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Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs

16 Feb 08 - 12:21 AM (#2263617)
Subject: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,Felicity Greenland

I am looking for repetitive or cumulative songs (eg. Ten Green Bottles) with simple English for adult learners of English-as-a-Foreign-Language.
Any suggestions would be gratefully received.


16 Feb 08 - 03:31 AM (#2263652)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,Monique

Five green and speackled frogs
Five little monkeys
Five little ducks
There were ten in a bed
Teasing Mr Crocodile


16 Feb 08 - 03:51 AM (#2263655)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Richard Bridge

I like "I went to Market".

There is, of course "The Barley Mow".

Or "A poor old man was crossing the road"


16 Feb 08 - 05:27 AM (#2263675)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Leadfingers

The Mallard :-

I have ate , Oh what have I ate
I have eaten the foot of my mallard
Foot footy web webby toe toey two nippers and all
and I am in the debility house
and goodly meat was my mallard

Oh I have eaten the leg , thigh , rump , back , wing , neck , head , beak of my mallard


16 Feb 08 - 07:29 AM (#2263711)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,Felicity Greenland

Thank you for these suggestions. I can only imagine the havoc these songs could wreak with the students' future....


16 Feb 08 - 07:41 AM (#2263715)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: goatfell

ten wee wimmin


16 Feb 08 - 09:48 AM (#2263763)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Chris Green

Green Grow the Rushes O


16 Feb 08 - 09:55 AM (#2263771)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: The Borchester Echo

Felicity, on the assumption that you are still in the Orient, Red Fly The Banners O might go down even better.


16 Feb 08 - 09:58 AM (#2263772)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,Sheila

Alouette
12 Days of Christmas


16 Feb 08 - 11:34 AM (#2263831)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: freightdawg

Completely a different thought, I was thinking of "Where have all the Flowers Gone". Goes through the whole cycle, but probably not what you were thinking of.

Freightdawg


16 Feb 08 - 11:37 AM (#2263833)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,Sheila

Sorry, you did say "English".
Hi, My Name is Joe
Father Abraham
I Know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly
Old MacDonald
Rattlin' Bog
Bingo
The Ants Go Marching
An Austrian Went Yodeling
Green Grass Grew All Around
Hole in the Bottom of the Sea


16 Feb 08 - 11:44 AM (#2263840)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,Felicity Greenland

Hi Diane, I am indeed in Japan.
And it's amazing how difficult it is to think of trad songs that would be simple, interesting and useful for lower level students (age 20).
I want songs with vocab/expressions they can USE in future. Baby songs, religious songs, archaic language, doggerel and shanties with lots of shipping terms are not suitable. Repetitive/cumulative songs are great because they get plenty of chance to get comfortable with it. They liked Rattlin' Bog (though they'll never use, or hear, 'rattling' that way) and the 12 days of Christmas. Prickle-eye bush has too much 'stay thy hand' and 'yonder stile' for the moment. Supposing they end up saying 'I've ate goodly meat kind sir' on their holidays! I may have to switch to pop music! (And have you lately noticed how much of that is *rather saucy*!)


16 Feb 08 - 11:51 AM (#2263847)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,Felicity Greenland

Thanks to everyone so far. Things like Sheila's suggestion 'The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly' will be great fun for them. Keep 'em comin'


16 Feb 08 - 01:13 PM (#2263898)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Bill D

"She'll be Comin' 'Round the Mountain"

lots of 'friendly' verses, and repetition, too.


16 Feb 08 - 01:15 PM (#2263901)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Midchuck

The ladies of the harem of the court of King Karaticus (sp?)....

Peter


16 Feb 08 - 06:21 PM (#2264158)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,Sheila

Bought Me a Cat
I Had a Rooster
When I First Came to this Land


16 Feb 08 - 09:54 PM (#2264262)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,Lynn Koch

If you don't mind the Christian overtones, there's "Children Go Where I Send Thee", which my elementary students have greatly enjoyed (I don't delve into the imagery).

