Songs about sea critters

Subject: Songs about sea critters
From: Downeast Bob
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 08:14 AM

I've been visiting schools doing programs in connection with marine biology, writing, and my picture book, "This is the Sea that Feeds Us." I'm looking for songs that I can use with grades K-6 that relate to marine life. Especially whimsical songs like "The Fish of the Sea" aka "Blow Ye Winds Westerly." Any ideas?

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Lox
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 08:28 AM

I remember at school being asked by my art teacher to paint a picture of "A flea, kicking a tree, in the middle of the sea."

Does this help in anyway?????

Alternatively, you could soften their brains irreparably (strap them down first) with "A-pushki-dushki" I seem to remember something about fish in that.

You know, something tells me that I'm not being quite as helpful as I first imagined...hmmm....Naaah... I'm just imagining it.

lox*G*

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 08:33 AM

"Three Little Fishies and a Mommy Fishy too...
"Eddystone Light" - a mermaid song.
"Theme from Jaws" - 6th graders will love it.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 08:59 AM

Baby Beluga--cpyrt to Raffi
The Whale Song--Tom Chapin

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: MMario
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 09:01 AM

The Chivalrous Shark here in the DT

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Kim C
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 09:29 AM

well, I sorta like the Greenland Whale Fisheries but it may be a little too heavy for kidlings. There's always Octopus's Garden, but that may not be what you're looking for either. :)

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Grab
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 09:38 AM

The Monstrous Crocodile (or called something like that - search for crocodile).

Grab.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Downeast Bob
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 10:21 AM

Many thanks. Some of these ideas are just what I'm looking for.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 10:30 AM

The younger kids will love "Under the Sea" from "The Little Mermaid".

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: KathWestra
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 10:40 AM

Yeah Ho Little Fish(es) (both Gordon Bok and Ed Trickett have recorded this, in slightly different versions)

Gordon Bok's Herring Croon

Shelly Posen's "No More Fish, No Fishermen" (about the results of overfishing -- good for older kids). FinestKind has recorded it.

Stan Rogers' "Make and Break Harbor" (again, about the decline of the fishing industry)

"I Lost Her in Gloucester" (a humorous song with lots of groany puns based on the names of fish/sea creatures)

Archie Fisher's "The Final Trawl" (older kids again -- yet another about the decline of fisheries)

Those are a few that come to mind off the top of my head. Try running a search on the DT -- I'm sure some of these, at least, will be there. If you can't find words/tunes, send me a PM and I'll try to help. Kathy

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Rosebrook
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 10:55 AM

There's a hole, there's a hole, there's a hole in the bottom of the sea...I can post lyrics if you need

The mention of Octopus' Garden reminded me of Yellow Submarine...

Robinand Linda Williams do a song Rubber Blubber Whale

In my experience, small kids really like Baby Beluga, but as they get older then they really DON'T like that song.

Rose

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: MMario
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 11:03 AM

Sarah the Whale Burl Ives recorded this among others...

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: WyoWoman
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 12:43 PM

Smothers Brothers (I think) "Crabs Walk Sideways" -- about DIVERSITY!!! So forward-thinking, those guys...

ww

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 12:48 PM

Wyo Woman - be sure to post that to the alcoholics thread too.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Art Thieme
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 02:39 PM

"The Great Silky"

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 03:22 PM

There is some info about the Selkie (Silkie or Silky) Legend here. http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/selkiefolk/sulesk.htm

More info here. http://druidry.com/obod/text/lewes/archive/mara-selkie.html

Lesley Nelson's midi and info is here. http://www.contemplator.com/folk2/silkie.html

Art Thieme was too modest to tell you that this song is on his CD, The Older I Get, The Better I Was, which is fantastic and can be obtained here. http://www.waterbug.com/thieme.html

Mary

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 03:38 PM

Bok's Brandy Tree!

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 03:46 PM

There is a version of Blow The Man Down that tells of various fish. It can be found in Stan Hugill's collection Shanties From The Seven Seas (unless that's the one you mentioned in the thread).

Check the digitrad for "Good Fish Chowder." Ok, they're dead at that point - good song, though.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: MMario
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 03:57 PM

Eat Betha's Mussels?

After all, this is the sea that feeds us....

