Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood

Subject: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 07:39 AM

Hello, friends. I'm creating a program about the stages of life, and I'm looking for songs remembering what it was like to be a child, or from the point of view of a child. They don't have to be all fuzzy and cheerful, and they may or may not be children's songs. In fact, songs about the hardships, etc. of childhood are fine. Humor is fine, too! (we're also singing Cindy Kallet's "I'm a mammal" about nursing, and a wonderful menopause madrigal!).

You'd think that after 25 years of teaching elementary music I'd have a few more songs about being a kid, but I'm feeling a little dry on the topic, so thanks in advance!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: Azizi
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 09:17 AM

Hi, Animaterra!

This is probably not what you're looking for since the lyrics are in the voice of a child reminding her/his parents about how it is to be a child. But it's the first song I thought of -and I have good memories singing it at a junior high school program :o)

YOUNGER GENERATION

Everyone – If I eat too much jam, Mother look how young I am,Father dear, please recall that at one time you were small.If I'm hard on my clothes, And I do not wipe my nose,Parents dear, please recall that at one time you were small

1sts [Boyss]–Tiddle-ee-um, Tiddle-ee-um, Tiddle-ee-um, tum, tum, tum, tum,
2nds/Boys – Tum, tum…Tum, tum…Tum, tum, tum, tum
Everyone – We're the younger generation and the future of the nation

Boys –If I look as I pass, into every looking glass. Hum, Hum.If I stay out of doors, And don't help with kitchen chores, Hum, Hum.

1sts –Tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum,Parents mine, have no fears. Hum.Tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum,Parents mine, have no fears. Hum.

2nds –Tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum,Hum. Just go back some twenty years.Tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum, tum,Hum. Just go back some twenty years.

Boys –Tiddle-ee-um, Tiddle-ee-um, Tiddle-ee-um, tum, tum, tum, tum,

Girls –Tum…Tum, tum…Tum, tum, tum, tum.

Everyone – We're the younger generation and the future of the nation.

1sts –If to school I am late, (hold it out)…One time you were that way too?…And I hit back at the boys,…One time you were that way too? Tiddle-ee-um, Tiddle-ee-um, Tiddle-ee-um, tum, tum, tum, tum,

2nds –Please don't scold and agitate,…Isn't it true, One time you were that way too? If I make too much noise, (hold it out) back at the boys… Isn't it true,…you were that way too?…Tiddle-ee-um, Tiddle-ee-um, tum, tum, tum, tum,

3rds – Please don't scold and agitate,Parents dear, Isn't it true, One time you were that way too?…And I hit back at the boys,Parents dear, Isn't it true, One time you were that way too? Tum…Tum Tiddle-ee-um, tum, tum, tum, tum

Everyone – We're the younger generation and the future of the nation.

1sts – Parents dear, use your tact, (hold it out)…Is it our fault we were born?…Someday we will suffer too,…At some children of our own.Tiddle-ee-um, Tiddle-ee-um, Tiddle-ee-um, tum, tum, tum, tum,

2nds –If you don't like how we act…Do not mourn, Is it our fault we were born? Please forgive all we do, (hold it out) will suffer too…We shall groan,…children of our own…Tiddle-ee-um, Tiddle-ee-um, tum, tum, tum, tum,

3rds – If you don't like how we act Do not fret, do not mourn, Is it our fault we were born? …Someday we will suffer too, When in turn, we shall groan, at some children of our own.Tum…Tum Tiddle-ee-um, tum, tum, tum, tum

Everyone – We're the younger generation and the future of the nation. (hold it out for 6 beats)

http://74.125.45.132/search?q=cache:uawqG8Z9LzcJ:my.uen.org/mydocuments/downloadfile%3Fuserid%3Dmollyperson%26documentid%3D30757 pages 2 & 3

-snip-

I don't know who wrote this song and when.

Anyone know?

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN PEBBLES WAS A BABY
From: Azizi
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 09:24 AM

I also very much doubt that this handclap rhyme is what you are looking for. But you did say you were interested in songs about stages of life ;o)^^

WHEN PEBBLES WAS A BABY

When Pebbles was a baby, a baby, a baby,
When Pebbles was a baby, she used to go like this:
Wah, wah!

When Pebbles was a toddler, a toddler, a toddler,
When Pebbles was a toddler, she used to go like this:
Wah, wah, suck my thumb!

When Pebbles was a schoolgirl, a schoolgirl, a schoolgirl,
When Pebbles was a schoolgirl, she used to go like this:
Wah, wah, suck my thumb,
Gimme a piece of bubble gum!

When Pebbles was a teenager, a teenager, a teenager
When Pebbles was a teenager, she used to go like this:
Wah, wah, suck my thumb,
Gimme a piece of bubble gum,
Ooh, ah, lost my bra,
Left it in my boyfriend's car!

When Pebbles was a mother, a mother, a mother,
When Pebbles was a mother, she used to go like this:
Wah, wah, suck my thumb,
Gimme a piece of bubble gum,
Ooh, ah, lost my bra,
Left it in my boyfriend's car,
Oh, no, my water broke!

When Pebbles was a grandma, a grandma, a grandma,
When Pebbles was a grandma, she used to go like this:
Wah, wah, suck my thumb,
Gimme a piece of bubble gum,
Ooh, ah, lost my bra,
Left it in my boyfriend's car,
Oh, no, my water broke,
What'd you say? I can't hear you!

When Pebbles had a heart attack, a heart attack, a heart attack,
When Pebbles had a heart attack, she used to go like this:
Wah, wah, suck my thumb,
Gimme a piece of bubble gum,
Ooh, ah, lost my bra,
Left it in my boyfriend's car,
Oh, no, my water broke,
What'd you say? I can't hear you,
HELP ME, HELP ME!