Lynn


17 Feb 08 - 12:20 AM (#2264332)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: The Borchester Echo

The more I thing of Most Beautiful Leg Of The Mallard (mentioned above), the more I think it would be the perfect song for EFL learners, especially if they are also medical students. And it's a real English trad song, recorded on Voice Of The People and can go on for ever.

You might also try The Twelve Days Of Christmas, especially if you also get them to read the John Julius Norwich take which ends up with solicitors' letters being exchanged in an attempt to prohibit the transportation of vast quantities of livestock.


17 Feb 08 - 09:27 AM (#2264478)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Richard Bridge

For something a bit more modern (well, only a bit - see the "How do you know you are getting old" thread) there is "25 miles" with which Edwin Starr had a hit in - ooh, the early 70s


17 Feb 08 - 10:33 AM (#2264511)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Ritchie

one, two, three, four ...can I have a little more? ...five, six, seven, eight. nine, ten I love you.... 'all together now'... by the Beatles


17 Feb 08 - 11:46 AM (#2264557)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: topical tom

Many more animals and sounds can be added to this song


18 Feb 08 - 11:45 AM (#2265410)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Irene M

At Hightown Fair, for two farthings, my father bought me a little white mouse. Along came a grey cat that ate up the white mouse, my father bought in the market square.
....Along came a black dog that chased off the grey cat....
....Along came a big stick that beat off the black dog...
....Along came fire and burned up the big stick
....Along came water and put out the fire...
....Along came an oxen that drank....
....Along came a butcher who slaughtered the oxen
....The angel off death came by and took off the butcher.

I heard this once (and learned it at the time) from Angelo Branduardi (if that's how you spell it) I think it may have Jewish origins maybe.


18 Feb 08 - 01:00 PM (#2265466)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Snuffy

This seems to be one of the most widespread of all folktales, which may give it some claim to also being the oldest (which can't possibly be proved). In this thread at Folkinfo.org you will find an English version, as well as a Jewish version "Chad Gadyo", and a listing of places the story is known - throughout Europe, Africa, the Americas, and southern Asia.

There is a good chance many of your EFL students will be able to sing you the version from their part of the world.


18 Feb 08 - 01:19 PM (#2265490)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,Volgadon

I think they all stem from Chad Gadya, a Jewish song in Aramaic, which is sung at Passover.


18 Feb 08 - 01:35 PM (#2265497)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Snuffy

Apparently there is no record of Chad Gadya before 1570. It could be much, much older. But there is no reason (other than wanting it to be so) to believe it is any older than other versions found throughout the world, or that is the "original" from which all other versions have been copied. As the human race apparently originated in Africa, perhaps the Hottentot version is the original.

But nobody can prove you wrong. Or right. You pays your money and you takes your choice.


18 Feb 08 - 02:02 PM (#2265516)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,Volgadon

Alright, maybe I was rash to say that, but are any similar songs older?


18 Feb 08 - 02:25 PM (#2265540)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Snuffy

Can any similar songs be proved to be older? Now there's a subject for a doctoral thesis. :-)


18 Feb 08 - 06:03 PM (#2265741)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: LeTenebreux

My personal favorites:

To Kokoraki (Greek, sung to great comic effect by Flanders and Swann!)
Chad Gadya (Hebrew, often sung at passover Seders)


07 Oct 08 - 06:08 PM (#2459657)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST

This "At Hightown Fair" is a translation of the ancient Jewish Aramaic song "Had Gadya" that is well loved and sung around the world at the Passover seder.


07 Oct 08 - 08:05 PM (#2459744)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: JohnB

I hate most of this genre of songs except the Nefoundland version of "Green Grow the Rushes Oh" entitled " Come and I will sing thee"
There's always the Barley Mow which I don't hate too badly and also includes weights and measures information.
What about "Seven Night's Drunk" which includes the days of the week, Brian Peter's modernized version is actually tolerable.
JohnB


07 Oct 08 - 11:33 PM (#2459846)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Seamus Kennedy

One Man Went To Mow A Meadow.

