lyrics & activities

sing & dance

 

happy day


Happy day, happy day

Glad to see you here today

I'm so glad you came my way

It's a happy day (repeat)


Come on in, stay a while

It's so nice to see you smile

We can dance and we can sing

And let the laughter ring

Fill your heart full of joy

Every single girl and boy

And before this day ends

Who knows, we may be friends


I will sing a song for you

Something old and something new

On a music magic carpet ride

We'll travel far and wide

Sing-a-long, don't be shy

Sing and let your spirit fly

And before this day ends

Who knows, we may be friends


activities



school days


Rumba bumba, school days

Rumba bumba, school days


Wake up in the morning

Time to go to school

How I love to go to school

Riding on the bus or riding in the car

Walking, if it's not too far


Every single classroom

A special place to be

Every single day

Is a new discovery

I really like my teacher

My friends are here with me

We all work together

We’re one big family              


Kindergarten that's the place it all begins

That's the place it all begins

Story time and music,

Picture painting too

Show and tell us something new


When you're in grade one

You'll have a lot of fun!

When you're in grade two

There is so much to do!

When you're in grade three

It's the place to be!

When you're in grade four

You're learning so much more!

When you're in grade five,

Six, seven, eight

You're working hard to walk

Right through that graduation gate!


Reading, writing, spelling,

Learning A B C's                                                      

Number crunching, what a breeze!

Bring the world a little closer, can't you see

School opens the world to me



activities



sing & dance   


“Sing and dance

sing and dance

songs and rhythms

rhymes and chants”


Everywhere I go

Yes everywhere I go

Children love to sing and dance

They love to clap their hands

And tap their feet

When they feel a happy beat


Every singing child

Is a happy child

It's so very plain to see

Everywhere I go

Yes everywhere I go

It means so much to me

To hear the children sing

To see the children dance

It's perfect harmony  ...let's sing!


La la la la la.............


Wondrous words of wisdom

I will share with you

All about the power of a song

If you learn music

You will learn to read

If you learn music

You'll learn mathematics

If you learn music

You'll learn so much more

So much more there is to know

So you can tap your feet

And you can clap your hands

Now everybody sing and dance

You can tap your feet

And you can clap your hands

Now everybody sing and dance!      

La la la la la...........



activities


cumbia, skip to my lou                                  

(trad. arr.& new lyrics: Jack Grunsky)


Cumbia Cumbia skip to my lou

Cumbia Cumbia skip to my lou

Cumbia Cumbia skip to my lou

Skip to my lou my darling


Brand new sneakers on my feet (3x)

I squeak just like an athlete


Mom taught me how to tie my shoe (3x)

But I stepped on bubble gum, "eeeeuw!"


Boots, boots, where shall we go? (3x)

Mud and puddles,  don't you know!


Heel, toe, heel, toe on the floor (3x)

I danced so hard my feet got sore


Holes in my socks, one, two  (3x)

My big toe says, "how do you do"


activities


you’re never alone


Someone cares a lot for you

Cares about the things you do

You’re never alone

You’re never alone


Someone’s there to help you on

To show the way and make you strong

You’re never alone

You’re never alone


Sometimes the world

Will make you cry

Make you sad and make you sigh

But on one thing you can depend

You will always have a friend


Someone’s there to help you do

What is right and what is true

You’re never alone

You’re never alone


Someone’s there to wipe your tears

To free your heart from all your fears

You’re never alone

You’re never alone


Someone cares a lot for you

Cares a lot and loves you too

You’re never alone

You’re never alone


activities


jumpin’ beans   


Jumpin' beans, jumpin' beans

Funniest game I've ever seen

Listen to my tambourine

Playin' jumpin' beans

Stand up everybody and

I'll show you what I mean!


Did you ever see a chimpanzee

A chimpanzee, a chimpanzee

Swinging high up in a tree

Chit chat chattering noisily?

Scratch your head, swing your arms

Show us all your monkey charms

Do the monkey!


