioso
Y tú también.

Me ayudas
Te ayudaré
Y juntos
Lo lograremos.

El cielo es azul
La tierra es verde
Te puedo ayudar
A guardarla limpia.

Por la tierra
Por el mar
Para siempre
Seremos amigos.

Fais-toi / faites-vous de nouveaux amis
(French)

Fais-toi / faites-vous de nouveaux amis
Mais garde(z) les anciens
L’un est d’argent, c’est bien
L’autre est d’or, c’est mieux.

Un cercle est rond,
Il n’a pas de fin
C’est aussi longtemps
Que je serai ton copain.

Un feu brûle haut
Il réchauffe le cœur
Nous avons été amis
Depuis le tout début.

Tu as une main
J’ai l’autre
Mettons-les ensemble
Nous nous avons l’un l’autre.

L’argent est précieux
L’or aussi
Je suis précieux
Et toi aussi.

Tu m’aides
Et je t’aiderai
Et ensemble
On en viendra à bout.

Le ciel est bleu
La terre est verte
Je peux aider
À la garder propre.

À travers la terre
À travers la mer
Pour toujours
Nous serons amis.

Here’s a link to Make New Friends on Mama Lisa’s World, my collection of international children’s songs. There you can find the song with all of its versions.

Many thanks to Monique Palomares of Mama Lisa’s World en français and Mamá Lisa’s World en español for the French and Spanish translations!

-Mama Lisa

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Posted in American Kids Songs, Boy Scout Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, France, French, Girl Scout Songs, Languages, Make New Friends, Mexico, Scouting Songs, Spanish, USA | 8 Comments »

Looking for Girl Scout Campfire Song Called “Bundawa”

Sunday, May 20th, 2007

Jenny wrote:

Dear Mamma Lisa,

I am looking for a song called Bundawa. I am not sure if I have the spelling right. It is a campfire song from my friend’s Girl Scout days more than 20 years ago. This is part of it, but there are more verses we can’t remember:

Bundawa

Chorus:

Bundawa, Bundawa, Bundawa
Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho (with each “Ho” clap hand onto guitar or lap)
Bundawa, Bundawa,
Baby I don’t know.

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down
And landed on his bum
Baby I don’t know.

Chorus

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
All the king’s horses and all the kings men,
Had scrambled eggs again.

We would love it if you could help our Girl Scout Troop find the rest of the song.

Thank-you!

Jenny from Rochester, Minnesota, USA

If anyone can help out Jenny and her Girl Scout Troop, please comment below.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in American Kids Songs, Australia, Campfire Songs, Canada, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Girl Scout Songs, Great Britain, Languages, Questions, Readers Questions, Scouting Songs, Songs by Theme, USA | 5 Comments »

A Springtime Song Called “La Primavera” from Peru

Sunday, April 15th, 2007

Here’s a nice Peruvian children’s song about the Spring in Spanish followed by an English translation…

La primavera

La primavera
Cantan, cantan por los campos,
Primavera llega ya.
Por los campos viene riendo jaja
Riendo jajajaja
Primavera
Los campos florecen
Las aves aparecen
Sale el sol
Todo es amor
Llegó la primavera
Vestida de flores
Y yo quisiera
Vestirme de mil colores.

Springtime

Springtime
They sing, sing in the fields,
Spring arrives at last!
In the fields it comes laughing, ha, ha!
Laughing, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Springtime,
The fields bloom
The birds appear
The sun comes out
Everything is love
Springtime arrives
Dressed in flowers
And I’d like to
Dress in a thousand colors!

Many thanks to Anna Carina Morales Peña for sending this song and to Monique Palomares for helping me with the English translation.

If anyone knows the tune to this song, please email me.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in Argentina, Bolivia, Children's Songs, Chile, Costa Rica, Countries & Cultures, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, La Primavera, Languages, Mexico, Peru, Peruvian Children's Songs, Puerto Rico, Seasonal, Songs about Spring, Songs about the Seasons, Songs by Theme, Spain, Spanish, Spring, USA, Uruguay | 4 Comments »

Spring Chicken Song

Tuesday, April 10th, 2007

I’ve established a page where I post questions people have about songs and nursery rhymes. It would be great if you’re able to help answer any of our readers questions.

Occasionally the questions are about songs that are related to current events. Here’s one such question. The song is about Spring!

Hi my name is Vicky and when my daughter was younger she used to sing a song called Spring Chickens, however we can not remember the words. I was hoping you could help me.

Some of the words were:

I’m a real spring chicken and I’m yellow and small,
My feathers are fluffy and they’re keeping me warm.
My legs are not long, so I’m not very tall,
But I’m a real spring chicken and I’m having a ball,
I’m a chicken, I’m a chicken and I’m having a ball.

