Lyr Req: Dry Bones

Subject: Educator needs help!!
From:
Date: 27 Jul 99 - 12:31 PM

Hello from Kitchener, Ontario Canada! I am writing in the hope that someone can help me. I am a programme consultant for science and technology and music, who is writing an integrated programme for grade 1 teachers to use. The section I am working on has to do with teaching children about the body - inside and out. I am eager to find the words to what I believe may be an old Negro song, called "Dem Bones", where the verse(s) take you through the bones in the body - e.g., "the knee bone's connected to the thigh bone", etc. I have searched and searched and cannot find the title or the words, beyond what I can remember myself!! If anyone is reading this and can provide me with any help, or a place where I might look, I would be very appreciative! Thanks! Jill Snider

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Jul 99 - 01:37 PM

Hi, Jill- I'll e-mail you one version and you may want to check this thread (click), but you may want to do a Forum Search with bone as 'subject' if you want to see all the versions posted here. I found only one version in the database by searching for [dry bones] in square brackets in the search box on this page, but there may be versions I missed.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: GeorgeH
Date: 27 Jul 99 - 01:48 PM

And when you've found that, can I also recommend Roy Bailey's excellent "You need skin".

Much funnier than "Them bones", IMO!

Regards

George

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: annamill
Date: 27 Jul 99 - 01:50 PM

I'm not really sure about this, but it seems to me that I heard a version that was referred to as (please excuse the spelling) "Ezekiel's Dry Bones". I hope this helps. I looked in the DT for several different spellings of the name, but couldn't find it, but I'm sure I'm misspelling it. I hope this helps.

annap

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: Susan of DT
Date: 27 Jul 99 - 02:05 PM

mostly not for first graders, but look up @science and @computer in the blue search box for amusement. The @ sign is for keyworded categories

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: DougR
Date: 27 Jul 99 - 05:55 PM

I believe Fred Waring's chorus, "The Pennsylvanians" recorded "Dem Bones, dem bones, dem dry bones," etc. but it probably would be difficult to find a record of it today. I conducted a YMCA boys chorus back in the 50's and we sang it. It's a fun song.

DougR

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: Jeri
Date: 27 Jul 99 - 06:04 PM

I used to have (and might still have) a 78 of a choir from one of the 'black' colleges sing this song. One of these days, I'll have to go find a turntable that will play 78s.

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: Peter T.
Date: 28 Jul 99 - 08:47 AM

If you can find it, Allan Sherman's "You Gotta Have Skin" is a terrific song (it was used here in another context). It is sung to the tune of "Heart" from Damn Yankees. It has no educational value whatever.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: You Need Skin
From: Jill Snider
Date: 28 Jul 99 - 09:54 AM

George, is this song one I can find on this database also?? It sounds great for waht I am doing. Sorry if I am being a pain...but this databse searcning is a fairly new experience for me!! I am so pleased by all the neat things I found out about the original song I asked about.Thanks again, everyone!

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: Bugsy
Date: 28 Jul 99 - 08:56 PM

GEORGE H - Great song "You Need Skin" Do you have the lyrics handy??

Bugsy

Subject: RE: You Need Skin
From: Bugsy
Date: 28 Jul 99 - 11:09 PM

George H - Great song - do you have the lyrics handy???

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From:
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 12:40 AM

Your skins a thing you feel at home in,

And without it further more,

Oh your liver and abdomen, would be lying on the floor,

you'd be dressed in your intestines,

Siamese twins, have an extra set of skin,

It keeps the outside out and helps to keep the insides in.

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 09:54 AM

It is Allan Sherman!

"Skin is what you feel at home in
and without in furthermore,
both your liver and abdomen
would keep falling on the floor
(nothing can match it when you scratch it)
It fits perfectly
yours fits you and mine fits me

and other words I can't remember. There is a joke song site that has this and many others, but I don't have time today to find it. Try a search engine search for Allan Sherman.Sorry.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 10:57 AM

Allan Sherman lyrics, discography etc are here: Click here
http://php.indiana.edu/~jbmorris/FAQ/sherman.disco.html>Click here

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 11:00 AM

fumble fingered the mouse yet again, ignore second "click here" I repeated the URL for those who don't like the clicky thing.

Subject: Lyr Add: SKIN (Allan Sherman)
From: Jeri
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 11:01 AM

According to the Dr Demento Official Website, the song was recorded on Allan in Wonderland, Warner Brothers W/WS 1539 (1964) and The Best Of Allan Sherman, Valiant VS-112 (1965) (U.K.)
Lyrics from the above website

Skin
(Parody of "Heart")
By Allan Sherman

You gotta have skin.
All you really need is skin.
Skin's the thing that if you got it outside,
It helps keep your insides in.

It covers your nose,
And it's wrapped around your toes.
And inside it you put lemon meringue,
And outside ya hang your clothes.

Skin is what ya feel at home in.
And without it, furthermore,
Both your liver and abdomen
Would keep falling on the floor.

(And you'd be dressed in your intestine)

A Siamese twin
Needs an extra set of skin.
When the doctor knows that you're feeling sick
Where does he stick his needle in?
In the end of your skin.

All your friends and all your kinfolks,
Whether poor or whether rich,
They have all got lots of skin, folks,
It's convenient when they itch.

(Nothing can match it when ya scratch it)

It fits perfectly.
Yours fits you, and mine fits me.
When you're sitting down, it folds and looks grand.
And then when you stand, it's where it's been.
Ain't ya glad you've got skin!

When you were just a little baby, why your skin fit fine.
And it still is gonna fit you when you're six foot nine.
So whether you're fat, tall, big, small, chubby or thin,
Ain't ya glad you've got skin!

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: Peter T.
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 11:11 AM

Thanks!! The BEST!!!,br>yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Educator needs help!!
From: Roger the zimmer
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 11:14 AM

... and also on that Sherman site, one for Big Mick "beautiful Teamsters"!