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
cut & paste lyrics into your word file to print out