The Music Man.
There Were Ten in The Bed (Roll Over)

Seamus


31 Jan 09 - 08:58 PM (#2554117)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Greenacres

Do you remember I eschewed The Mallard for my first years for fear of them talking old-fashioned? Well I'm glad I did - in December we learned The 12 days of Christmas and I have just marked a Winter Vacation essay which begins "On the first day of Christmas I went to trip to Biwako with true-love."


05 Feb 09 - 10:04 AM (#2557961)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Greenacres

Thanks Seamus - I just noticed your (not so) recent contribution, which is genuinely useful - just the sort of thing I am looking for. Thanks very much.


05 Feb 09 - 10:19 AM (#2557972)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: VirginiaTam

THE HERRING

CHORUS
Oh the herring is the king of the sea
The herring is the fish for me
The herring is the king of the sea
Sing fol de rol diddle ol day


Oh what'll we do with the herring's heads
We'll make them all into loaves of bread
We'll make them all into loaves of bread
And all sorts of things!

Herring's head loaves of bread
And all sorts of things!

Chorus

Oh what'll we do with the herring's eyes
We'll make them all into puddings and pies
We'll make them all into puddings and pies
And all sorts of things!

Herring's eyes, puddings and pies
Herring's head loaves of bread
And all sorts of things!

Chorus

Oh what'll we do with the herring's fins
We'll make them all into needles and pins
We'll make them all into needles and pins
And all sorts of things!

Herring's fins needles and pins
Herring's eyes, puddings and pies
Herring's heads, loaves of bread
And all sorts of things!

Chorus

Oh what'll we do with the herring's backs
We'll make them all into a laddie called Jack
We'll make them all into a laddie called Jack
And all sorts of things!

Herring's back a laddie called jack
Herring's fins, needles and pins
Herring's eyes, puddings and pies
Herring's heads, loaves of bread
And all sorts of things!

Chorus

Oh what'll we do with the herring's gills
We'll make them into window sills
We'll make them into window sills
And all sorts of things!

Herring's gills window sills
Herring's back a laddie called Jack
Herring's fins, needles and pins
Herring's eyes, puddings and pies
Herring's heads, loaves of bread
And all sorts of things!

Chorus

Oh what'll we do with the herring's tail
We'll make it into a bottle of ale
We'll make it into a bottle of ale
And all sorts of things!

Herring's tail bottle of ale
Herring's gills window sills
Herring's back a laddie called Jack
Herring's fins, needles and pins
Herring's eyes, puddings and pies
Herring's heads, loaves of bread
And all sorts of things!

Oh the herring is the king of the sea
The herring is the fish for me
The herring is the king of the sea
Sing fol de rol diddle ol day

Apologies if this already somewhere in the database. I searched and did not find.


05 Feb 09 - 10:27 AM (#2557982)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: melodeonboy

"Anything you can do, I can do better" has a repetitive structure, and is good for teaching comparatives.


05 Feb 09 - 12:01 PM (#2558068)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Jim Carroll

This was sung by an old farmer in West Clare and was included on the double CD 'Around The Hills of Clare'.
I have left in the note.
Jim Carroll

Kerry Cock (Roud 544)
Jamesie McCarthy, Mount Scott, Mullagh. Rec. July I976

Oh, as I was walking down the road one day I met one cock under a tree.
Oh, sure, I love my cock and my cock love me.
My cock, Kerry cock crew,
Every woman loves her cock and I love my cock too.

As I was walking down the road one day I met one hen under a tree.
Ah, sure, I love my hen and my hen love me.
My hen chuck-a-chuck,
My cock Kerry cock crew,
Every woman loves her hen and love my hen too.

As I was walking down the road one day I met one duck under a tree.
Ah, sure, I love my duck and my duck love me.
My duck wicky-wak,
My hen chuck-a-chuck,
My cock Kerry cock crew.
Every woman loves her duck and I love my duck too.

As I was walking down the road one day I met one goose under a tree.
Ah, sure, I love my goose and my goose love me.
My goose guggle-gug,
My duck wicky-wack,
My hen chuck-a-chuck,
My cock Kerry cock crew,
Every woman loves her goose and I love my goose too.

