Lyr Add: The Alphabet Song variations

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Bert
Date: 24 Dec 07 - 10:00 AM

We used to do the same Mo, but around in a circle with everyone taking a turn.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: GUEST,Reese
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 12:44 AM

Hello I don't remember all the verses but it went something like this: (XXXX 2 time Long 2 time short if there)

Appleseeds make apple trees (AAaa) A
Blue Bear Loves the USA (BBbb) B
Cindy trades carrots for some corn (CCcc) C

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: pavane
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 03:17 AM

A late reply to Barrie Roberts (2005) :

Re: John Foreman's version of the 'Cockney Alphabet', I think you'll find his W is 'for a quid' and his Z is 'for 'is 'at' (i,e. 'His head is for his hat')

Yes to W for a quid, but in the version I recorded, he uses the Zephyr Breezes line for Z.

If anyone wants to hear it, I can direct them to a private URL.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 02:18 PM

To return to the original question (we seem to have strayed somewhat)
in the 50s we sang the alphabet to the tune of Jack and Jill went up the hill.
ABCDEFG
HIJKLM
NOPQ-RSTU
VWXYZ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Joe_F
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 10:04 PM

For us (ca. 1940) it was

ABCDEFG
HIJKLMNOP
LMNOPQRST
UVWXYZ

TTTO "Twinkle, twinkle, little star".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: CapriUni
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 01:29 AM

I grew up with the "Twinkle, Twinkle" version, too. But sometime in the last few months (when I had several tunes tumbling around in my head at the same time, and they were getting jumbled around together), I realized that the alphabet fits much more snugly into the tune of "Frere Jacques":

A, B, C, D
E, F, G, H
I, J, K
L, M, N
O-P-Q-R-S-T
U-V-W-X
Y and Z
(That's the end).

A couple of weeks ago, I started to wonder if I could fit the alphabet to other children's rounds; "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" is too short. I thought maybe "Three Blind Mice" would work.

Prodded by this thread, tonight, I've finally hammered it out:

A B C
D E F
G H I J
K L M N
O P Q R S and T and U
and then there is V and there's dou-ble-U
and then, there's X, and there's Y and there's Z
and that's the end.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 02:08 PM

Here are the lyrics given along with a tune in McCaskey, John Piersol. Franklin Square Song Collection: Two Hundred Favorite Songs and Hymns for Schools and Homes, Nursery and Fireside. New York: Harper, 1881, page 170:

A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, I, K, L, M, N, O, P,
Q, R, S, and T, U, V,
Double-you and X, Y, Z.
Happy, happy shall we be,
When we've learned our A, B, C.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Melissa
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 02:24 PM

Stanley Holloway did "Elephant's Alphabet"

An A-nut, a B-nut...LMNO P-nut

Subject: Lyr Add: ALPHABET SONG (Emma C. Dowd)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 02:25 PM

Here's a version that's actually attributed to an author, from:

Dodge, Mary Mapes. St. Nicholas. New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1890, Volume 18, page 401:

ALPHABET SONG
Emma C. Dowd.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G,—
Baby and I will sail the sea;
H, I, J, K, L, M, N,—
Across the ocean and back again;
O, P, Q, R, S, T, U,—
Now on the railway, choo, choo, choo!
V and W, X, Y, Z,—
Home is the best place for baby and me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 07:08 PM

As a resident in the UK I find it a shame that the above quotes all seem to rhyme 'Z' with 'T'. Or Zee & Tee.
Over here we use 'Zed' (except those brought up in the Sesame Street era)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 07:33 PM

Zed? How quaint!
Zed, bed, bled, fed, ted, dead, wed, said, led- can't rhyme the alphabet with those words.
You may as well accept the American improvement.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: CapriUni
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 10:05 PM

Here's a rhyme that only works with zed:

A, B, C, D, E, F, G
Little Robin Redbreast sitting on a tree;
H, I, J, K, L, M, N
He made love to Little Jenny Wren.
O, P, Q, R, S, T, U
"Dear Little Jenny, I want to marry you."
V, W, X, Y, Z
Poor little Jenny, she blushed quite red.

(From The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book, assembled by Iona and Peter Opie [first edition copyright 1955, Oxford University Press)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Sep 08 - 10:27 PM

Quite right, CapriUni.
In the same book is Tom Thumb's Alphabet, with "Z was a zany, a poor harmless fool." 'Zee' fits better than 'Zed,' I think.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 17 Sep 08 - 05:38 PM

Or the Cockney alphabet.....
Z for 'is 'at. (That'll fox 'em!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: CapriUni
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 02:12 AM

Q --

'Zed' is a form of the Greek name for the letter: "Zeta."

Americans only changed it to "Zee" after our split with Britain, in a feeble attempt to make our language different.

Same reason we went through a period of spelling 'Socks' as 'Sox' and why we took the u out of 'colour.' ... Some of the changes stuck, and some didn't.

What I want to know is (and have yet to find a satisfying answer to): How did alphabets get to have difinitive 'Alphabetic orders' long before literacy (much less dictionaries) became common?

Also: Has anyone written a song for the QWERTY alphabet order, yet (Or shall I have to do it?) ;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 06:03 AM

"What I want to know is (and have yet to find a satisfying answer to): How did alphabets get to have difinitive 'Alphabetic orders' long before literacy (much less dictionaries) became common?"
Probably from people like us, lovers of the language(s) playing about.
As an example of an early alphebetisation, we can go back to the Old Testament, Book of Psalms.
Psalm 119 is an acrostic (in the original Hebrew), being 176 verses in 22 blocks of 8.
The first block all start with the Hebrew letter Aleph, vv 9-16 with Beth, 17-24 Gimel, et seq to the last 8 verses starting with Tav.
Each verse also includes a reference to the word of God, or his laws/precepts. (with one exception which I leave to the reader to find!)

