I am looking to put together a collection of childrens songs/folk songs.

Does anyone have any songs that they sang when they were children? The older the song the better.

Seasonal songs

Fairy songs

Gnome songs

Morning songs

Game songs

Ring songs

Typical Yorkshire songs

Legend songs

Nature songs

None of these songs will be published, they are for a course that I am doing.

Any help would be appreciated. Links to websites would be appreciated too.

Not sure how old this is but my grandad used to sing it to me when i was younger......
Some of the references are a bit spurious in these modern times!

My Brother Silvest.
He's got a row of forty medals on his chest.
He fights all the zulus in the west.
He gets no rest.
Hell fire, sun of a gun, don't push, just shove.

He's got an arm, as big as a leg (a lady's leg).
He's got a punch that'll sink a battle ship.
It takes all the army and the navy.
to put the wind up Silvest.

I think you might fing Mike Harding sang that on his Captain paralytic & the brown ale cowboys.

Thanks for that one. I have not heard it before.

The songs I need have to be non violent and suitable for 3-5 year olds.

Can anyone help??

Sorry ??? I read it wrong...I thought it said "old thongs wanted"

Sparky's magic piano is a nice tune and it lasts for 18 minutes so should keep the kids quiet.

Originally posted by bonny
I am looking to put together a collection of childrens songs/folk songs.

Does anyone have any songs that they sang when they were children? The older the song the better.



Bony Was A Warrior

Down in Demarera

My Bonny lies over the ocean

Row Row Row your boat

Donkey Riding

What about-

I know a man called Michael Finnigan
he grew hairs upon his Chin-igan
the wind came up & blew the in-agin
Poor old Michael Finnigan

or

Well be rolling a log on the chest of a slave
singin ody ody o do

any more ex "Woodcraft folk" out there

Link+

Click Here (http://www.us.oup.com/us/pdf/music/choral/classroommethodssightsing.pdf)

Mare's eat oats
And Doe's eat oats
And little lambs eat ivy
And I like ivy too, wouldn't you?.


Anybody remember this one???

Might be worth while emailing BBC Radio 4, they did a programme on traditional folk songs in Yorkshire about June 2003

hope this helps

Venger.

can anyone identify this song .
we use to sing it at wincobank junior school
back in the 60s. and ive not heard it since then- what is the title? it is probably a sea shanty and goes,

ive been to bristol
ive been to dover
ive travelled this wide world all over,over three times over
-----------------------------
----------------------------
sailing east sailing west
sailing over the oceon
you better watch out when the boat begins to rock
or you'll lose youre girl in the oceon.

or something like that.

also some of those old american ones -get along you doggies
get along and scurry?. (--please help with title.)


we use to sing dirty old town at school in 60s
and also high germany.-(oh polly love)

most of these folk songs i think have been recorded by the dubliners and some are great for kids.
as some of the songs are steeped in history.

forgot to mention the wassail song for christmas.
the one we used to sing at junior school.

a wassail a wassail through out our town
our cup it is white and our ale it is brown
our ------- is made from the good ale and true
some nutmeg and ginger is the best we can brew.

fol de doll foll de doll de doll
foll de doll de doll
foll de doll de dee
foll de daro foll de daddy sing tural ido.

(all spelt wrong of course.)

Originally posted by tara
can anyone identify this song .
we use to sing it at wincobank junior school
back in the 60s. and ive not heard it since then- what is the title? it is probably a sea shanty and goes,

ive been to bristol
ive been to dover
ive travelled this wide world all over,over three times over



I too remember that sea shanty from shiregreen juniors. I think it was called "turn your glasses over " or summat like that. It started "I've been to Harlem" tho'. definitely need to find out now !

Originally posted by venger
Might be worth while emailing BBC Radio 4, they did a programme on traditional folk songs in Yorkshire about June 2003

hope this helps

Venger.

Thanks Venger, I will do that.

Originally posted by bonny
Thanks for that one. I have not heard it before.

The songs I need have to be non violent and suitable for 3-5 year olds.

Can anyone help??

Most nursery rhymes are not suitable for 3-5 year olds!

Humpty Dumpty warns against pregnancy, :blush:
Ring a ring a roses is about the plague, :gag:
The grand old duke of york - war is non-pc. :shakes:
There must be loads more. :suspect:

im sure ive got a c.d full of childrens songs got kids singing on it pm me if you are intrested steve>

Originally posted by Strix
Most nursery rhymes are not suitable for 3-5 year olds!

Humpty Dumpty warns against pregnancy, :blush:
Ring a ring a roses is about the plague, :gag:
The grand old duke of york - war is non-pc. :shakes:
There must be loads more. :suspect:

It isn't nursery rhymes I am looking for, it is mainly folk songs, songs about nature etc. as listed above.

