Lyr ADD: The Little Blue Top (Tony Hughes)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top (Tony Hughes)
From: GUEST,Lynn Hughes
Date: 17 Apr 23 - 09:30 AM

My late husband Tony made several changes to the 3rd verse lyrics over time. This was the most recent:

There’s folks of all colors
and different world views --
Dreamers and schemers, just like me and you.
There’s some green with envy
And others who’re blue
And partners for all these and babies just new.

He was delighted by the various versions (some with hand gestures) that appeared on YouTube from time to time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top (Tony Hughes)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 16 Jun 15 - 11:14 AM

"There's some who are greedy and some who don't care
they're poisoning our rivers & fouling the air
If all of the rest of us don't make them stop
They might end the life on the little blue top."

This song is clearly aimed at young children. Do we really think that it is good (good for the kid, I mean) to lay this kind of guilt and worry on somebody aged 4 to 10?

These are adult burdens.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top (Tony Hughes)
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 03:28 PM

I know the artist

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top (Tony Hughes)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 04 Sep 12 - 01:31 PM

There are a few renditions of the song on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top (Tony Hughes)
From: GUEST,Ted Swift
Date: 04 Sep 12 - 01:37 AM

Updated source for the collection of children's songs, "Come on Over": http://www.tomhunter.com/store/comeonover.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top (Tony Hughes)
From: GUEST,guest, Bill Murlin
Date: 07 Sep 11 - 01:23 PM

We've been singing some different lines in two verses. Not sure now where they came from. In verse 2 we sing the last line, "Folks past a century and babies just new." In verse 4 we sing, "Well it's you and its me and we've all gotta stop, and show some respect for the Little Blue Top." Since looking at Lynn's comments and reading in Rise Up Singing, knowing the source for those verse changes would be nice. Thanks for helping.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top (Tony Hughes)
From: GUEST,Lynn Hughes
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 09:39 AM

Small addendum -- it's definitely not a "rhythmic chant" as it was apparently recorded (?) -- it's in waltz time and has a simple, singable melodic.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top (Tony Hughes)
From: GUEST,Lynn Hughes
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 07:54 PM

Minor Correction from author Tony's wife ---

Oh there's red folk & white folk & yellow folk too
Black folk & brown folk to name just a few
Folks green with envy and others who're blue,
Partners for all these, and babies just new.

A recent revision to that verse is below:

Oh there's brown folks & white folks & yellow folks, too.
They come in all colors, just like me and you,
Folks green with envy and others who're blue,
and partners for all these, and babies just new.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top (Tony Hughes)
From: GUEST,The tune is not what I know
Date: 20 Jun 09 - 10:46 AM

My husband sang it with a nice melody..looking for that version...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top (Tony Hughes)
From: GUEST,Diane K.C.
Date: 20 May 09 - 02:00 PM

Thank you! I doubt it's always done like this from the chords that were provided. However,
this is a good way to get kids involved with rhythms! Many thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 May 09 - 04:03 PM

Ken Galipeau performs LITTLE BLUE TOP on his album "Fishin' with Ish" (2005). You can hear a 29-second sound sample at CD Baby. He does it more like a rhythmic chant than a song. I don't know whether it's always done that way.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top
From: GUEST,Diane K.C.
Date: 18 May 09 - 02:06 PM

It's nice to have the chords and the words, but I don't know how the melody goes. I can make up my own, however that's not the same. Any help I can get on a melody line would be appreciated

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 02:17 PM

Anybody know of a recording of this song? -Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 02:15 PM

I was just gratified to know that "Little Blue Top" did not refer to a lady's garment...

The Deacon

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE BLUE TOP
From: GUEST,Liane
Date: 10 Dec 08 - 04:20 PM

CHORUS
Round & round goes the little blue top
Whirling and turning with never a stop
Dappled with white, dappled with brown
The little blue top keeps a-turning around

Oh there's wild raging oceans and great mountain chains
Green, peaceful valleys and wide grassy plains
Families of life that each setting contains
Dolphins and spiders and tigers and cranes

Oh there's red folk & white folk & yellow folk too
Black folk & brown folk to name just a few
Folks green with envy and others who're blue
As they all whirl and turn on the little blue top

Oh there's teachers & lawyers & medicine men
Places to go to & people who've been
Others who stay home & tend to the shop
And they whirl & and they turn on the little blue top

There's some who are greedy and some who don't care
they're poisoning our rivers & fouling the air
If all of the rest of us don't make them stop
They might end the life on the little blue top

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 06:53 PM

Thank You Jim and Joe. I knew I could count on you both to come up with the correct information. SOL ZELLER

Subject: ADD: The Little Blue Top (Tony Hughes)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 03:41 PM

Thank you, Mr. Jim. That's just the hint I needed. It's from the Winds of the People songbook. It's also in Rise Up Singing.
-Joe Offer-

The Little Blue Top
(Tony Hughes)

CHORUS
Round & round goes the little blue top
Whirling and turning with never a stop
Dappled with white, dappled with brown
The little blue top keeps a-turning around

Oh there's wild raging oceans and proud mountain chains
Green, peaceful valleys and wide grassy plains
Families of life that each setting contains
Dolphins and spiders and cattle and cranes


And there's red folk & white folk & yellow folk too
Black folk & brown folk to name just a few
Folks green with envy and others who're blue


Oh there's teachers & lawyers & medicine men
Places to go to & people who've been
Others who stay home & tend to the shop
And they whirl & turn on the little blue top

But there're some who are greedy & some who don't care
And they're fouling our rivers & poisoning our air
If all of the rest of us don't make them stop
They might end the life on the little blue top


C - F C / - - D7 G / C - F C / G - F C

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 07:29 AM

The Folk Music Index says Tony Hughes wrote LITTLE BLUE TOP and it is included in the songbook "Winds of the People" (the predecessor of "Rise Up Singing"), published by Sing Out!

This page advertises a tape of children's songs called "Come On Over" that includes LITTLE BLUE TOP.

Subject: Lyr Req: The Little Blue Top
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 10:52 PM

I heard this song many years ago on PBS when they were re-broadcasting one of the Philadelhia Folk Festivals. It was written either in the late 60s or early 70s. It was about the view of the earth from one of the orbiting satelites. I believe the author was paraphrasing a quote from one of the astronouts. Here is what I can remember of the song.

                Round and round goes the little blue top
                Whirling and turning with never a stop
                Dappled with white and dappled with brown
                And the little blue top keeps turning around

If anyone can provide the complete lyrics and the name of the author, I would be very greatful. Thank You      SOL ZELLER