Many thanks,

Vicky

If anyone can help with the lyrics to this song, please comment below.

Thanks and I hope you’re enjoying your Springtime!

Lisa

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Posted in American Kids Songs, Australia, Australian Kids Songs, British Children's Songs, Canada, Canadian Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Great Britain, Languages, Questions, Seasonal, Songs about Spring, Songs about the Seasons, Songs by Theme, Spring, USA | 37 Comments »

ABC Phonics Animation

Tuesday, February 13th, 2007

The ABC Phonics Parade is my first foray into the world of animation!

We recorded Ms. Lupton’s kindergarten class singing an ABC Phonics Song. Ms. Lupton made up the song herself, to teach the children the sounds of each letter of the alphabet. The kids then drew pictures to go with each letter.

When you click on a letter in the animation, you can hear the children singing about that letter’s sound. When you put the mouse over the letter, you can see a little animation of that letter. When the letter’s simply moving across the screen, you get to see the child’s drawing as it is. That seemed important to me. To let the child’s work stand out.

So here’s the ABC Phonics Parade. I hope you enjoy it!

Press the play button to start. It may take a few moments to begin, particularly if you have a slow internet connection. (You may need a new version of the Flash player to view this video, in which case you should see a link to install it.)

Many thanks to Ms. Lupton and her Kindergarten class of 2007 for creating these fantastic drawings and for singing for us!

-Mama Lisa

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Posted in ABC Songs, ABC's, ABC's, American Kids Songs, Animation, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Languages, Learning, Phonics, Phonics Songs, Reading, Reading, Songs by Theme, Teaching, USA, Video, Writing, Writing | 7 Comments »

Do You Know of Any Spanish Jump Rope Songs?

Saturday, February 10th, 2007

Anne-Marie wrote:

Hello,

My name is Anna-Marie. I am going to participate in a mission trip to the Dominican, and I was planning to bring some skipping ropes. Do you know any songs in Spanish that would go well with this activity? It’s for 5-7 year olds.

Thanks,

Anna-Marie

If anyone can help out with any Spanish Jump Rope songs, please comment below.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in Argentina, Bolivia, Children's Songs, Costa Rica, Countries & Cultures, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Games, Jump Rope, Jump Rope Songs, Languages, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Questions, Songs by Theme, Spain, Spanish, Spanish Kids Songs | 15 Comments »

International Scouting Campfire Songs – “Can you send us one from your country?”

Wednesday, January 24th, 2007

Larraine wrote to me looking for Scouting Campfire Songs from around the world. Here’s what she wrote, followed by my response with some suggested songs and sites to go to for help:

Dear Mama Lisa,

It has been suggested that I contact you with my request. I am the sketch producer of “The Live Wyre Gang Show” from the N.W. of England. (I’m also a cub leader).

Our Gang show is about to go into rehearsals and I have written a set to Celebrate 100 years of scouting, its finale is an International Camp fire. I would very much like to include as many International songs as possible, certainly at least one from each continent, so I wondered if you would be able to tell me where the best place to find the words and music of the songs you believe your members would vote for as their favourite. Detail/a picture of their uniforms, both boys and girls, their flags and any other details you think will be useful.

Thank you
Yours in scouting
Larraine Eastwood

PS. I notice you have many songs from all over the world but I don’t know which ones are scouting campfire songs and would really appreciate your help.

I know of two scouting (or Girl Guides) songs on Mama Lisa’s World. I’m linking to them below. One is the Maori stick tossing song ‘E Papa Waiari’ from New Zealand. The other is Banana Sweet from Ghana, Africa.

Some sites for Scouting lyrics are:

American Boy Scout Songs
Camp-Songs
Guides and Scouts Europe – Regional French Songs
Siempre Scout – Canciones Generales – Spanish Scout Campfire Songs
Canzioniere Scout – Italian Scout Songs
Canzoniere e Liturgie di TUTTOSCOUT.ORG – Italian Scout Songs
GruppenstundenTipps: Lieder – German Scout Songs

I think a good way to find more songs would be to type “scout songs” into Google in different languages. Just find an online dictionary to find out how “scout” and “song” are said in the other language and do a search. A good place to start that has free online dictionaries is www.freedict.com.

If anyone can suggest any other scout campfire songs or sites with scout songs from other countries, please comment below.

Thanks!

Lisa

Many thanks to Monique Palomares of Mama Lisa’s World en français for help with this post!

