Want song suggestions for a sing-along

Subject: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: GUEST,Lil Bitta Guitar
Date: 04 May 07 - 02:12 AM

We have an annual party with a casual sing-along. I am working on a songbook because many of our friends like to sing but can't remember the lyrics. I have some of my favorites but I'm looking for song suggestions. These are regular folks, singles, parents and kids, mostly not musicians. I grew up singing while my dad played guitar. I play basic guitar chords. I wish I had my dad's play list - Dad's not around any more, so I have to go by memory and what I can find lyrics to.

What are your favorite sing-along songs? What kinds of songs can really get a group going? We already have some classic folk (e.g., This Land is Your Land, 500 Miles, Tavern in the Town, Working on the RR, If I Had a Hammer, Jamaica Farewell) and we also enjoy early Beatles, John Denver, James Taylor (not always easy to play or sing along with, though).

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 May 07 - 03:29 AM

Well, I may get shunned for saying this, but the Rise Up Singing songbook from Sing Out! Magazine would be a wonderful resource for you. It can be misused if people slavishly adhere to it as a hymnal, but it does have lots of songs that are perfect for group singing.
I guess I have to say that I prefer to lead singing campfire-style, with choruses people can learn easily.
"The Hole In the Bottom of the Sea" always goes over well, as does "Good Old Mountain Dew." And you'd be amazed how good a time people can have singing "I've Been Working on the Railroad."
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: GUEST,Lil Bitta Guitar
Date: 04 May 07 - 03:54 PM

Great suggestions, Joe. When you say "campfire style" I'm assuming you mean singing without songbooks? I have a debate in my head and I've love to hear people who are outside of my head weigh in it: Is it better (or more fun) to sing songs together without songbooks and just let people sing as much as they can? (And sing more songs with easy choruses?) The advantages I see are that we can look at each other more and interact, and it is true to the original folk and oral tradition to just pass songs along orally. Or is it better/more fun to have songbooks so people can sing more of the songs? Advantage: more singing satisfaction, if you are like me and get so much joy out of putting your voice in song.

My dad used to just start singing, and friends would sing along as they could or just listen. I must admit that if we sing without books, I will have to study up on more songs because I don't have all the verses memorized of every one of my favorites. My dad played many, many songs from memory and could switch to different keys if it was too high or low for the crowd. He was a lot like Pete Seeger. Perhaps some day I'll be able to do that!

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: cptsnapper
Date: 04 May 07 - 05:14 PM

You'd be amazed at just how much people can remember once they start singing. And I think that it's better without books.

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: ClaireBear
Date: 04 May 07 - 05:23 PM

You just reminded me of a time when my family -- who routinely play music together, mostly old-time, western, and Latin American material from the early 20th century -- was responsible for entertaining two distant relatives we'd never met who were visiting from Germany and spoke little English.

After sitting around awkwardly for some time, we started pulling out the instruments. Someone produced a washtub base and a washboard, both of which we assigned to the Germans, and we all started singing. All we had in common was Beatles songs, but there was enough material there to entertain us for hours!

By the way, it is impossible to remain aloof while playing washtub base. Keep one handy!

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: ClaireBear
Date: 04 May 07 - 05:37 PM

I forgot to mention what makes the prior anecdote appropriate to this thread:

My family had never, ever sung any Beatles material before, individually or collectively, and neither had our German relatives. But somehow we all knew them.

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Donuel
Date: 04 May 07 - 08:51 PM

Thanks Joe
I put the spiral bound songbook on Amazon wishlist/

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: GUEST,Lil Bitta Guitar
Date: 05 May 07 - 12:52 AM

Thanks for the input. This is a wonderful website - I just discovered it. I found several old threads that asked similar questions, and I'll list them here in case anyone else is making a list of favorite sing-along songs:

The value of camp songs: www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=65845#1088258
Songs to warm up a song circle:
www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=56242#880504

I'm still interested in more discussion of the songbook or no songbook question. I don't need the debate over Rise Up Singing, though - I can search for old threads on that!

Lisa

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: guitar
Date: 05 May 07 - 03:51 PM

I use Rise up singing Joe and I think it's a great songbook

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Rasener
Date: 05 May 07 - 04:00 PM

Blowing in The wind
Rose of allendale
Morning has broken
Irene goodnight
Sammy's Bar
Tom Dooley
If I had a hammer
Barbara Allen
Old rocking chair
Fiddlers Green

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 05 May 07 - 04:14 PM

Beat me to it Les...was going to suggest Sammys Bar.....one of the best sing-alongs going....everybody joins.
Good Ale
Prospect, Providence, Perseverance.
The Aardvaark song (His Worship and the Pig)
Jack Hall.
Rosebud in June
We Poor Labourin' Men
The Hard Times of Old England
My Favourite...also already listed by Les......The Rose of Allendale

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 May 07 - 06:06 PM

You know, you can spend hours on Beatles songs, or Beach Boys, or Girl Group songs (my favorite). At San Francisco's Camp Harmony this last winter, I'll bet we spent fours hours straight, singing Beatles songs without a songbook. I never heard so many guys singing falsetto before, ever in my life.
And who can resist "Fun Fun fun" and "Good Vibrations," or "Chapel of Love" and "Soldier Boy"?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Ref
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 06:50 PM

Some of those old and new "zipper" songs are great. People can add appropriate words as they choose and, because the words are simple and repeat, you can concentrate on harmonies instead of lyrics.

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 07:01 PM

Jambalaya

Sloop John B

Gerry

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 07:54 PM

I think that except for Christmas songs like Jingle Bells, You Are My Sunshine is perhaps the most widely known song that will get the most participation for young or old.

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 08:12 PM

You are my sunshine
Its a sin to tell a lie
slowboat to china
yellow submarine
goonite Irene = to finish on
You made me love you (with Jolson impersonation) - actually anything by Jolson but Babyface and Bye Bye Blackbird are creations of genius.

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Nick E
Date: 21 Jun 07 - 08:14 PM

I was thinking "Ratlin Bog" but if you dont know the words ( As in Not Canadian) before hand it is not so much fun. If time is important try 11 Bottles of beer on the wall, on the album the original band did it as 99, but it can still work for a sing along.

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Gulliver
Date: 21 Jun 07 - 10:13 PM

Great selection of songs--except for Georgiansilver's--been singing all my life but don't know those

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 06:09 AM

Song books are great to give the basics , but its a lot better to 'learn' all the words , as it can be difficult to fully appreciate
the finer nuances of a lyric if you have to keep referring to the words !
Rise Up Singing seems to be the American Song Bible , and appears at ALL sorts of Song Sessions over there . There doesent seem to be the same reliance on any one particular book in UK , though .

Subject: RE: Want song suggestions for a sing-along
From: Debbie in Utah
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 12:34 PM

Check out the string for "Ain't Gonna Grieve My Lord No More."

It was one of my favorites as a child, listening to what people came up with when it was their turn to fill in the blanks.

I remembered it as "Oh You Can't Get To Heaven," typed that in the search, and saw many interesting fill'ins I had forgotten, or never seen before.