Ah, as I was walking down the road one day I met one goat under a tree.
Ah, sure, I love my goal and my goat love me.
My goat meggle-meg,
My goose guggle-gug,
My duck wicky-wack,
My hen chuck-a-chuck,
My cock Kerry cock crew,
Every woman loves her goat and I love my goat too.

As I was walking down the road one day I met one sheep under a tree.
Ah, sure, I love my sheep and my sheep love me.
My sheep maa,
My goat meggle-meg,
My goose guggle-gug,
My duck wicky-wack,
My hen chuck-a-chuck,
My cock Kerry cock crew,
Every woman loves her sheep and I love my sheep too.

As I was walking down the road one day I met one cow under a tree.
Ah, sure, I love my cow and my cow love me.
My cow moo,
My sheep maa,
My goat meggle-meg,
My goose guggle-gug,
My duck wicky-wack,
My hen chuck-a-chuck,
My cock Kerry cock crew,
Every woman loves her cow and I love my cow too.

As I was walking down the road one day I met one big bull under a tree.
Ah, sure, I love my bull and my bull love me.
My bull mm-ooo,
My cow maw,
My sheep maa,
My goat meggle-meg,
My goose guggle-gug,
My duck wicky-wack,
My hen chuck-a-chuck,
My cock Kerry cock crew,
Every man loves his bull and I love my bull too.

This has been found extensively, both among children and adults, the children's versions being associated with a selection game, and the adult's as a test of vocal dexterity and breath control. William Wells Newell described it as having been widely distributed throughout Europe and dating back to a remote past. Nowadays it is probably best known in its re-written form as Old MacDonald's Farm.

Ref: Games and Songs of American Children, William Wells Newell, Pub. Harper and Brothers I883.
Other recordings: George Blackman; Wisborough Green, Sussex, Songs of Animals, Folk Songs of Britain, Topic I2TI98; John Curtis, Newfoundland, Songs from the New¬foundland Outports, Folkways FE 4075


06 Feb 09 - 07:02 PM (#2559561)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Jim Dixon

Try searching the database for "@cumulative".


11 Nov 11 - 11:06 AM (#3254983)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,Ann

I see you have received lots of suggestions for songs...

Here's a thought...take the music for 12 Days of Christmas, or any of the other cumulative melodies, and change the words to suit your needs. You can do this with any other simple melody you know too. My Latin teacher used to use the Mexican Hat Dance melody to teach us verb congigations in High School. I still remember them. I use this technique with my pre-K (with disabilities) students as they learn English and it works really well because I use familiar melodies and then re-use them so they remain familiar and they can worry about learning the words, not the song. You may even want to use a Japanese folk melody that they already know and could teach you.
Kudos to you for using music to teach language!

Also, there is a wonderful book called Alaska's 12 Days of Summer by Pat Chamberlin-Calamar and Shannon Cartwright (Mar 2003) that goes to the tune of 12 Days of Christmas but adds a new animal each verse. Things like grizzly bears, moose, wolves, and other common Alaskan animals which is simple but not jouvenile and could be useful. I find having pictures to help represent the words students are learning moves things along 10 times faster.

Good Luck!


24 Sep 18 - 12:54 AM (#3952395)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Joe Offer

I learned Good Peanut from a Sam Hinton recording.

I thought King Caractacus was made up by some camp counselor, because I learned it at camp in the 1960s. Turns out it was written by Rolf Harris (Tie Me Kangaroo Down)


24 Sep 18 - 04:12 AM (#3952431)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,kenny

"Three Men Fae Carntyne" - sung be Iain MacIntosh [RIP].


24 Sep 18 - 04:26 AM (#3952434)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Murpholly

There was an old woman who swallowed a fly


24 Sep 18 - 05:39 AM (#3952447)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: John C. Bunnell

There's Cosmos (via YouTube), written and performed by Frank Hayes, riffing on Carl Sagan's career...which was at one point played as the wake-up song for the astronauts on a space-shuttle mission. I have heard stronger performances than the one linked, but that will get the point across, and there is a transcript of lyrics in the comments.