Did you ever see a bunny hop,

a bunny hop.....?

When bunnies hop they just don't stop

Let's go to the hop

Let's go to the hop, oh bunny

Let's go to the hop


Did you ever hear a rattle snake,

a rattle snake.......

Wiggle his tail with a shake shake shake

Doin' the rattle snake?

When you hear a rattler shake and play

Better find the exit right away

Shake, shake,  rattle snake


Did you ever see a dragon fly,

a dragon fly…...?

Spread your wings and zoom up high

Dragons flying by

You can even stop in mid air

Your flutter wings will hold you there

Let's fly, dragon fly


Did you ever see a belly dance,

a belly dance…….?

Try it now, here's your chance,

Do the belly dance

Wiggle, wriggle, sway and swish

Like jello pudding in a dish, belly dance


Dragon fly, shake shake, rattle snake

Bunny hop, do the monkey


That's all there is there ain't no more

Sit back down on the floor

Catch your breath, my oh my

That's all there is, good-bye



activities


dancing at the cactus flower                   


“In the classroom, in the gym

Let the party preparations begin

Decorate windows, doors and walls

Make our special school dance hall

Play some music for the children’s hour

Welcome to the Cactus Flower”


In a Texas border town

Down near Mexico

There's a dance hall up the street

Where they do the "heel & toe"

It's the grand old Cactus Flower

Where the lights are coloured bright

Won't you come along with me

Cause we're dancing there tonight


Dancing at the Cactus Flower

That's the place we love to go

Dancing at the Cactus Flower

Dancing in a row

Everybody does the two-step

It's so easy, don't you know

Dancing in the Cactus Flower

Round and round we go


You can dance the "rodeo"

And be a buckaroo

Riding on your pony

Twirling a lasso

Or you can do the "froggy"

Sit down on a chair

Catch a fly for dinner

Now jump up in the air!   (clap)


You can do the "chicken dance"

Or the "cock-a-doodle-doo"

Try the "mashed potato"

And the "penguin polka" too

Do you like to do the lizard

Slither on the sand?

I play all kinds of music

With the Chigo Chigo band



activities


fruit salad


Cut up a peach and slice it

Cut up a pear and dice it

Cut up a plum and slice it

Add a little clove to spice it    

Fruit fruit fruit salad

Make a "tutti frutti" salad

Fruit fruit fruit salad

Make a "tutti frutti" salad


Take a ripe yellow banana    

Oranges and some papaya   

Different colours different shapes   

You can even add some juicy grapes  


Apple bits and fresh strawberries    

Pineapples and sweet red cherries  

Squeeze a little lemon or some lime  

Watermelon makes it oh so fine       


Stir it up in a great big bowl            

I'm as hungry as Old King Cole       

Here's a ladle, take a scoop          

Get a piece of that cantaloupe  


activities


my grandma & me


My grandma and me

We keep each other company

She plays piano, the "boogie woogie" for me


My grandma, you see

Is very special to me

She writes me letters when we're apart

And signs her name with a heart


I bring her flowers, I bring her tea

Just to see her smile at me

It's heavenly - my grandma and me


When I sleep over for a night

You know it's such a delight

She lets me jump on her bed

And tucks me in when I'm a sleepy head


I love the wrinkles in her cheeks

And the twinkle in her eye

She makes the greatest

She makes the best apple pie


She's got a box of old photographs

She tells me stories, she makes me laugh

She calls me sweaty, she calls me dear

But when I'm silly, she says,

"now listen here!"


A lot of knick knacks in her drawers

And secret places behind closed doors

For hide and seek I could play there all week


And when I'm sad and feelin' blue

My granny knows just what to do

And in her own special way

She brings back the sun shiny day


She doses off in her rocking chair

And she forgets that I'm even there

I snuggle up with my teddy bear, 

I don't care

It's heavenly - my grandma and me



activities




something to share 

song for UNICEF


What about the needs of the children?

Basic human needs of the children


With a loving heart

Giving something to share

We can help a child

Have a better life somewhere


What about the food for the children?