Of course, someone may be able to find an earlier example!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: CapriUni
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 01:52 PM

Nigel -- thanks for the information on alphabet play in the psalms.

What first got me wondering about this is line attributed to Jesus: "I am the alpha and the omega." That wouldn't make any sense at all if it were not already firmly established that "alpha" comes first, and "omega" comes last.

But why was it ever decided, in the first place, that alpha should come first, and omega go last?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 02:29 PM

Brings up a digression- who decided that Jesus said, "I am the alpha and the omega? Did his teacher know Greek? Or did he pick it up from someone bearing gifts?

Looking forward to learning qwerty and yuiop. Don't google querty lyrics, only linkin park seems to come up.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: CapriUni
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 08:22 PM

Q --

I don't know. It is true that there was already much trade between the Jews and the Greeks at that time, so it may have just been common knowledge.

Or, it could be that the person who wrote that story down was translating what Jesus said for a Greek audience, and figured that using "Alpha and Omega" would be be clearer than using "Alef and Tav,"
and then trying to explain what that meant.

...Did you try Googling "QWERTY" instead of "querty?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 08:40 PM

Yep, I am just guilty of preferring right-wing yuiop to left-wing qwerty.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: CapriUni
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 05:06 AM

Okay... But "Wingers" are not very good typists, anyway. Mostly, they hunt n' peck...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: GUEST,granny92
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 10:08 AM

I remember singing an alphabet song that started out with
"A is for the apple that grows upon the tree,
B is for the birds that sing for you and me.
C is for the camel with a hump upon his back,
D is for the duck that goes quack, quack, quack.
E is for the elephant.........................."
and this is where I get stuck. Does anyone in cyberspace recall this song and know more of the words to it? I seem to associate it with the Captain Kangaroo show in my memory. Thanks.

Subject: Lyr Add: TOM THUMB'S PICTURE ALPHABET (1744)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 09:01 PM

TOM THUMB'S PICTURE ALPHABET
^^
A was an archer, who shot at a frog;
B was a butcher, and had a great dog.

C was a captain, all covered with lace;
D was a drunkard, and had a red face.

E was an esquire, with pride on his brow;
F was a farmer and followed the plough.

G was a gamester, who had but ill luck;
H was a hunter, and hunted a buck.

I was an innkeeper, who loved to carouse;
J was a joiner, who built up a house.

K was King William, once governed this land;
L was a lady, who had a white hand.

M was a miser, and hoarded up gold;
N was a nobleman, gallant and bold.

O was an oyster girl, who went about town;
P was a parson, and wore a black gown.

Q was a queen, who wore a silk slip;
R was a robber, and wanted a whip.

S was a sailor, and spent all he got;
T was a tinker, and mended a pot.

U was a usurer, a miserable elf;
V was a vintner, who drank all himself.

W was a watchman, and guarded the door;
X was expensive, and so became poor.

Y was a youth, that did not love school;
z was a zany, a poor harmless fool.

"The earliest known nursery rhyme book "Tommy Thumb's (Pretty) Song Book" was published 'for the Diversion of all Little Masters and Misses' in 1744," in two tiny volumes. Note in Opie and Opie, "The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book," 1955 (reprinted with corrections 1957, 1960).

I couldn't find this alphabet rhyme in Mudcat, although there are references to it in thread 28733: Alphabet
This particular rhyme is not known before that date.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 09:08 PM

Sorry, forgot to cut off the bold.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WORKING MAN'S A.B.C. (from Bodleian)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 09:59 PM

THE WORKING MAN'S A.B.C.

A Alphabet that we used to learn at school,
You'll find a dealt of truth in it, tho' written by a fool.

B British Workman, there are thousands here to-day.
The Eight-Hours Movement we must have, and that without delay.

C Country. Ours is governed by the swells,
The rich man eats the oysters, the poor man gets the shells.

D Donkeys- the masters are we say,
But when the men begin to strike, the Union made them bray.

E Eight Hours we want to play,
Eight to work and eight to sleep, and get eight bob a day.

F Freedom. We have it here no doubt,
If you haven't got a dinner you are free to go without.

G Greed and that precious stuff called gold.
Our capitalists possess it, and tight enough they hold.

H House and Home, alright when we've got tin,
But when out of work and can't pay up, they put the brokers in.

I Improvements, which our rulers seem to shirk,
Why don't they act about it, and give shorter hours for work?

J Justice- the poor they seldom get,
And though the good time's coming, it has not come as yet.

K Kind relations, when a bob you want to borrow;
I haven't any cash today, pray call again tomorrow.

L Lies.- I'm sure the lot they tell,
It's very near enough to send the blooming lot to--- Spain, well, well.

M Masters; but then you see there's Missus,
Some Missuses wear drawers, but my one wears the breeches.

N Number that have to emigrate,
And leave their native country to avoid a pauper's fate.

O Old Times, which our father's said was good 'uns,
When instead of dining on faggots, we get roast beef and puddings.

P Parliament. When members they get there,
For the working-men who got them in, the devil a bit they care.

Q Question? Let them answer if they can,
Do the masters care a little bit how they slave the working man?

R Royalty- it also stands for Rot-
As long as they get their money, we can all of us go to pot.

S Strikes there's been throughout the nation,
We boldly stuck up for our rights though threatened with starvation.

T Trade Unions, they'll come it pretty think,
And make the masters jump about like a monkey on a stick.

U Uncle's, where our clothes go up the spout,
But when they're there it's jolly hard sometimes to get them out.

V Victory, which we hope soon to attain,
And every man employment find, not seek for it in vain.

W Wealth. But when a man gets skinned,
He finds what sort of friends he's got when he wants to raise the wind.

X Ten Hours, men very often toil,
But eight I think is quite enough throughout the British soil.

Y Young Men, the masters they will tickle
If they don't get what they want they'll put them in a pickle.