25 Sep 18 - 05:09 PM (#3952822)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Donuel

What a great idea felicity


25 Sep 18 - 07:37 PM (#3952849)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Tattie Bogle

Another one Iain Mackintosh used to song, but maybe a bit TOO Scottish for the Japanese students, "A poor auld man was crossing the road".


26 Sep 18 - 03:01 AM (#3952878)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: BobL

There is always the English version (referenced in the third post of this thread), but like many cumulative songs it is a bit of a tongue-twister and possibly not quite what EFL students want.


26 Sep 18 - 07:41 AM (#3952915)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Mo the caller

"From: Jim Carroll - PM
Date: 05 Feb 09 - 12:01 PM

This was sung by an old farmer in West Clare and was included on the double CD 'Around The Hills of Clare'.
I have left in the note.
Jim Carroll

Kerry Cock (Roud 544)
…..William Wells Newell described it as having been widely distributed throughout Europe and dating back to a remote past. Nowadays it is probably best known in its re-written form as Old MacDonald's Farm."

The EFDSS journal printed the lyrics (both polite and other versions) to In the Fields of Frost and Snow. I knew it as a Playfordtype dance and hadn't realised the Old MacDonald connection.

As a poultry keeper I liked the hen verse - so true.
Cackle, cackle here. cackle cackle there
Here a cack, there a cack
Here and there a cack


26 Sep 18 - 07:49 AM (#3952917)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Mo the caller

I pasted a link - where did it go? You'll have to search youtube yourself. I found a version by Yossarian and a performance by the Night Watch, as well as videos of the dance.

Of course by the next time this thread is resurrected any links I tried to make might have been as dead as those from the start of the thread.
Please would people who put links give us a clue to what they are about.


26 Sep 18 - 08:17 AM (#3952923)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Mo the caller

And one version of the lyrics https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/87650712


01 Oct 18 - 06:06 PM (#3954100)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: FreddyHeadey

[Ummmm. Mo, 7:49 ... I thought you were suggesting googling "Kerry cock" YouTube.
That was NOT what you meant was it!!!!]
Now that I've recovered from that...


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
mtc's link 8:17
Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > Wit and mirth, or, Pills to purge melancholy > Volume 2
- In the fields in frost and snows[dots & words]
https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/87650712 

The Night Watch : In the Fields in Frost and Snows
https://youtu.be/RYRunjj2UsU 

In the Fields in Frost and Snow - The Virginia Company
Yossarian819 (??)
https://youtu.be/3lVJkXsyFS0 

abcnotation & dance steps
http://abcnotation.com/tunePage?a=trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/Vintage/In_the_Fields_in_Frost_and_Snow/0002


03 Oct 18 - 09:12 AM (#3954363)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: Mo the caller

Thanks Freddy. No, not that Kerry cock! (Not that I opened the link. Quite enough of that when I was a moderator on a poultry keeping forum for a while and our main job was deleting unsuitable pictures - until the forum owner managed to stop most of them by software that replaced the short name for 'male chicken' with the 8 letter version, which fooled the search engines)


04 Oct 18 - 09:56 PM (#3954769)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST,henryp

The Train to Glasgow; words by Wilma Horsburgh, sung by Singing Kettle

Here is the driver, Mr. MacIver,
Who drove the train to Glasgow.

Here is the guard from Donibristle
Who waved his flag and blew his whistle
To tell the driver, Mr. MacIver,
To start the train to Glasgow

Here is a boy called Donald MacBrain
Who came to the station to catch the train...


05 Oct 18 - 03:06 AM (#3954782)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: BobL

Which reminds me - The House That Jack Built, shouldn't be too tricky for EFL students as the words are mainly monosyllabic, two syllables at most.


13 Nov 18 - 02:23 AM (#3961454)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Repetitive/cumulative songs
From: GUEST

Rattlin’ Bog