Water and good food for the children


What about the care for the children?

Families and homes for the children


What about the hopes of the children?

All the hopes and dreams of the children


activities


put another log on the fire


Snowflakes falling by the window

Jack Frost painting on the glass

Icicles glisten and glitter

See snow angels on that pass


Put another log on the fire

Keep that fire going strong

Gonna be a cold cold winter

It's been snowing for so long

(Gotta sing a warm winter song)


Winter boots, warm scarves and mittens

Let's go walking in the snow

Footprints following behind us

Follow everywhere we go


Deep in your heart, you know it's true

There's a fire burning deep inside of you

A warm feeling deep inside of you


Home-made cookies in the oven

Bring your friends, come on inside

Sipping sweet hot apple cider

Mr. Snowman stay outside



activities


waiting


Waiting for spring to come     

See flowers reaching for the sun

I'm waiting to hear first robin call      

Waiting for daffodils       

For morning glories, whippoorwills         

And watch a caterpillar crawl

I wait for clouds to drift on by         

To see a rainbow in the sky

Waiting for butterflies

Waiting for blossom trees

Smell honeysuckle in the breeze

I'm waiting for spring surprise


Waiting for chick to hatch    

For digging in my cabbage patch

I'm waiting for little bird to fly      

I wait to hear the rooster crow    

To see my flower garden grow         

And days getting longer by and by

I wait for walking in the park

To hear the pretty meadow-lark

And bees for honey gathering

See dew drops on a spider's web

So early morning, out of bed

See spring awakening


Can't wait to go outside to play

For winter snow to melt away        

For teeter totter, monkey bars and swing

In the playground, in the yard

And all along the boulevard

Can't wait to hear the laughter ring

Seasons turning round and round

Just like a big merry-go-round

See the world with brand new eyes         

Like the morning sun so mild

Just like a new born baby child

I'm waiting for spring surprise




activities


grasshopper


I'm a green grasshopper

I'm a real cool bopper

If you want to be a friend of mine

You gotta hop-a-long

You gotta song my song

With a jumpin' sense of time

I'm a jolly jumper, gotta watch my bumper

When I'm dancing on your lawn

Cause I'm a bouncy bug

On a grassy rug

And there's a whole lot o' hoppin' goin' on


I'm a green grasshopper

I'm a real show stopper

Gather 'round and watch me go!

No daddy longlegs spider

No June bug glider

Can put on a better show

No centipede,  no millipede

No ladybug and no flea

When you stop to consider

Not a single creepy critter

Can hop around like me!


Well a bop bop a loo bop a lom bam boom!

Goodness gracious, jump a little higher!


You can listen to the crickets

You can listen to the beetles

You can listen to the bumble bees

But what's the fun

If you can't hop along

And flex those knobby knees

For working out, for every exercise

You know I win first prize

Well leapin' lizards!

I'm a jumpin' wizard!

Just take a look at my thighs!

           (first verse)



activities


big thunder, dark cloud


It's raining it's pouring

The old man is snoring

Bumped his head and he went to bed

And he couldn't get up in the morning


Do you see that dark cloud in the sky?

There's a big storm coming, my oh my

Do you hear that rolling thunder sound

Like bowling balls rumbling 'round?


Big thunder, dark cloud (repeat)


Listen to the rain come pouring down

Ten thousand rivers on the ground

Covering the earth far and wide

Gotta get to the other side


Don't be afraid now, don't you cry

Big storm is sure to pass on by

Sunlight will come around again

Clouds blow away and storm will end



activities

1)Make some rain sounds by swishing your hands together, or tapping your lap very quickly.