Z Zealous- which one and all should be,
And stand by one another, to bring prosperity.


Bodleian Collection, Firth c11(204). Dated [1891].

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: GUEST,SongSinger
Date: 27 Jul 09 - 05:56 AM

ABC Song a Gospel Song I sung when I was young but can't remember all of it can someone help me out?

A is the Answer to all of our prayers
B is for The Bible to help us through the years
C is for Christ to look to each day
D is for devil tempting in his way

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ALPHABET SONG (Sol Smith Russell)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Jul 09 - 01:13 PM

From Sol Smith Russell's "Jeremy Jollyboy" Songster by Sol Smith Russell (New York: Robert M. De Witt, 1876), page 14:

^^
THE ALPHABET SONG.

Now folks, I'll sing a little song, and I hope you all to please.
I'll make it from the alphabet, and commence with A, B, C's,
D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K L, M, N, O, P,
Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, the X, and Y, and Z.

CHORUS: Then listen to me well; oh, hearken unto me,
And I'll sing to you the alphabet, from A way down to Z.

A stands for America, land of the brave and free.
B stands for Bully Boys; I expect that's you and me.
C stands for Curiosity; that means an honest man.
D stands for Dishonesty, which with the world began.

E stands for Eve, who first did Adam tempt.
F stands for Frogs, of which ould Ireland is exempt.
G stands for Goose; good Goose is good I think.
H stands for Hoping that we'll never want a drink.

I stands for Ireland; I hope she'll soon be free.
J stands for Jury, who seldom do agree.
K stands for Kentucky, where they make bourbon and rye.
L stands for Lawyers; oh, my, but can't they lie!

M stands for Married folks, who're always in a stew.
N stands for Nobody; I suppose that's me and you.
O stands for One, Two, Three, away we go with speed.
P stands for President; a good one's what we need.

Q stands for Queer, and that's our Administration.
R stands for Rotten; that's the head of our great Nation.
S stands for Swindlers; in Washington they live.
T stands for Treason, which we never can forgive.

U stands for Union, which divorces often sever.
V stands for Victory; may it ours be forever.
W stands for Washington, a kind friend, but bitter foe.
X stands for X-actly what I lost at Keno.

Y stands for Young; I mean that rat, old Brigham Young.
Z stands for Zeal, with which I hope my song was sung,
& now my song is ended. I'll take my oath above,
That I never want to see the back of my neck, if ever I cease to love.

Subject: Lyr Add: NEW ALPHABET FOR 1865
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 06:18 PM

From Littell's Living Age (Boston: Littell, Son, and Company, Third Series, Vol XXVIII, No 1081, 18 Feb 1865), page 306:

^^
NEW ALPHABET FOR 1865.

A is for America, a land so wide and free,
There's room for all the human race and all posterity.

B is for Belligerent, a name that was bestow'd
On southern rebels who betray'd and shed their country's blood.

C is for the Chivalry, who would o'er all the nation
Spread slavery, and be themselves the lords of all creation.

D is for Devotion, true to Freedom's righteous cause,
Devotion to the Union, devotion to the laws.

E's for Eagle, dauntless bird, of bold, unflinching gaze;
May our brave fellows face the foe as he the noontide blaze.

F's for Admiral Farragut: hardy vet'ran sea-king;
Conq'ring he comes, thro' storm of guns, cannon loudly shrieking.

G's for glorious General Grant! That we may take for granted;
Thank God! for granting such a Grant just at the time he's wanted.

H is for Hood, in Tennessee, who great things did determine,
But then in Thomas found his match, and was hood-winked by Sherman.

I—let the answer "I," "I," "I," re-echo through the land,
When duty calls for men to fight, with ready heart and hand.

J shall begin our Jubilee, when peace we celebrate,
When brothers shall be foes no more, and love shall conquer hate.

K is for Kindness, hail the day! when all men kindly deal
With fellow men, and wisely seek their own in others' weal.

L is for Lincoln — Abraham (henceforth a household name),
Who loved the paths his namesake trod, nor feared to keep the same.

M's for McClellan; what he did deserves fair praise and mention;
What he didn't we'll suppose supplied by good intention.

N Is for Neutrality, another name for aid
To rebellion, by building ships and running the blockade.

O is for Omnipotent; so may that people be,
Who put their trust in God's right hand to guard their liberty.

P is for Patriotism pure; God sees with eye benign,
And blesses those who sacrifice at thy most holy shrine.

Q's for our Quarrel. Many ask "what is it all about?"
"Is it worthwhile for negro slaves, the making such a rout?"

R's for Redemption, answer we, for this unhappy race;
To pity, help and succor them, God grant us all his grace!

S, crooked S, stands for undaunted Sherman's deathless name,
Who straight his fifty thousand led, through Georgia on to fame.

T is for Time, who puts an end to war and tribulation;
O! haste to spread thy healing wings over this bleeding nation!

U is for Union; herein lies our peace, our all;
United may we ever stand, divided we must fall.

V is for Victory — dearly won! Hence let men count the cost
Before they rouse, for selfish ends, to strife a kindred host.

W is for Wilmington. Thy day of plenty's past;
Of blockade runners to thy port thou'st seen the very last.

X is for Exeunt to Jeff D. and all his rebel crew;
Oh! wretched men! repent! There may be mercy yet for you.

Y is for Yankees — let the name have due appreciation;
They'll prove to friend as well as foe a very plucky nation.

Z is for Zealous friends, who see our cause in its true light;
May all in time spell with this rhyme, and learn to read it right!


A. R.
New York, January 31, 1865.
N. Y. Evening Post.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FEMINIST ALPHABET
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 06:37 PM

From The Poetic Year for 1916 by William Stanley Braithwaite (Boston: Small, Maynard & Company, 1917), page 239:

^^
THE FEMINIST ALPHABET.
Compiled by an agnostic.