Subject: ADD: Eat Bertha's Mussels ^^
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 07:57 PM

Is bertha's not in the DT? I just did a search and couldn't find it. Perhaps because of a copyright problem? Anyway, here it is.

EAT BERTHA'S MUSSELS

Chorus:
Eat Bertha's Mussels,
they're tHe best there is by far,
You can eat them in the dining room,
You can eat them in the bar,
So when you're ashore in BaLtimore,
And you fancy a bite to eat.
Just follow your nose to Bertha's,
You'll be in for a rare old treat.

A sailor came to Bertha's
With a problem most severe,
His manly pride had atrophied,
From a voyage of 14 years,
A couple of plates of mussels,
Now he sings in a different key,
His jib boom set right he'll be in there tonight,
And he'll never go back to sea.

A lady came to Bertha's,
Who wanted a daughter or son,
The doctors had said with a shake of the head,
That she couldn't have either one.
She ate a plate of mussels,
And went back home to her husband dear,
She tuned up his cruth and to tell you the truth,
She had triplets that very same year.

They will cure your diarrhea,
Cure your constipation too,
Just swallow a box for the chicken pox,
The measles or the flu,
So if you would lead a healthy life,
Get your daily dosage straight,
A plate a day of mussels,
And you'll live til you're 98.

From John Roberts and Tony Barrand
^^

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 08:07 PM

O MI GOD-- I just remebered "Molly Malone", aka "Cockles and Mussels, Alive, alive-o" (also Dublin's Fair City) .....oh well. Talk about what cockles (scallops) and musseles (fresh water clams) are.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Mrrzy
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 10:32 PM

The Codfish Ball and Windy Old Weather are 2 more like Blow Ye Winds Westerly, where they name a whole lotta fishy beings...

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 11:06 PM

Gordon Lightfoot did a whole lot of wonderful songs about the sea. One of them is about a blue whale, and would fit your requirements perfectly, I should think.

It's called "Ode to Big Blue" and appears on his 1972 album "Don Quixote". It's an excellent song.

"The oceans of the world were a home to Big Blue, He was the greatest monster that the world ever knew, and the waters to the west was the place that he loved best, around the blue Pacific he did roam..."

There's a bunch more verses...about whales, whaling ships, the fight for survival, and so on...can't remember them right now...find this song and learn it.

"Ghosts of Cape Horn" is another great Lightfoot song about the sea, but there are no see beasties in that one.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: mg
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 11:14 PM

dance to your daddy, Mary and the Seal by Bill Gallagher, I am the Walrus, ...a great one by Brian Peterson of B.C...when the tide is out the table is set...Acres of Clams, ...

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: ddw
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 11:22 PM

In the late '50s or early '60s Frankie Lane did a great, rousing version of Moby Dick. All I can remember of if is:

Moby Dick was so big and slick
There was never such a whale
He could sink a ship with the slightest flip
Of his mighty, mighty tail
Now this kind of man won't be denied
What's on the briney deep
And that is why the captain died
Way out where he lies asleep

I don't know where the song same from, but suspect it might have been the theme/credits music for a movie. Maybe somebody with a better memory than mine can add more of the background and lyrics.

cheers,

david

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Downeast Bob
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 11:25 PM

What riches! Thanks to everybody who has posted suggestions.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: ddw
Date: 10 Aug 00 - 11:41 PM

Sorry, that should be Frankie Laine. Just checked his web site, but found no mention of that song. Had it on a long-since-lost album back then, but haven't found it on any of the reissue CDs I've seen.

Think I just remembered some more:

There's a bridge line....

Yo ho, yo ho, a-whalin' they did go
then another verse
The bravest men chased after him
And each one of them he fought
And every ship he did outswim
To this day he's not been caught
They couldn't pierce his hide of steel
No harpoon made would hold


Oh, jeez! somebody help me, please. Now I've got this partial song in my head and it'll drive me wild till it's finished

david

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 12:01 AM

Gooey Duck on When the Spirit Says Sing on Folk Legacy.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 12:53 AM

Yes, Gooeyduck! Great song to do with kids! Definitely look that one up.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAMBTON WORM^^^
From:
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 10:24 AM

THE LAMBTON WORM This is a legend of Lord Lambton who was cursed never to die in bed as Lambton had wronged a witch when she rid the area of a 'worm' ( O.English for dragon) The sad truth is the curse came true and no owner of the title has died a'bed always tragically or in war this is writen for a Geordie to sing so written as heard.