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Posted in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Campfire Songs, Canada, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, England, France, Germany, Great Britain, Questions, Scouting Songs, Songs by Theme, USA, Vietnam | 4 Comments »

Some More Hello and Goodbye Songs with MP3 Recordings

Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007

On Friday, I was asked for the lyrics to some Hello and Goodbye songs. My sister-in-law Dale read the post and offered to sing some songs that she used to sing to her preschool classes. Here are two Hello Songs and one Goodbye Song:

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together,
Here we are together, together again.
With Jason, and Lisa, and Dale and Andrew,
And Lila, and Calvin and Corrina*,
Here we are together, together again.

MP3 of Here We Are Together

*Here you put in the names of all the kids in the room.

Here’s another Hello Song…

Hello, Hello, Hello and How Are You?

Hello, Hello, Hello and how are you?
I’m fine. I’m fine,
And I hope that you are too!

MP3 of Hello and How Are You

And a goodbye song…

Goodbye Everybody Yes Indeed

Goodbye everybody yes indeed,
Yes indeed, yes indeed.
Goodbye everybody yes indeed,
We’ll see you all tomorrow!

MP3 of Goodbye Everybody Yes Indeed

Many thanks to Dale Durdunas for sharing these songs with us!

If anyone would like to share any other Hello or Goodbye Songs (in any language), please comment below or email me. I think it would be neat to start a collection of Hello songs from around the world.

Thanks!

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 American Kids Songs, Australia, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Goodbye Songs, Great Britain, Hello Songs, Hello and Goodbye Songs, Languages, MP3's, Questions, Recordings of Songs, Songs by Theme, Teaching, USA | 5 Comments »

Hello and Goodbye Songs

Friday, January 19th, 2007

Someone named Lisa wrote to me:

Hello

I’m looking for suggestions on hello and goodbye songs for a playgroup/music class I’m creating for my friends and family.

Thought it would be great to begin and end a session properly. I’d like them in English for this project.

Happy New Year!

Lisa

At our library, they sing the Open Shut Them Song at the beginning and end of each class. Here’s the version the librarians sing at the beginning of each program:

Open, Shut Them

Open, shut them.
Open, shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap.

Open, shut them
Open, shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap.

Creep them, creep them,
Creep them, creep them,
Right up to your chin, chin, chin.

Open wide your little mouth,
But do not let them in.

Open and close your hands when you sing “Open, shut them” and then follow the words to the song with the corresponding hand movements while you sing. On “do not let them in” hide your hands behind your back.

At the end of the “class” we sing the song in the following way…

Open, Shut Them

Open, shut them.
Open, shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap.

Open, shut them
Open, shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap.

Wave them, wave them,
Wave them, wave them,
High up in the sky, sky, sky.

Wave to me, I’ll wave to you,
Let’s all say “Bye, bye.”

Here’s an mp3 of Open Shut Them

There’s another Hello Song that keeps running through my head (since I read Lisa’s question). I just realized where I heard it from. It was the Hello Song from my daughter’s preschool. It went:

Hello, hello, hello, hello,
Hello, hello, when you say hello you make a friend.
Say hello and make a friend.

My husband pointed out that he always remembered the Hello Song from The Magic Garden, a kids show that was aired in New York in the 1970’s. You can hear it here.

If you would like to suggest other “hello” and “goodbye” songs, please comment below.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

UPDATE: My sister-in-law Dale read this post and offered to sing some songs that she used to sing to her preschool classes. Check them out in my next blog entry.

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 American Kids Songs, Australia, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Goodbye Songs, Great Britain, Hello Songs, Languages, Questions, Songs by Theme, USA | 12 Comments »

How Cranes Stay Awake

Monday, June 26th, 2006

David Solomons has shared many of his songs with Mama Lisa’s World. He’s just posted a piece of music by the Italian composer Michele Pesenti, who lived during the Renaissance. The song involves a crane (bird).

David has asked me whether anyone can provide further background on the symbolism of cranes, particularly in Europe.

David told me an fascinating story about cranes, which may relate to the symbolism he’s interested in: Some mediaeval writers write about the behavior of cranes as they take turns watching over the flock while the others sleep. In order to keep vigil, the watcher crane puts a stone in its claw; this prevents it from nodding off, because, thanks to the stone, it cannot keep the perfect balance that it would require for sleep.

You can hear David’s performance and read what else he has found out so far here: http://www.dwsolo.com/pesenti.htm

The original words of the song are…

Dal lecto me levava per servir il Signor
Alhor quando arrivava la grua suo servidor
Gru gru gu gentil ambasciador
Che disse non leve, torna a dormir.

Here’s an English Translation…

I was just arising from my bed to serve the Lord
When his servant the crane, his kindly ambassador,
arrived and told me “Don’t get up, go back to sleep.”

Listen to David sing the song!