A is for Antis — the allies of sin,
Who scourge Suffragitis with horrible din.

B is for Ballot — the sceptre which rules,
Not granted to Women, ex-convicts or fools.

C is for Child Labor (let plutocrats gloat).
How long would it last if Mothers could vote?

D is for Duty men owe to their Wives,
To give them the vote — then repent all their lives.

E is for Equality — sought at the polls
By feminine creatures with masculine souls.

F is for Franchise — 'Tis plain to be seen
They'll have it, God bless 'em, by nineteen steen steen.

G is for Girls — whenever they start
They'll vote with their head — but more with their heart.

H is for Husband with resolute jaw,
Who, when you have children, is required by law.

I is for Infant — asleep in her crib,
Deprived of a vote through descent from a rib.

J is for Justice which Women pursue.
They obey all the laws — why not make just a few?

K is for Kerbstone — where humble men stand
And watch suffrage pageants keep step with the band.

L is for Ladies — chock full of hard knocks
For the masculine voter, while darning his socks.

M is for Manacles — fetters which years
Have forged on the wrists of the Women, poor dears!

N is for Nations — learning at last
That shy, shrinking Woman's a thing of the Past.

O is for Oak — once for clinging vines suited,
But strong grew the vine, so the tree's been uprooted.

P is for Papa — once head of the house,
But since Mother voted as meek as a mouse.

Q is for Quibble — dare any man state
That Suffragettes do it when pressed in debate?

R is for Reverence — which decent man shows
To his charming and arduous suffragist foes.

S is for Sex — which being made double
Is really the mainspring of all of this trouble.

T is for Taxes — which Woman must pay.
Concerning their uses she's nothing to say.

U is for Union — for thus, hand in hand,
Queen Man and King Woman united should stand.

V is for Voting — what feminine bliss
Except perhaps flirting, is greater than this?

W is for Woman — the Mother of men,
But without any fathers, Mrs. Woman, what then?

X is for Xanthippe — quite set, as you know,
Did she, too, root for suffrage, so long, long ago?

Y is for Yoke — such as dumb cattle wear.
Let him who'd grind Woman to earth have a care!

Z is for Zenith (no more 'don'ts' and 'can'ts')
When Woman will stalk through the World wearing 'pants'!"

Subject: Lyr Add: SCRIPTURE ALPHABETS
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 07:50 PM

From The Infant Teacher's Assistant by Thomas Bilby, R. B. Ridgway (London: T. Bilby & R. B. Ridgway, 1843), page 21:


SCRIPTURE ALPHABETS.
Tune—Portugal New.

[1]
A is for Angel, that praises the Lord.
B is for Bible, God's most holy word.
C is for Church, where the righteous resort.
D is for Devil, who wishes our hurt.
E is for Eve, who was mother of all.
F is for Felix, who trembled at Paul.
G's for Goliath, whom David brought low.
H is for Heav'n, where the faithful will go.
I is for Isaac, the darling it seems.
J is for Joseph, who told Pharaoh's dreams.
K is for Korah, the rebel struck dead.
L is for Lot, who from Sodom was led.
M is for Moses, a great man of God.
N is for Noah, preserv'd from the flood.
O is for Og, a great Giant destroyed.
P is for Peter, who Jesus denied.
Q is for Quails, a sad curse in disguise.
R is for Rahab, who hid the two spies.
S is for Saviour, and Jesus is such.
T is for Thomas, who doubted too much.
U is for Uzzah, who died for his sin.
V is for Vashti, the hard-fated Queen.
W's for Whale, to Jonah a dread.
X is a cross, upon which Jesus bled.
Y is for yoke, 'tis the badge of a slave.
Z is for Zaccheus, whom Jesus did save.

[2]
A stands for Adam, of mankind the first.
B stands for Balak, who would Israel curse.
C stands for Canaan, the Jews promis'd rest.
D stands for David, whom God often bless'd.
E stands for Esau, his birth-right he sold.
F stands for Famine, once mighty we're told.
G stands for Gallio, who car'd not for God.
H stands for Herod, who shed infant's blood.
I stands for Israel, good Jacob's new name.
J stands for Joseph, his son of great fame.
K stands for Korah, of Moses' line.
L stands for Laban, whom Jacob did find.
M stands for Moses, he Israel did guide.
N stands for Nebo, the mount where he died.
O stands for Olives, where Christ was oft found.
P stands for Pharaoh, who in th' Red Sea was drown'd.
Q stands for Quails, on which Israel were fed.
R stands for Rachel, who mourn'd for her dead.
S stands for Samuel, a prophet from youth.
T stands for Thomas, who doubted the truth.
U's for Uriah, who in battle did fall.
V stands for Viper, that fasten'd on Paul.
W's for Wisdom, bestowed on a King.
X stands for Christ, whose praises we'll sing.
Y stands for Youngest, the prodigal son.
Z stands for Zimri, and now we have done.

[3]
A is for Athens, a place where Paul went.
B is for Bethlehem, where the Wise Men were sent.
C is for Carmel, a mountain we're told.
D is for Dothan, where Joseph was sold.
E is for Eden where Adam did sin.
F's for Fair Haven, where ships can go in.
G is for Goshen, a rich and good land.
H is for Horeb, where Moses did stand.
I is for Italy, where Rome stood so fair.
J is for Joppa, and Peter lodg'd there.
K is for Kadesh, where Miriam died.
L is for Lebanon, can't be denied.
M is for Moab, where Balaam was led.
M is for Nod, where wicked Cain fled.
O is for Olives, where Christ oft did go.
P is for Patmos, where John was, I know.
Q is for Quicksands, where ships oft are drawn.
R is for Ramah, where Samuel was born.
S is for Sychar, and there was a well.
T is for Tarsus, where Saul once did dwell.
U is for Ur, from whence Abram came.
V is for valley, and such I could name.
W's for wilderness, where many did sin.
X not a place named in Scripture begins.
Y is for Yesterday, our God still the same.
Z is for Zion, a mount of great fame.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Susan of DT
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 08:46 PM

OK guys. The next edition of the DT will have 18 alphabet songs.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE TEMPERANCE ALPHABET.
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 12:58 AM

From Temperance Anecdotes, Original and Selected by George Washington Bungay (New York: National Temperance Society and Publication House, 1873), page 263:


THE TEMPERANCE ALPHABET.