chorus and 1st verse Whist lads an' h'ld yer gobs I'l tell ye aw an awful storie whist lads an' h'ld yer gobs I'll tell ye o' the Warm 2 Young Lambton was a very fond o' fishin' in the weir n' thar it was he c'at a fiush he thoiught looked mighty quaire but just wha' kind o' fish it was young Lambton couldnae tell sae not inclined to tak it hame he hau'ed it doon the well chorus 3 young lambton was inclined to gan an' fight in forine wars, with men they ca''ed Crusaders who cared no' fer cuts or scars and many years in Palestine and strange things him befell he very soon forgot aboot that quaire thjing doonn the well chorus 4 noo this Warm he grew and grew until it wos a' awful size wi' geet big teeth a' geet big mooth a' geet big goggle eyes it ate all sheep an' coos an' such that lived on dale or fell an folk got terrified aboot that creature fro' the well

memory fading on the rest but this is a great folk song others should fill in gaps.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: MMario
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 10:28 AM

Should I mention this is in the Digital Tradition?

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 11 Aug 00 - 08:04 PM

Billy the Squid :-)

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: WyoWoman
Date: 12 Aug 00 - 01:41 AM

Kids always love "The Slithery Dee ... "

ww

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Abby Sale
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 12:26 AM

Bob: The song you refer to (which) is usually called "Wha's the Fool Now?" [This title, BTW, is a Scotishization of an Anglicazation of the original Scottish title, "Wha's Fu' the Noo?" - just thought I'd toss that in.] It's an excellent lying song & goes well with adults & kids. The US evolved version is "Hurray! Lie!" (See Lomaz, eg.)

The applicable verse:

I saw a flea heave a tree, fie, man, fie
I saw a flea heave a tree, who's the fool now
I saw a flea heave a tree, twenty miles out to sea


However, I thought it was mandatory in marine biology to sing "IT'S A LONG WAY FROM AMPHIOXUS," also in the database. As you will rapidly see, the phylogeny is a bit dated but that doesn't seem to matter to the several folk- singing marine biologists I know.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Abby Sale
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 12:28 AM

Oh, sorry; that was lox that mentioned the flea. Still..

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 02:36 AM

Sea critters that show up in some West Indian shanties

"Hell Of A Wedding On The Congo River" Butterfish get up to sneak a peice,
Way,hey, hey me bully boys
Baboon say leave me cake alone
Way, hey, hey me bully boys
What do you think they had for supper,
Way, hey, hey, hey me bully boys
Blackfish tail & a dip in the scupper

"Blackbird Get Up"
Blackbird get up, higher
Whitebird do the same, higher

"Round The Bay Of Mexico" Nassua girls they got no combs
Yea, Suzianna
They comb their hair with a groupper backbone
Round the Bay of Mexico

"Swing Your Tail"
Swing your tail like a barracuda(grouper or snapper) tail
Bulldog goin' bite me

"John dead" John dead, grey goose gone home
And the fox in the way-O

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From:
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 02:01 PM

I cant't remember the album, but Tom Lewis has a great song about whaling, the refrain of which is "I tell you, sir, them fish can think as well as you or me"

Shoals of Herring is another good one about the fishing trade, as is "Three Day Millionaire"

If you like I'll see if I can convert then to WAV format and sen them to you.

Peter Benson

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Elise
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 08:39 PM

The Codfish song, i.e.:

Them Frisco kids ain't got no sleds they slide down hills on codfish heads

Them Frisco girls ain't got no combs they comb their hair with codfish bones

The chorus is John Kanaka

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Margo
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 10:01 PM

A good one is WHERE THE COHO FLASH SILVER by Lloyd Arntzen. You can hear a sample here at Shanghaied on the Willamette. It's a song that even the young ones can understand, and it's a pretty song too. Margo

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: WyoWoman
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 11:33 PM

I guess "The Last Leviathan" would be sort of a downer, hunh?

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: GUEST,Indigo
Date: 13 Aug 00 - 11:41 PM

I didn't notice 'Puff, The Magic Dragon', and Peter, Paul, and Mary would be hurt if it isn't mentioned. Regards

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Bud Savoie
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 04:36 PM

This thread put me in mind of an Irish tune called "Brendan's Fair Isle," which was about the voyage of St. Brendan the Navigator to America, and it features a sea serpent. Anyone have the words?

