Can Anyone Help with a South African Song about Counting Calabashes or Buns?
October 18th, 2010

Caryl wrote:

Lisa,

What a wonderfully rich site you have! I came across it while searching for the lyrics to a song that I heard at a children’s school in South Africa. I was wondering if you knew about this song.

It’s a counting song about calabashes. The lyrics that I remember talked about having a calabash and “took it all away” “One calabash …….., and they took it all away” I think they are counting down the calabashes. It was in English.

I’m doing a presentation next week about international early childhood education. I have a video clip of the children singing this song, but can’t understand all of the words. I’d like to share the lyrics with the audience.

Would you happen to know the lyrics to this song?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Caryl J. Sheffield

Caryl later wrote: The song is “5 current buns” on the baker’s shelf. I mis-heard; I was thinking they were saying calabash.

If anyone can help with the lyrics to this song, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

This article was posted on Monday, October 18th, 2010 at 9:59 am and is filed under Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Languages, Mama Lisa, Questions, Readers Questions, South Africa, South African Children's Songs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

One Response to “Can Anyone Help with a South African Song about Counting Calabashes or Buns?”

  1. Lisa Says:
    October 18th, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    Caryl found the lyrics and sent them to me! Here they are…


    Five Currant Buns

    Five currant buns in a baker’s shop.
    Big and round with a cherry on the top,
    Along came a boy with a penny one day,
    Bought a currant bun and took it away.

    Four currant buns in a baker’s shop.
    Big and round with a cherry on the top,
    Along came a boy with a penny one day,
    Bought a currant bun and took it away.

    Three currant buns in a baker’s shop.
    Big and round with a cherry on the top,
    Along came a boy with a penny one day,
    Bought a currant bun and took it away.

    Two currant buns in a baker’s shop.
    Big and round with a cherry on the top,
    Along came a boy with a penny one day,
    Bought a currant bun and took it away.

    One currant bun in a baker’s shop.
    Big and round with a cherry on the top,
    Along came a boy with a penny one day,
    Bought the currant bun and took it away.

    Thanks Caryl!

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