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Lyr ADD: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering

13 Mar 05 - 05:45 PM (#1433856)
Subject: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: Sorcha

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


13 Mar 05 - 07:59 PM (#1433966)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: Ebbie

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.


13 Mar 05 - 09:47 PM (#1434033)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: Joe Offer

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-


13 Mar 05 - 09:55 PM (#1434041)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: Sorcha

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


14 Mar 05 - 07:39 AM (#1434260)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: Tinker

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


22 Sep 10 - 08:21 AM (#2991382)
Subject: ADD Version: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: GUEST,third stanza

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!!


27 Apr 13 - 01:00 PM (#3509654)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: GUEST,Joyce's daughter

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!


12 Sep 13 - 10:38 PM (#3558561)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came Wandering
From: GUEST,Maria

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!


16 Oct 13 - 12:59 AM (#3567287)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: GUEST,Robin Gereck

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.


24 Nov 16 - 11:38 AM (#3822487)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: GUEST

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


04 Feb 17 - 06:03 PM (#3836779)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: GUEST

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.


04 Feb 17 - 06:18 PM (#3836782)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: McGrath of Harlow

Surely there has to be another verse.

Maybe the little hill finds her inner volcano...


22 Dec 22 - 03:39 AM (#4159906)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: GUEST,Guest 1958

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.


22 Dec 22 - 03:00 PM (#4159941)
Subject: ADD Version: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: Joe Offer

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.


29 Aug 24 - 08:01 PM (#4207643)
Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Once a Giant Came a-Wandering
From: GUEST,Maria

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