A is for Adder, that lies in the cup;
The drunkard don't see it, and so drinks it up.

B is for Bottle, marked "poison" thereon;
Touch not, taste not, nor handle, or you'll be undone.

C is for Conscience, which bids us beware
Of learning to drink, to lie, and to swear.

D is for Drunkard; just look at his nose;
How red are his eyes, and how dirty his clothes!

E is for Evening, when he goes out to drink;
What he knows does him harm, if he only would think.

F is for Fountain, so merry and clear;
Who only drink water have nothing to fear.

G is for Gin, that makes people lazy,
Then cross to their wives, and finally — crazy.

H is for Heaven, which no drunkard can know,
While drink holds him in bondage to sin and to woe.

I is for Inn; like a rat-trap, no doubt;
When once you get in, it is hard to get out.

J is for Jail, where the drunkard is kept
Till the fames of his liquor away he has slept.

K is for Knowledge, of which little remains
When he puts in his mouth what runs off with his brains.

L is for Liquor; whatever the name,
The taste, or the color, they all are the same.

M is for Monkey, who is wiser than men;
If you once get him drunk, you can't do it again.

N is for Noah, who planted the vine,
And — how sad is the warning! — got drunk on the wine.

O is the Orphan, of whom thousands are made,
Every mouth in the year, by the rum-seller's trade.

P is for Pledge, all good children should take.
If you can't sign your name, your mark you should make.

Q is for Quarrel; look sharp, and you'll find
In nearly all quarrels there's liquor behind.

R is for Rum, and for Rum-seller too;
With one or the other have nothing to do.

S is for Snow, where the poor drunkard lies,
Overcome by the liquor, and freezes and dies.

T is for Tippler, who grows worse and worse,
Till he finds, to his sorrow, not a coin in his purse.

U is for Union; in union there's strength;
With the young and the old we shall conquer at length.

V is for Victim, who staggered around
Till he fell in the river, where, of course, he was drowned.

W is for Woe, which everyone feels
Who partakes of strong liquor, and through the street reels.

X is for Xerxes; a great army had he;
But Alcohol's army is larger, you see.

Y is for Youth; daring youth, oh, beware,
Lest the love of strong drink should thee also ensnare!

Z is for Zealous, which I hope we will be
From strong drink's dominion our country to free.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Uly
Date: 11 Aug 09 - 12:57 AM

"Re Mel Bay's copyright of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star": Anyone can put a copyright claim on anything. That doesn't mean the claim will stand up in court. It is pretty easy to establish that the "Twinkle, Twinkle" melody was written by Mozart when he was a child. I believe his name for it was "At Your Direction, Mommy" or however one would say that in German."

That's actually not true. Mozart wrote a series of variations on the melody as a child, but the tune already existed.

Anyways, I've recently been singing the alphabet "weirdly", though it makes more sense the way I do it.

Same Twinkle Twinkle tune, but I break the letters up slightly differently:

A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N
O P Q
R S T
U V W
X Y Z
Now I know my ABC &c.

Of course, sometimes nowadays we sing it to the Super Why song. It's just catchier :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: GUEST,N96D
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 07:54 AM

Thanks, Q, in case you or anyone else is still reading this, the Working Man's Alphabet was what I sought, having found a reference to the People's Alphabet in a novel -

F stands for freedom, which old England brags about.
If you haven't got a dinner, why you're free to go without.

Also great to see complete versions of the Cockney Alphabet, for the ones I and my family have forgotten. Variations we use -

C for th'islanders - Seaforth Highlanders
D for a station - deforestation
I for Novello/the Engine - Ivor Novello/the Engine
N for cement - enforcement
O for the rainbow - over the rainbow
Y for sister - wife or sister

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: GUEST,Karla B.
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 05:24 PM

To GuestGranny92...I don't know the whole song either but starting with E, instead of elephant, we learned it as:

E is for the Eagle a mighty bird is he.
F is for the fox as sly as he can be.
G is for the Glowworm lighting up most everything.
H is for the horse in the circus ring.

From I-Z is where I get stuck. Sorry I wasn't more help. :o(

Subject: Lyr Add: ALPHABETICAL TRADES
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Apr 11 - 04:05 PM

From The Infant Teacher's Assistant by T. Bilby and R B. Ridgway (London: T. Bilby and R B. Ridgway, 1834), page 106:


ALPHABETICAL TRADES.

A is for Architect, he buildings does plan;
B is for Butcher, who sells beef and lamb.
C is for Currier, he leather does dress;
D is for Dyer, who will dye cloth, and press.
E's for Engineer, he makes vessels for steam;
F is for Farrier, who shoes horses—a team.
G is for Grazier, he for cattle has grounds;
H is for Huntsman, who follows the hounds.
I is for Ironmonger, selling screws, nails, and tools;
J is for Joiner, who builds Infant Schools.
K is for Keeper, he looks after game;
L is for Limner, who draws pictures to frame.
M is for Mason, he cuts stone square and round;
N is for Newsman, who takes papers round.
O is for Oculist, he doctors the eyes;
P is for Pastrycook, who makes jellies and pies.
Q's for Quillcutter, he prepares pens to write;
R is for Ranger, watching parks day and night.
S is for Sawyer, he cuts planks from a tree;
T is for Tailor, who clothes you and me.
U's for Upholsterer, he'd make a nice bed;
V is for Vintner, who sells white wine and red.
W's for Weaver, at his loom he will sing;
Y is for Yeoman, who waits on the King.

