'Song of the Month' for my kids

Subject: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: GUEST,Sos the Rope
Date: 22 Feb 19 - 06:35 AM

Looking for help to choose a "song of the month" to learn and sing with my kids to help them hold on to their English native language and culture out here in Germany, in a town where there doesn't seem to be much of an English folk scene.

I've come up with one song so far, "Summer is a Coming In" for May ("to welcome in the May-oh"...), can you think of any other month/season/holiday themed songs that are fairly easy to learn and sing together and capture some of the fascination of old English songs in a similar way?

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Feb 19 - 07:40 PM

Might be useful to know what age they are,so as to choose something suitable? Looking ahead a bit, but giving them time to learn it, if they are old enough to understand a bit about relationships, "Twas on one April Morning"? No chorus, but they could repeat the last line of each verse as a refrain: and most people sing the first verse again at the end.
For March, you could do "Lakes of Ponchartrain" - Ok, it's American, but they might like the alligators!

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: Nick
Date: 24 Feb 19 - 03:31 PM

One Morning in May. But it might be tricky explaining away how he keeps whipping out his whistle and she keeps enjoying it. Or am I misunderstanding the song meaning?

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: Mo the caller
Date: 24 Feb 19 - 03:38 PM

June - Blaydon Races.

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 26 Feb 19 - 04:45 AM

Winter months - Little Pot Stove; Fresh penguin eggs a treat!

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 26 Feb 19 - 06:07 AM

To Drive The Cold Winter Away, which is quite old.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Hail_to_the_Days_(Drive_the_Cold_Winter_Away)

Do try to get ahold of Bob Copper's wonderful book A Song For Every Season, which is a memoir of an entire way of life, as well as being an anthology of round-the-year musical treasures.

https://www.amazon.com/Song-Every-Season-Bob-Copper/dp/0586082298

(Not shilling for Amazon, promise - but it does make a very useful shop window. ABE books can also probably supply it.)

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 26 Feb 19 - 06:12 AM

If you're not in trad mode, there's Dave Goulder's brilliant The January Man.

https://mainlynorfolk.info/martin.carthy/songs/thejanuaryman.html

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Feb 19 - 05:45 PM

A friend of mine and I did once, for fun, just go through the months of the year, to try to find a song for each month (not those that mention multiple months or seasons) and we got most of them, tho not all necessarily of English origin: so here's the rest of the year after Mo's June:
The Rigs of Rye (July)
Now Westlin' Winds (aka Song composed in August) - Robert Burns
Misty September (one of my own - pm me if you want the details)
The Grey October Clouds - Clancys + Tommy Makem
Spencer the Rover - November
Ellan Vannin - December - The Spinners

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: GUEST,Sos the Rope
Date: 06 Mar 19 - 03:10 AM

Lovely, keep 'em coming!

I didn't bother to tightly define "English" or "old" because who cares? Not me. Could be songs from England, songs in English, or both.

I like the suggestions very much. I'd like to see Tattie's full list!

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 06 Mar 19 - 08:09 AM

Another winter song;
A-roving on a winter's night. In particular, the version sung by Peter Bellamy

And two lovely Christmas carols;
Sweet Chiming Bells - from Worrall Male Voice Choir
As Shepherds Were Watching - from George Dunn of Quarry Bank

Plus
Teach Your Children - from Crosby, Stills and Nash

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: Stewie
Date: 07 Mar 19 - 06:56 PM

In respect of March, the latest show on Folk Radio UK has 27 pieces relating to hares.
You should be able to find something there.

Click

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: Stewie
Date: 07 Mar 19 - 07:44 PM

For December, this version of 'Hunting the wren' could be worth a shot:

Click

This rendition by the Corries of Robin Williamson's 'October Song' is quite lovely:

Click

For Hallows Eve, this offering from Show of Hands is not without its charm:

Click

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: GUEST,sos-the-rope
Date: 01 Sep 19 - 02:25 PM

Yo dudes. i'm back. what about September?

Subject: RE: 'Song of the Month' for my kids
From: Nick
Date: 01 Sep 19 - 03:12 PM

April comes she will ends with September but looks back over your previous song months
Only other one I can think of is It might as well rain until September which is not at all folky