When Pebbles was dead, dead, dead,
When Pebbles was dead, she used to go like this:
I'm dead!

http://www.inthe80s.com/rhymes.shtml

More examples from this family of children's rhymes can be found on this page of my website:http://www.cocojams.com/handclap_rhymes.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 09:32 AM

Hi, Azizi! I remember the Younger Generation song, wish I could remember the tune as well! I'll dig around and see. Not sure it's exactly what I seek, but digging around usually leads to some kind of inspiration!

Allison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 10:20 AM

Hmm-
I'm finding a few, but not sure if I'll use them:
Time has made a change
I knew this place

Still looking for some humor, though. I suppose there's always this one, though it's not much of a chorus song!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 07:32 PM

First one I think of (First verse):

Backward, turn backward, O Time in thy flight
Make me a child again just for tonight.
Mother, come back from the echoless shore-
Take me again to your heart as of yore.
Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care,
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair-
Over my slumbers your loving watch keep,
Rock me to sleep, Mother, rock me to sleep...

And then there's the timeless poem. A man passes his old schoolhouse:

Still stands the schoolhouse by the road,
A ragged begger sleeping;
Around the door the ivy grows   (not sure about this line)
And blackberry vines are creeping.
(Next,in his memory a little friend is speaking, a girl):

I'm sorry that I spelt the word,
I hate to go above you
Because- the brown eyes lower fell,
Because, you see, I love you.

Sad memory for the greyhaired man,
Her sweet child-grace bestowing (not quite right)
Dear girl, the grasses on her grave
Have forty years been growing.
He lives to learn, who lingers here,
That the few who go above him
Lament their triumph, and his loss,
Like her, because they love him.

Old poems and songs like thia don't now have widespread popularity. But for us who lived in those days- went to a one-room country school, they bring a tear and many a memory- and take us back to a time when "acts of kindness" were not so random.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 07:37 PM

Oh, Sorry, Annimaterra! I hadn't noticed you wanted humorous ones! Do forgive me for the two tear-jerkers above. I'll do better tomorrow!
Happy Old Christmas to all!    Jean

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: Genie
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 07:46 PM

Memories

Memories, memories, dreams of love so true.
O'er a sea of memories I'm drifting back to you.
Childhood days, wildwood days among the birds and bees!
You left me alone but you're still my own
In my beautiful memories.


School Days

School Days, school days, dear old golden rule days!
Reading and writing and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hick'ry stick,
You were my queen in calico,
I was your bashful barefoot bo,
You wrote on my slate "I love you, so"
When we were a couple of kids.



The Old Oaken Bucket

"How dear to my heart are the days of my childhood ... "

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: topical tom
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 07:57 PM

"Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed" by Little Jimmy Dickens


"I got my Education out Behind the Barn"
also by Little Jimmy Dickens.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 08:18 PM

Run the Film Backwards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 01:54 PM

This may or may not apply, but I always loved Tom Paxton's "Marvelous Toy."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 03:03 PM

These are great songs! Thanks so much~
It's funny how concert ideas evolve. I've whittled it down to needing just one song about childhood, and I've ended up with a lovely round by John Krumm, "Joy of my heart""

Joy of my heart, you know I love you.
Joy of my life, you know I care.
Someday you'll leave to take your place among the stars
but if you call my name just look and I'll be there.

Listen, Mommy (or "Daddy"), there's music in the air.
Look over yonder, see the sky.
I reach for my dreams and I know that I can touch them
If you hold me up higher I'll try.

I'm comin' home again, Dear Lord, I'm comin' home.
Home, where I learned how to love.
I'm comin' home---

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: Joe_F
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 07:23 PM

I wish they'd do it know

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: Padre
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 09:41 PM

The Statler Brothers have two that I recommend: "Do You Remember These" and "The Class of '57 had its Dreams" I have become fond of these two songs lately as our high school (Charleston High School) class is about to celebrate its 50th reunion.

Padre

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 08:58 AM

Azizi: I think the song THE YOUNGER GENERATION that you posted above was written by Ira Gershwin (words) and Aaron Copland (music), 1943 (but I haven't found any lyrics or sound samples to confirm this). This song was written for the film "The North Star" whose story and screenplay was written by Lillian Hellman. The plot concerned the Nazi invasion of the Ukraine; the song was sung by Ukrainian children while hiking.

Noel Coward and John Sebastian also wrote songs called THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 09:40 AM

I Don't Want To Play In Your Yard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 02:46 PM

There's IT'S ONLY A WEE-WEE by Peter Alsop—but be mindful of Joe Offer's objections here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: GUEST,Rising Son
Date: 19 Aug 12 - 01:34 PM

Thanks for posting the lyrics to Younger Generation; I have a copy that credits as follows - words by Ira Gershwin, music by Aaron Copeland, arranged by Frederic Fay Swift. Hope that helps :_ ciao.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: GUEST,Jack Sprocket
Date: 19 Aug 12 - 06:20 PM

Tall shops in the town,
Escalators up and down,
Doors swinging round about,
People walking in and out.

Makeup by the door
Shoes on the second floor,
In the basement pots and pans,
Wallpaper, paint in cans.

Up above there's ladies' clothes,
Coats and dresses hang in rows,
Skirts for girls and shirts for boys,
Then the part that's best- the toys-

So come down to the shops with me,
So much for me and you,
So many lovely things to see,
Exciting things to do,

In the tall shops in the town,
Escalators up and down,
Doors swinging round about,
People walking in and out.


Who remembers Lewis's in 1960?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs remembering childhood
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 19 Aug 12 - 06:56 PM

Boys Will Be Boys It's a fact of human nature
And girls will grow up to be mothers

is the chorus, I can probably drag the verses from my memory if need be but no idea who wrote it?