David wrote…

Of course there is also the nagging suspicion that the writer of the song simply wants an excuse not to get up…

If anyone can help out please comment below.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in Animal Songs, Countries & Cultures, Italy, Questions, Songs about Cranes | 1 Comment »

The Song “On a Cool Evening in May” from Spain

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006

In an earlier entry, I posted the Bolivian song Una Tarde de Mayo. Here’s a version that Monique Palomare’s father used to sing to her. Monique said her father learnt the song during grape picking season in France, as every year a lot of Spaniards used to come, and vineyards were always full of singing.

Below you’ll find the lyrics in Spanish, with an English translation and an mp3 recording of Monique singing the song. The last two lines of each verse are repeated.

MP3 Recording of Una tarde fresquita de mayo

Una tarde fresquita de mayo
(Spanish)

Una tarde fresquita de mayo
Cogí mi caballo y me fui a pasear
Por las sierras más altas que había
Donde mi morena solía pasear.

Yo la vi que cogía una rosa
Yo la vi que cogía un clavel
Y le dije – jardinera hermosa
¿Me das una rosa, me das un clavel?

Y me dijo muy fina y galante
Al instante yo se las daré
Si me jura que nunca ha tenido
Flores en la mano de otra mujer.

Yo te juro que eres la primera
De quien flores espero coger
Por lo tanto, jardinera hermosa
¿Me das una rosa, me das un clavel?

On a Cool Evening in May
(English)

On a cool evening in May
I took my horse and went for a ride
In the highest mountains
Where my brunette used to stroll.

And I saw her pick a rose,
And I saw her pick a carnation,
And I told her, pretty gardener,
Would you give me a rose?
Would you give me a carnation?

And she told me, very shrewdly and gallantly,
I’ll give them to you at once,
If you’ll swear to me you’ve never held
Flowers from another woman.

I swear to you you’re the first one
From whom I hope to pick flowers
Then, pretty gardener,
Would you give me a rose?
Would you give me a carnation?

Monique asked me to post this question about Une Tarde de Mayo…

I’d like to know whether anyone from the Murcia area in Spain heard it sung this way. (Quisiera saber is algún Murciano la oyó cantar así.)

If anyone can answer Monique’s question, please comment below.

Many thanks to Monique, my colleague at Mama Lisa’s World en français, for sharing this song and for singing it for us.

-Lisa

Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Spain Page for more Spanish Songs.

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Folk Songs, Languages, MP3's, Recordings of Songs, Songs about May, Songs about the Months, Songs by Theme, Spain, Spanish, Spanish Folk Songs, Una tarde fresquita de mayo - On a Cool Evening in May | 2 Comments »

A Bolivian Song about May in Spanish with an English Translation

Friday, May 19th, 2006

Here’s a song from Bolivia about a girl talking to her mother in the month of May. May is when Mothers Day is celebrated in Bolivia. This might be a nice song for the occasion.

The lyrics are in Spanish with an English translation and a midi of the tune…

Tarde de mayo
(Spanish)

Una tarde* fresquita de mayo
Monté mi caballo y me fui a pasear
por la senda donde mi mamita
graciosa y risueña solía pasear,
yo la vi que cortaba una rosa,
yo la vi que cortaba un clavel
y le dije mamita hermosa,
me das esa rosa,
me das el clavel,
y me dijo muy fina y galante
al instante yo te los daré
si me juras que siempre
muy buena, estudiosa y amante
conmigo serás.

*Tarde can mean afternoon or evening in Spanish.

On a Cool Evening in May
(English)

On a cool evening in May
I took my horse and went for a ride
On the path where my Mommy,
Gracious and smiling, used to stroll
And I saw her pick a rose
And I saw her pick a carnation
And I told her, nice Mommy
Give me this rose
Give me this carnation
And she told me, very shrewdly and gallantly
I’ll give them to you at once
If you’ll swear to me that always,
You’ll be very nice, studious and loving
To me.

Midi of Tarde de Mayo

Many thanks to Susana Mariscal, Daniel Dorado and Joaquin Dorado for contributing this song, and to Monique Palomares of Mama Lisa’ World en français for translating it and for creating the midi. ¡Muchas Gracias!

Coming soon: Tarde de Mayo from Spain with an mp3 recording!

-Lisa

Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Bolivia Page for more Bolivian Songs.

Here are some other posts about Mother’s Day, including some poems and songs:

•Only a Mother's Love - A Spanish Poem with an MP3 Recording

•MY MOTHER. - A Poem

•Does Anyone Know Any Mothers Day songs or poems in Romanian?

•Mother's Day in Mexico with a Spanish Song

•Only One Mother - A Poem

•A Mother's Day Poem That Kids Recite in France

•"My Mother" a Victorian Poem

•Hold a Concert in Your House - Another Way to Make Music a Part of Your Family's Life