Lyr ADD: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering

Subject: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 05:45 PM

Copied from a totally unrelated thread about one room school houses:

Subject: RE: One Room Country Schools
From: GUEST,Emily - PM
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 05:24 PM

Does anyone remember the lyrics to the song "Once a giant came a wandering..."?? My mother can only remember three stanzas and doesn't know if there are anymore. If anyone knows the words could you please let me know? Thank you

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 07:59 PM

Hmmmm

Wonder if it's the one I learned when I was in first grade, also in a one-room schoolhouse. I used to believe that first graders were taught more complicated songs in 'the old days' because of this song and a couple of others. Much later I realized that in all likelihood the first graders weren't actually taught the song, but picked it up as the older grades learnt it.

Here is what I remember from what I learned in 1941 (I suspect it was written as an anti-totalitarian song:

Once a giant came awandering late at night when the world was still
Seeking for a stool to sit on, he climbed a little green hill
When he reached the highest part of it, sat him down on its very peak
Little Hill cried out at once in a faint and far away squeak:

Giant, Giant, I am under you
Move or this is the last of me!
But the Giant answered, Thank you!
I like it here, don't you see

I don't know if this helps. If Emily knows three stanzas, she must know this one. If there are more stanzas, I'd love to know them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:47 PM

Hmmmmmm, again. I looked in our School Songbook Index threads and found only one song with "Giant" in the title. This is indeed disappointing...
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:55 PM

And, Emily didn't leave an e mail addy. Oh well. Maybe she'll see this thread.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: Tinker
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 07:39 AM

I learnt this one at Girl Scout Camp in the late '60's, word for word as Ebbie posted. We didn't have a third verse either. Now I'm curious if there was more....

tinker

Subject: ADD Version: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: GUEST,third stanza
Date: 22 Sep 10 - 08:21 AM

ONCE A GIANT CAME A-WANDERING

Once a giant came a-wandering
Late at night when the world was still
Seeking for a stool to sit on
He climbed a little green hill.

When he reached the highest part of it
Sat him down on its very peak
Little Hill cried out at once
In a faint and far away squeak:

Giant, giant, I am under you
Move or this is the last of me
But the giant answered
Thank you!
I like it here, don't you see.


you had all the right words!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: GUEST,Joyce's daughter
Date: 27 Apr 13 - 01:00 PM

My Mother would like to locate the 1940's school song book that had this song in it. Mom believes this will be very easy for me. Would anyone have information that could help me locate this book?
Thank You!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: GUEST,Maria
Date: 12 Sep 13 - 10:38 PM

I can not thank you enough. I have been searching for these lyrics, to no avail, for twenty five years! I think without the Internet - it would have been virtually impossible. I am so glad!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: GUEST,Robin Gereck
Date: 16 Oct 13 - 12:59 AM

very close, just take out 'at once' so it goes, 'little hill cried out in a faint and far away squeak'.
I am 58 and my mother sang this song to me since I was a baby as she did for my oldest sister who is 65 now. I sang it to my two sons and now sing it to my 3 grandsons. I wonder just how old this song is and it's country of origin.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Nov 16 - 11:38 AM

Hi my grandfather was wondering if those whwhere all the lyrics or was there more

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Feb 17 - 06:03 PM

Anyone know the tune? My mother sang this to us in the 1960's, and we can all "hear" her singing it to use, but can't seem to get the tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Feb 17 - 06:18 PM

Surely there has to be another verse.

Maybe the little hill finds her inner volcano...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: GUEST,Guest 1958
Date: 22 Dec 22 - 03:39 AM

My Dad sang this verse over and over to me and my son. He had a marvelous memory and would have remembered the rest of the song. Sadly he passed 2 years ago at 87. He was born in 1933. I love the tune and simplicity of the song.

Subject: ADD Version: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Dec 22 - 03:00 PM

Here's a 1999 recording by Bev Bos. The lyrics are just a bit different from those posted above.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go_4oepb3io

ONCE A GIANT CAME A-WANDERING

Once a giant came a-wandering
Late at night when the world was still
Looking for a stool to sit on
He climbed a little green hill.

Finally he reached the highest part of it
Sat himself down on the very peak
Then he heard the hill cry out
In a faint and faraway squeak:

Giant, giant, I am under you
Move or this is the last of me
But the giant said, no, thank you
I like it here, don't you see.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: GUEST,Maria
Date: 29 Aug 24 - 08:01 PM

I can not tell you all how much it means to me to see these lyrics posted. I grew up with my mother and Granny singing it to me. Very sad turn of events they became estranged from me. This song is one one of my most precious memories. But it is obscure! I’m so glad it meant enough to other people to try to find complete lyrics as well. I hope to be able to sing it my own grandchildren if I am so lucky, someday. Thank you all, be well. Xo