[It ends with Y.]

Subject: Lyr Add: MAJA'S ALPHABET
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Apr 11 - 04:17 PM

From The Treasury of Pleasure Books for Young Children edited by Joseph Cundall (Lowell [Mass.]: William G. Baker, 1850), page 50:


MAJA'S ALPHABET.

A is for Ann, who is milking a cow.
B is for Benjamin, making a bow.
C is for Charlotte, gathering flowers.
D is for Dick, who is one of the mowers.
E's for Eliza, feeding a hen.
F is for Frank, who is mending his pen.
G's Georgiana, shooting an arrow.
H is for Harry, wheeling a barrow.
I's Isabella, gathering fruit.
J is for John, who is playing the flute.
K is for Kate, who is nursing her dolly.
L is for Lawrence, feeding Poor Polly.
M is for Maja, learning to draw.
N is for Nicholas, with a jackdaw.
O's for Octavius, riding a goat.
P's for Penelope, sailing a boat.
Q is for Quintus, armed with a lance.
R is for Rachel, learning to dance.
S is for Sarah, talking to cook.
X is for Thomas, reading a book.
U is for Urban, rolling the green.
V's named Victoria, after our Queen.
W's for Walter, flying a kite.
X is for Xerxes, a boy of great might.
Y's for Miss Youthful, eating her bread.
AND
Z's Zachariah, a going to bed.

Subject: Lyr Add: AN ALPHABET OF CHILDREN (I F Bellows)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Apr 11 - 05:00 PM

From St. Nicholas, Volume 10 (New York: The Century Co., 1882), page 112:


AN ALPHABET OF CHILDREN
By Isabel Frances Bellows

A is for apt little Annie
Who lives down in Maine with her granny.
Such pies she can make!
And such doughnuts and cake!
Oh, we like to make visits to granny!

B is for bad little Bridget
Who is morn, noon, and night in a fidget.
Her dresses she tears,
And she tumbles downstairs,
And her mother's most worn to a midget.

C is for curious Charlie
Who lives on rice, oatmeal, and barley.
He once wrote a sonnet
On his mother's best bonnet
And he lets his hair grow long and snarly.

D is for dear little Dinah
Whose manners grow finer and finer.
She smiles and she bows
To the pigs and the cows
And she calls the old cat Angelina.

E is for erring young Edward
Who never can bear to go bedward.
Every evening at eight,
He bewails his hard fate
And they're all quite discouraged with Edward.

F is for foolish Miss Florence,
Who of spiders has such an abhorrence,
That she shivers with dread
When she looks overhead,
For she lives where they're plenty—at Lawrence.

G is for glad little Gustave,
Who says that a monkey he must have,
But his mother thinks not
And says that they've got
All the monkey they care for in Gustave

H is for horrid young Hannah
Who has the most shocking bad manner.
Once she went out to dine
With a party of nine
And she ate every single banana.

I is for ignorant Ida
Who doesn't know rhubarb from cider.
Once she drank up a quart,
Which was more than she ought,
And it gave her queer feelings inside her.

J is for jovial young Jack,
Who goes to the balls in a hack.
He thinks he can dance
And he'll caper and prance
Till his joints are half ready to crack.

K is for kind little Katy
Who weighs 'most a hundred and eighty,
But she eats every day
And the doctors all say
That's the reason she's growing so weighty.

L is for lazy young Leicester
Who works for a grocer in Chester,
But he says he needs rest
And he finds it is best
To take every day a siesta.

M is for mournful miss Molly
Who likes to be thought melancholy.
She's as limp as a rag
When her sisters play tag
For it's vulgar, she says, to be jolly.

N is for naughty young Nat
Who sat on his father's best hat.
When they asked if he thought
He had done as he ought,
He said he supposed 'twas the cat!

O's operatic Olivia
Who visits her aunt in Bolivia.
She can sing to high C,
But between you and me,
They don't care for that in Bolivia.

P is for poor little Paul
Who doesn't like study at all,
But he's learning to speak
In Hebrew and Greek
And is going to take Sanskrit next fall.

Q is for queer little Queen
Who's grown so excessively lean
That she fell in a crack
And hurt her poor back
And they say she can hardly be seen.

R is for rude master Ruby
Who once called his sister a booby,
But a boy who stood by
Heard her piteous cry
And came and chastised master Ruby.

S is for stylish young Sadie
Whose hat is so big and so shady
That she thought it was night
When the sun was out bright
And mistook an old cow for a lady.

T is for turbulent Teddy
Who never can learn to be steady.
He'll skip and he'll hop
And turn 'round like a top,
And he's broken his leg twice already.

U is unhappy Ulrika
Who takes her tea weaker and weaker.
She sits in the dust
And eats nothing but crust
And Moses, they say, wasn't meeker.

V is for valiant young Vivian
Who practiced awhile in oblivion,
Till he saw, without doubt,
He could turn inside out
And now they're all boasting of Vivian.

W is wise little Willie
Who lives where the weather is chilly,
But he skates and he slides
And takes lots of sleigh-rides
And he coasts on his sled where it's hilly.

X, Y, Z—each is a baby
Who is going to be wonderful, maybe,
For their mothers all say
To themselves every day
That there never was quite such a baby.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: GUEST,Susan
Date: 29 May 11 - 09:37 AM

Lol. In a moment of levity/parody, I give you the parody version of the alphabet song that one of my college roommates used to sing to me:

(To the tune of Twinkle, twinkle)

ABCD LSD
Gummy Bears are chasing me.
One is green, The other's blue.
The red ones sitting on my shoe.
Now I know my ABCs,
Next time won't you trip with me?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: GUEST,Sarah Sammi
Date: 16 Jun 11 - 03:31 PM

Hello,

I've spent many years (over 25) looking for a book. Unfortunately I did not know the title or author, only some of the rhymes within the book. Having been so used to Google not being able to help/point me in the right direction, I have been pleasantly surprised that this thread has answered my prayers!

