Another great song they made us sing (and God bless 'em!)in the NYC public school system so long ago it's like something I heard about rather than did myself.

The melody is wonderful all by itself. Has anyone ever arranged it for orchestra?

The source was the much-loved-by-elder-Catters "The Fireside Book of Folk Songs," by Margaret Bradford Boni, a book readily available from online merchants. Not for purists - just for anybody who likes good songs from all over. The Russian "Meadowlands," with lyrics featuring the "mighty Red Army," however, still seems very weird and creepy to some of us. Another great tune, though!

Somebody who can sidestep cliches could make a hell of a CD just from the songs in this book.