02/23/2008 03:22 PM

The Symbolism of the Egg

As Easter approaches, it’s natural to think a little about eggs! In days gone by the egg, due to its shape, was a symbol of the earth. Thanks to its obvious association with the beginning of life, it has also been the basis of many ancient creation stories. It has been a symbol [...]

01/20/2008 08:49 PM

Searching for a Nursery Rhyme that Begins with Z!

We’ve been very busy here, redesigning Mama Lisa’s House of Nursery Rhymes, which features traditional English Mother Goose. The new design will break down the rhymes alphabetically. Each letter of the alphabet will have its own page – and that page will have all of the rhymes we have that begin with that [...]

11/07/2007 02:30 PM

Can Anyone Help with a Song with the Line, “Darling swine will you be mine?”

I received this email recently: Hi, I’m looking for a children’s ditty and have had no luck so far. I think it may be British, because I got it from my mother, who although American herself, had Scottish parents. Here’s what I know of the song: Once a lady had a pig, “Honey” said she, “Darling [...]

02/22/2007 01:19 PM

Spanish Translations of English Children’s Songs

Jackie wrote us looking for some Spanish versions of English songs. Online, at Mama Lisa’s World, we already have Itzi, bitzi araña, which is the Spanish version of Itsy Bitsy Spider. There’s also Estrellita, which is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star in Spanish. You can click on the links for the lyrics in Spanish with [...]

01/06/2007 08:35 PM

How to Find Sheet Music, Tunes and MP3’s on Mama Lisa’s World

In addition to this blog, I also host Mama Lisa’s World. Mama Lisa’s World is a large collection of children’s songs and rhymes from countries all around the globe. Matt, a music teacher from Rhode Island, wrote a question to me, the other day, about Mama Lisa’s World: Hey Mama, I love the concept of your site. [...]

09/22/2006 10:36 AM

Scottish Gaelic Nursery Rhymes or Songs

Monique, of Mama Lisa’s World en français, was nice enough to send me this lovely photo of the Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland, which she visited this past summer. Monique asked me to post the photo with a request for Scottish Gallic nursery rhymes or songs. If anyone knows of any, please send them to [...]

08/04/2006 03:50 PM

Three Craws, a Children’s Song from Scotland

Shona sent me this nice Scottish song a couple of days ago. Here’s the song and what Shona said about it… Here is a song that my grandma sang to me when I was small. She was from Glasgow: Three Craws (Crows).... Three craws sat upon a waa (wall) sat upon a waa sat upon a waa-a-a-aa Three craws [...]

06/29/2006 10:39 AM

Looking for a Scottish Lullaby that goes “Shhh, shhh, over the glen”

Lori wrote to me looking for help with a Scottish song. Here’s what she wrote… Hi Lisa, Thanks for such a wonderful site. I’ve had fun looking through it. My question is whether you have come across a Scottish lullaby with the following words: Shhh, Shhh, over the glen Mom’s little goose and Dad’s little hen My grandmother sang [...]

03/15/2006 09:25 AM

Please Send An Endearing Term for Grandma and Grandpa in Your Language

Kathy wrote me… Dear Mamalisa, I was delighted to find your website and will be using it in the future. I am researching translations for the word “grandma” in various languages. I am most interested in the familiar, sweet terms children might call this individual. I am aware that in some cultures this would [...]

12/26/2005 05:14 PM

Auld Lang Syne for New Year’s Eve

Auld Lang Syne is the most popular New Year’s Eve song in the English speaking world and elsewhere. Guy Lombardo began the tradition of ringing in the new year with the tune in 1929. He and his band played it on the radio and then counted down till midnight. Every year from [...]