Jim Dixon posted the following (thank you Jim!):

From St. Nicholas, Volume 10 (New York: The Century Co., 1882), page 112:

AN ALPHABET OF CHILDREN (A is for Apt little Annie etc)
By Isabel Frances Bellows

I have been trying to find out a little more but cannot source the book, I'm presuming the title could be slightly different, can anyone help?!

Thanks very much

Subject: Lyr Add: AH BOS CEE DAH (Johnny Cash)
From: Bettynh
Date: 17 Jun 11 - 01:20 PM

From a children's album by Johnny Cash:


AH BOS CEE DAH

Well if you'd like to learn your ABC's
Then listen very carefully to me.
You can sing them like a funny foreign song
and very very soon you'll sing along

The first 8 letters go like this:
Ah Bos Cee Dah Ee Fah Ga Ha
Ah Bos Cee Dah Ee Fah Ga Ha
A B C D E F G H
Ah Bos Cee Dah Ee Fah Ga Ha

The next 8 go like this:
I Jah Ka La Me Nah Oo Pah
I Jah Ka La Me Nah Oo Pah
I J K L M N O P
I Jah Ka La Me Nah Oo Pah

Now that's 16 letters, and there's 10 more you know
so let's take these next 10 slow

Qu Rah See Tah Uu Vee Wah X Yah Zee
Qu Rah See Tah Uu Vee Wah X Yah Zee
Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Qu Rah See Tah Uu Vee Wah X Yah Zee

Now let's put it all together:
Ah Bos Cee Dah Ee Fah Ga Ha
I Jah Ka La Me Nah Oo Pah
Qu Rah See Tah Uu Vee Wah X Yah Zee
means
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: PHJim
Date: 17 Jun 11 - 04:46 PM

Nigel Parsons, It's still officially pronounced Zed in Canada too, but as you mentioned, Sesame Street has converted a number of younger folks (by younger, I guess I mean under 50). Being an old fart, I find myself talking about Zed Zed Top. I would guess that the Zee pronunciation was adopted in order to make it rhyme.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: GUEST,Jim Dixon, at the Webster WI library
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 12:24 PM

More information for Sarah Sammi:

St. Nicholas is (or was) a periodical, not a book. St. Nicholas was the oldest source I could find, but the poem was also printed in several later books. To see a list of them, follow this link to a Google Books search results page.

Then, to see the actual text (if available) click on a book title.

Next, click on "About this book."

Next, click on "Find in a Library." This will take you to a different web site called WorldCat.org. Find the box called "Enter your location" and type in your Zip Code (if you are in the US) or your postal code (if you are in the UK or Canada—I don't know about other countries; maybe you would need your country name). Then click "Find Libraries." It will show you a list of libraries near you where the book can be found.

Does that answer your question?

I am away from home right now and might not be able to answer further questions for a couple of days. If you get stuck, you might try printing out a relevant page and taking it to a local library to see if the librarian can help you. I think most librarians are familiar with WorldCat.org and probably Google Books.

Subject: Lyr Add: AN ALPHABET MENAGERIE (Isabel F Bellows)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Jun 11 - 06:50 PM

I found this while searching for something else.

From St. Nicholas, Volume 11, No. 5 (New York: The Century Co., March, 1884), page 382:


AN ALPHABET MENAGERIE
By Isabel Frances Bellows

A was an Amiable Ape
Who lived on an African cape.
He climbed up the trees
On his elbows and knees
And came down by the fire escape.

B was a Bustling old Bear
Who thought he must have change of air,
So he went with a show,
Though it filled him with woe
To see people so rude as to stare.

C was a Comical Cat
Who tried to make love to a rat.
She sang him a song
Both loving and long,
But he said, "You can't fool me like that!"

D was a Dainty old Dog,
Who every day drank an egg nog.
He took it, he said,
To steady his head
In case there could come up a fog!

E was an Eminent Elephant
Who invented a thing called a telephant.
When they asked, "What's it for?"
He replied: "Such a bore,
To be pestered with questions irrelevant!"

F was a Frivolous Fawn
Who gave a soirée on the lawn.
He played on the flute
And sang to a lute,
But the guests would do nothing but yawn.

G was a Greedy old Goat
Who ate up his master's best coat.
He stood by with a leer
While they searched far and near
And remarked: "They seem rather afloat!"

H was a Hopeful young Horse
Who was brought up on love without force.
He had his own way,
And they sugared his hay,
So he never was naughty, of course!

I was an Idle Ichneumon
Who wanted to learn to play Schumann,
But he found to his pains,
It took talent and brains,
And neither possessed this Ichneumon.

J was a Jaunty Jaguar
Who once took a ride in a car,
But when asked for his fare,
Gave a growl and a stare,
And remarked: "That is going too far!"

K was a Keen Kangaroo
Who painted his children sky-blue.
When his wife said: "My dear,
Don't you think they look queer?"
He replied, "I'm not sure but they do."

L was a Lively old Lion
Whose conduct no man could rely on,
For he'd smile and look sweet
At the people he'd meet,
And be thinking which one he should fly on!

M was a Merry young Mink
Who went in to skate at a rink,
But he said that the ice
Was too hard to be nice,
And too smooth to allow him to think.

N was a Naïve Nylghau
Who would take his tea through a straw.
When his aunt said, "I think
'Twould be better to drink,"
He replied, "You had better withdraw!"

O was an Obese Old Ox
Who wanted to learn how to box.
A teacher he hired,
Who nearly expired
At the first of his terrible knocks!

P was a Prosy old Pig
Who complained that his brain was too big.
He felt it, he said,
Inside of his head—
Which was certainly strange, for a pig!