Humpty dumpty has been thought to have many meanings, most commonly about Richard III or a canon that fell and couldn't be repaired. Never heard of it being about pregnancy though.

Example:

"Come little leaves," said the wind on day.

"Come o'er the meadow with me and play.

Put on your dresses of red and gold.

Summer is gone and the days grow cold."



As soon as the leaves heard the wind's low call,

Down they came fluttering, one and all.

Over the brown fields they whirled and flew,

Singing the soft little songs they knew.



Dancing and whirling the little leaves went,

Autumn had called them and they were content.

Soon they will sleep in their soft earthly beds

Waiting for winter to cover their heads.

What about:

Down in Dixon Lane
There are two big fat women
And if you want to see them
You'll have to pay a shilling
Soldiers half a crown
Sailors half a guinea
Big fat men
Two pounds ten
Little kids a penny!

Think we were about 4 when we learned that.:clap:

Not sure how old this is but my grandad used to sing it to me when i was younger......
Some of the references are a bit spurious in these modern times!

My Brother Silvest.
He's got a row of forty medals on his chest.
He fights all the zulus in the west.
He gets no rest.
Hell fire, sun of a gun, don't push, just shove.

He's got an arm, as big as a leg (a lady's leg).
He's got a punch that'll sink a battle ship.
It takes all the army and the navy.
to put the wind up Silvest.
not heared that one for a long time

The wheels on the bus go round and round........all day long.

Can't believe I haven't seen "Bobby Shaftoe" mentioned.

Dare to be a daniel.
Dare to stand alone.
Dare to have a purpose strong.
Dare to make it known.

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.

Jesus makes us shine.

Inchworm inchworm measuring the marigolds
you and your arithmatic will probably go far.

A FROG HE WOULD A-WOOING GO

A frog he would a-wooing go
Heigh ho! says Rowley
Whether his mother would let him or no
With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.

So off he set with his opera hat
Heigh ho! says Rowley
And on the way he met with a rat
With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.

Pray, Mister Rat, will you go with me?
Heigh ho! says Rowley
Kind Mistress Mousey for to see?
With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.

They came to the door of Mousey's hall
Heigh ho! says Rowley
They gave a loud knock and they
gave a loud call
With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.

Pray, Mistress Mouse, will you
give us some beer?
Heigh ho! says Rowley
For Froggy and I are fond of good cheer
With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.

But while they were all a merry-making
Heigh ho! says Rowley
A cat and her kittens came tumbling in
With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.

The cat she seized the rat by the crown
Heigh ho! says Rowley
The kittens they pulled the little mouse down
With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.

This put Mister Frog in a terrible fright
Heigh ho! says Rowley
He took up his hat and he wished
then goodnight
With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach
Heigh ho! says Anthony Rowley.

Mare's eat oats
And Doe's eat oats
And little lambs eat ivy
And I like ivy too, wouldn't you?.


Anybody remember this one???

I think the last line is
"A kid'l eat ivy too wouldn't you

I think the last line is
"A kid il eat ivy too wouldn't you

If the words seem queer and funny to your ear
a little bit jumbled and jivy
just sing mares eat oats etc

Fair Rosie was a lovely child.

Farmers in his den

hazel

Fair Rosie was a lovely child.

Farmers in his den

hazel

Is that not - "The farmer's in the dell" ?

If the words seem queer and funny to your ear
a little bit jumbled and jivy
just sing mares eat oats etc

...and Does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy.



I'm a pink toothbrush, You're a blue toothbrush (sung by Max Bygraves I think!!)

It's thanks to Timbuck that I know the words as I remember it --
it went
Maisie dotes and dozydotes
and little lamsitvy
atiddley divey do wouldn't you. ( at least thats what I sang)
hazel

Choirboy
I'm sure I knew it as farmers in his den, at least thats what I used to sing !

More to the list was

Old Mcdonald had a farm

Incy wincy spider.

Round and round the garden.

I'm a litleteapot

Little Arrabella MIller

on top of old smokey all covered in cheese
i lost my poor meatball when somebody sneezed
it rolled down the garden and under a bush
and then my poor meatball got covered in slush

also

oh you'll never get to heaven
on rolling skates
cos you;ll roll right past those pearly gates
can;t remember the rest

Here is a classic one for you. We use to sing this on the grimesthorpe w.m.c trips

One man went to mow,
went to mow a meadow,
one man and his dog spot bottle of pop,
went to mow a meadow,

two men went to mow,
went to mow a meadow,
two men and his dog spot bottle of pop,
went to mow a meadow,

ect, ect

There were ten in a bed and the little one said, "roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over and one rolled out; there were nine in a bed and the little one said "roll over" etc.etc.