There's another Irish one called "Molly-O" about a sailor who runs into a talking sea monster.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Bud Savoie
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 04:36 PM

This thread put me in mind of an Irish tune called "Brendan's Fair Isle," which was about the voyage of St. Brendan the Navigator to America, and it features a sea serpent. Anyone have the words?

There's another Irish one called "Molly-O" about a sailor who runs into a talking sea monster.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Bud Savoie
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 05:08 PM

Found the Brendan one on--Mudcat. It's called Saint Brendan's Voyage and is written by Jimmie Driftwood??? The Arkansawyer who wrote "The Battle of New Orleans?"

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Mbo
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 05:14 PM

How about "I Am The Walrus"!? BTW I got lots of songs about Wild Geese...

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Bert
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 05:46 PM

Tom paxton wrote one about...
We're all going to the 'quarium
Where the fishes make the googly eyes and stare-ium.

And don't forget Joe Brown's 'Jellied Eels'

Bert.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 14 Aug 00 - 05:55 PM

Elise! I know it as Cape Cod Girls and I've never heard the chorus as John Kanaka. I always sing them as separate songs with the 4th graders, who love them both. Live and learn...

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Hollowfox
Date: 25 Aug 00 - 10:42 AM

Magpie (a fine duo) have two albums out with songs that you'd probably find useful. You didn't mention the age range you'd be working with in your school visiting, but a lot of their stuff is good for both the upper and lower endss of "school age". One of the albums is called "Living Planet"(1990), the other is called "Circle of Life", and I think it would have a lot of exactly what you probably need. Particulars are at www.magpiemusic.com.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 09 May 01 - 11:36 AM

Refresh 'cause it's that time of year again that the teachers in grades 2 & 4 come and ask me to "do ocean songs"!

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 May 01 - 02:33 PM

My sea songs group will be singing at a "Sea Food Festival" at the Portland (ME) Public Market next week, and I'm wondering if anyone ever did a song for those remarkable "flying fish" one observes at the Pike's Public Market in Seattle? Yes, we'd love to do "Gooey Ducks" as well.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: GUEST,Albamist
Date: 09 May 01 - 02:38 PM

How about Donovan's "Celia of the seals" which is taken from my favourite Donovan album "HMS Donovan". It is full of childrens songs including great versions of the Jaberwoky, The owl and the pussycat and The walrus and the carpenter. Maddy Prior also does a nice version of The Great Silkie of Sules Skerry Cheers

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 10 May 01 - 01:03 AM

The two songs that probably specifiy the widest catalog of aquatic life are Winy old Weather and You Ain't a Nova Scotian If You Don't Like Fish. (Both in DT)

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Boab
Date: 10 May 01 - 03:23 AM

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Boab
Date: 10 May 01 - 03:34 AM

Ach! Spatulate digits again [see empty mailing, above---]

Isla St Claire used to sing a wee ditty "Of all the Fish that Live in the Sea" Chorus--"Of all the fish that live in the sea, the herrin' is the ane for me---how are ye the day, how are ye the day, how are ye the day, my honey-o" One of the "progression"songs--"What'll I dae wi' the herrin's heid---fins---tail---scales etc.." Kids are right into it. Boab

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 May 01 - 04:29 AM

I was just going to mention the Herring song but Boab beat me to it!

Try taking a kettle in with you and asking the kids if they know what kind of sea creature it is...

A WATER 'OTTER of course:-)

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 May 01 - 08:24 AM

My mother once had a chidren's book published entitled "Deep Sea Farm;" as I recall it was full of delightful nautical nonesense.

We always find that kids love to chorus along on "Dramamine," that lovely song about the joys of seasickness.

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 May 01 - 08:29 AM

As long as I'm stuck here waiting for the electricians...How about the Lewis Carrol's poem "I Sent a Message to the Fish," lovely nonesense. Then there's "Fishfingers," "The Old She-Crab," and "Haul Away the Nets." Then there's Jon Campbell's song about "Mobsters eating Lobsters" – how does that go? Ah, they's finally here!

Subject: RE: Help: Songs about sea critters
From: dwditty
Date: 10 May 01 - 08:33 AM

Bill Sables introduced me to The Mermaid. I'll post the lyrics when I get home. Wonderful!

dw