Q was a Quarrelsome Quagga
Who made a great bluster and swagger,
But what was quite queer,
When danger was near,
No trace could be found of the bragger!

R was a Rowdy young Rabbit
Who had a most terrible habit.
When he saw any food
Which appeared to him good,
He would rise from his chair and just grab it.

S was a Senseless old Sheep
Who spent all his time half asleep.
He was thinking, he said,
When he nodded his head,
But his friends though that tale rather steep.

T was a Terrible Tiger
Whose name was Abdullah Meshigah.
For lunch he would eat
Forty-two kinds of meat
And his postal address was "The Niger."

U was a Unique Unicorn
Who tried to peek over his horn.
He said he saw more
Than he e'er did before,
But it made him feel rather forlorn.

V was a Verdant old Viper
Who let himself out as a piper,
But so badly he played,
That the dancers all said
They would wait till his talents were riper.

W's a Wan little Weasel
Who spent all his days at his easel.
His friends came to see
What they thought was a tree,
But he called it a "Study of Teasel."

X, Y, and Z were three creatures
With all sorts of fabulous features.
They had talons and claws
And fiery jaws,
But their names haven't happened to reach us!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: GUEST,Dar Mueller
Date: 19 Apr 12 - 02:15 PM

I have been trying to remeber the alphabet song I sang as a child. I would love to sing it to my grandchildren. I will go as far as I remember.
A is for the apple that hangs upon the tree.
B is for the bird that sings so merrily.
C is for the camel with two humps upon his back.
D is for the duck that goes quack quack quack.
E is for the eagle, a mighty bird is he.
F is for the fox as sly as he may be.
G is??????
H is for the horse in the circus ring.
I is for the island where all the monkeys live.
J is for the jokes they're always sure to give.
K is for the kitten playing with a ball of string.
L is for the laugh their always sure to bring.
M is for mother ?????
N is ?????
O means that you must obey what mother says to you.
P is for the pie when your lunch is through.

That's all I remember. Any help out there? Thank you so much.

Subject: Lyr Add: ALFABET SONG (Barry Louis Polisar)
From: Bettynh
Date: 20 Apr 12 - 10:30 AM

ALFABET SONG
by Barry Louis Polisar


A is for armpit, acne and alchemy,
Au naturel and alcohol, albatross and atrophy,
Athlete's foot and anchovy, asthma, and autopsy
B is for bombshell, bacteria, and me.
B is for bombshell, bacteria, and me.

C is for cantankerous, canker sore, and candy,
D is for dumbbell, doody balls and dandy,
E is for egghead, enema and ear wax,
F is for follicle, fatty cell, and fax.
F is for follicle, fatty cell, and fax.

G is for grotesque, gross, and glockenspiel
H is for hernia, hemorrhoids (I hope they heal).
I is for imbecile, interface, and Illinois
J is for jugular vein, jaundice, and joy
J is for jugular vein, jaundice, and joy

K is for kickback, karma, and killer bee
L is for lint ball, lymph node, and larceny.
M is for mayonnaise, mayhem, and misogynist,
N is for nonsense, nudity, and nit.
N is for nonsense, nudity, and nit.

O is for oatmeal, Oreos, and oleo,
P is for politics, Pat and Edgar Allen Poe,
Q is for quadruple and R is for rude,
S is for S-hook and T is for two.
S is for S-hook and T is for two.

U is for undulate and V is for villainy,
W is too hard and so is X, Y and Z.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: Mark Ross
Date: 20 Apr 12 - 10:40 AM

One of my pre-school classes taught me this, to the tune of TWINKLE, TWINKLE.

A,B,C,D, dinosaur,
That is what the D stands for,
Some are big, some are small,
Some are short, some are tall,
A,B,C,D, dinosaur,
That is what the D stands for.


Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: GUEST,ev
Date: 25 Sep 12 - 08:44 PM

I know about half of the alphabet song you are referring to but would also like to know the entire version again as I once knew it.
A is for the apple that hangs upon the tree.
B is for the bird that sings for you & me.
C is for the camel with 2 humps upon it's back.
D is for the duck that goes "quack, quack, quack".
E is for the eagle, a mighty bird is he.
F is for the fox as smart as he can be.
G is for the glow worm lighting up most everything.
H is for the .........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Alphabet Song variations
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 15 Jul 17 - 01:23 PM

Hamish Imlach had a good one- I only recall a few of them...

B eef or mutton
C forth Highlanders
D eif or Dumb
E ?
F ervescence      any more?

Subject: Lyr Add: HERO ALPHABET
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 11:41 PM

From St. Nicholas, Vol. 20, No. 7, (New York: The Century Co., May, 1893), page 558:

HERO ALPHABET.

A is for Ajax and Achilles, too;
B is for Bayard (B's are very few).
C is for Columbus, who sailed across the sea;
D is for David — dauntless was he.
E is for Egbert, a conqueror reckoned;
F for Frederick, the Great, and the Second.
G for George Washington, our own hero he;
H is for Hercules, as strong as could be.
I for Idomeneus, who fought for old Greece;
J is for Jason, who won the Golden Fleece.
K is tor King Arthur and his many knights;
L is for Lancelot, who conquered in most fights.
M for Menelaus — at Troy he would not yield;
N is for Nestor, who bore the Golden Shield.
O is for Olaf, a Norse hero brave;
P for Patroclus, who sought the Greeks to save.
Q for Quixote, who went forth from his home;
R is for Romulus, who built the city Rome.
S for Sarpedon, who helped in Trojan War;
T is for Theseus, who slew the Minotaur.
U is for Ulysses, gone for twenty years;
V for Victoria, queen without peers.
W for Wellington, who won at Waterloo;
X is for Xenophon, a great leader, too.
Y for the Yorks, with their rose so white;
Z is for Zeus, god of great might.