2) Sing the response echo in the chorus and roll your hands in the air for the words, “big thunder”. For the words, “dark cloud”, open your palms and slowly wave them in the air.


dance of the seasons                 


Dance of the seasons, dance of the seasons 

Round and around we go 

Winter to spring and summer to autumn 

Turning forever so

Dance in a circle,  dance in a circle

Wink to the moon, wave to the sun

Dance of the seasons, dance of the seasons

The journey has just begun 


First January, then February,

March into April, May 

June and July and then into August 

Turning around this way

There goes September into October

November near, December cheer

We are the months that make up a year

Turning to reappear

 

Celebration and jubilation

Into the circle go,

Celebration of this creation

Watching the seasons flow (repeat)

'Round and around they go


Days are for giving, joyously living

This is the magic way

Hours go by and into the evening

Resting from work and play

Daylight will meet us, sunlight will greet us

Time and again, time and again

Dance of the seasons, dance of the seasons

The circle will never end



activities

1)Create a mural showing all of the seasons

2)Create a performance piece by singing the song together and for the chorus, “Celebration and jubilation…”, join hands and form a spiral circle turning inwards. One person is the leader. When the chorus is repeated unwind the spiral circle again and form back into the original position.


allons danser, colinda

(trad. arr Jack Grunsky)


Allons danser Colinda

Allons danser Colinda

Allons danser Colinda

Pour faire facher les vielles femmes


Allons danser Colinda

Danser colles, Colinda

Allons danser Colinda

Pour faire facher les vielles femmes


C'est pas tout le monde qui connait

Danser les valses du vieux temps

C'est pas tout le monde qui connait

Danser les valses du vieux temps


Allons danser Colinda

Allons danser Colinda

Allons danser Colinda

Pour faire facher les vielles femmes



activities


the mouse band


Here comes the mouse band

Listen to the mouse band

Marching in the mouse parade

Here comes the mouse band

Number one house band

Marching in the mouse parade


One plays the piccolo

One plays the flute

One plays the clarinet

Toot toot toot

One plays the cymbal

One plays the drum

Look around the corner

Here they come!


One plays the trumpet

One plays trombone

One plays the tuba

All the way home

One plays the glockenspiel

One waves a stick

Keeping it together

What a trick!


“[Sergeant] “Company! Eyes right!

Left left left left left….

Just a minute! Is that you

on the trumpet, George?”

[George]  “Sir, yes sir!”

[Sergeant]  “Haven’t practised

much lately, have we?

[George]  (mumble mumble)

[Sergeant]  “Practice makes perfect,

I always say,

or did someone else say that?

Pity! George! Hop to it! Chop chop!”



activities


up the river


Paddle up the river

Paddle up the stream

Life is one long journey

Life is like a dream


Way up on that mountain

Carry my own load

Way up on that mountain

See the long and winding road

           (first verse)


Life is like a dream



activities


kokopelli

(Music & adaptation of story: Jack Grunsky)


In ancient Indian legend, a long long time ago, there was a humped-backed flute player whose name was Kokopelli. He was a good spirit who talked to the wind, and the sky, to the sun and the rain. And every year after the cold winter season he travelled far and wide all over the land carrying the seeds of plants and flowers in the hump of his back. He helped the crops to grow so that everyone had enough food to eat. In a warm spring breeze people listened quietly to hear the soft sweet sounds of Kokopelli’s flute playing and when they heard the music it brought happiness and joy to their hearts. 



activities


music


Music

Is the magic that brings back a memory

It can fill your soul with deep longing

It can fill your heart with a joy

Words can never say


Listen to the music

Let it fly, let it soar like a bird up high

Let it open your heart like a flower

Let it comfort and gently empower you

Throughout the day


Listen to the music

Hear the voices of children

The world around

Hear the love in their hearts

When they're singing

People listen

Cause when you are singing

It's the voice of the universe reaching out

Clear and true expressing a feeling

More than words can say


Music

Let it show all the beauty before me

Let it show all the beauty behind me

Here and now, and all around me

Wherever I may go


Listen to the music

Let it open the windows to the world

Let it teach us about each other

With respect for my sisters and brothers

Now and forever more

        (activities coming soon)

all music & lyrics written by jack grunsky  p WOOD ROOSTER MUSIC, SOCAN

except where noted

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