Tag Archives: silly songs

Kids Road Trip Music – Oh No, Not That Song!

Screen shot 2014-07-11 at 3.21.28 PM

It’s true – there are songs that parents love to hate. And kids love to sing because they are annoying beyond belief. So consider this post part summer songfest and part warning. These songs are funny and cute but they are also infectious earworms and some of them go on and on and on… just like a bad car ride!

100 Bottle Of Pop On The Wall

Okay, I am old enough to remember singing this song as 100 bottles of beer on the wall with my older brother pretending he was drunker after each bottle was counted down. Later versions use bottles of pop (soda), milk, juice or perhaps you can find another liquid to insert in this never-ending song

The lyrics are really simple.

100 bottles of pop on the wall, 100 bottles of pop

You take one down

And pass it around

99 bottles of pop on the wall!

(And so forth until you can’t stand it any longer.)

Redeeming value of this song? You do learn to count backwards. And to develop patience!

Screen shot 2014-07-11 at 3.20.39 PMI Know A Song That Gets On Everybody’s Nerve

And, boy – does it! This short, repeating song is sung to the tune of “Glory Hallelujia”, but you’ll only say “Glory Hallelujia” once it’s over.

Here’s the lyrics:

I know a song that gets on everybody’s nerves

I know a song that gets on everybody’s nerves

I know a song that gets on everybody’s nerves

And this is how it goes

(Back to the first line)

You can find a very annoying version of that song here:

http://www.dariamusic.com/sillysongs.php

The Song That Never Ends

Similar to “Everybody’s Nerves”, this infinite loop of a song has a bit more of a story and a few more words. I’m not sure it that makes it better – or worse!
This is the song that never ends,

yes it goes on and on my friend.

Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was,

and they’ll continue singing it forever just because…

(Back to the first line)

We’re also pretty sure we’ve located the most annoying video of this song ever – right here:

Aren’t There More Annoying Songs? 

You bet there are!

In a few days we’ll add the next few songs which rose to the top of our parent’s lists of annoying road trip songs – including “The Bear Went Over The Mountain” and “There’s A Hole In The Bottom Of The Sea”.

But do you have a particular favorite? Please comment below or drop me a line at dariamusic at yahoo dot com so I can add it here, too.  Thanks – and enjoy your next road trip, either with or without these classic kids songs!

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Silly Songs For Singing and Learning in German

Who doesn’t love a silly song?

Watching kids music videos is a great way of learning a new language or encouraging bilingualism in the home.  Here is a silly little monkey song for singing, laughing and learning in German.

Die Affen Rasen Durch Den Wald

(The Monkeys Race Through the Woods)

In this cute little song, the whole group of monkeys are racing through the forest looking for a “stolen” coconut.  Can you guess which “little monkey” has it?


Here are some questions for encouraging learning with this song:
What is the German word for monkey?
What is the the German word for more than one monkey?
What is the word for coconut?
Kokosnuss is a very silly sounding word.  Can you think of any silly sounding words in English or any other language?
Are there any other jungle animals in this video?
Can you name any other wild animals in German?
Can you name any barnyard animals in German?
Can you name any animals that are pets in German?

Song Lyrics In German And English

Lyrics in German and in English and an English translation can be found at the wonderful multicultural – Mama Lisa’s World.
http://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=3739&c=38
Multicultural Kids Music Vid’s

If you’d like to explore family-friendly music videos without the quality or content issues that often come up on Youtube, check out one of our sister sites – Multicultural Kids Music Vid’s.

On this site, we’ve curated out favorite videos for exploring not only languages but world cultures.  To discover a world of music with your kids, visit the site and click on regions, countries, topics or even explore some truly unusual instruments from all over the planet at:

http://multikidsmusicvids.com/

Kids Music Activities – Auf Deutsch!

Do you refer to read about children’s music and musical activities in German?  If so, check out our other sister blog here:

Das Kinder Machen Musik Blog

daskindermachenmusikblog.wordpress.com

Kids Music Activities – En Español

Want to explore more in Spanish, you can visit our Spanish language kids music blog here:

Creciendo Con Música
creciendoconmusicblog.wordpress.com

Over In The Meadow – A Great Song For Welcoming Spring and Counting Baby Animals!

nting imageWhat’s more fun than animal babies?

One of my favorite children’s songs – Over In The Meadow – combines cute creatures and learning the skill of counting to ten.   I first heard the song from a friend of mine who was a folksinger in Appalachia, but later found out that this popular rhyme may date back as far as the 1600’s in England.  So it seems that some things are universal.  Parents love to teach their children with music and no one can resist a baby animal!

The songs starts in a pond in the sun with one mother frog and her “little froggy one”.  Then there are kittens, birds, worms, bees, dogs, owls, ducks, mice, and even ten spiders.  And, best of all, each of the animal babies know how to listen to their elders!  Since the song has an easy-to-follow formula, even the youngest kids get the idea of counting up one number each time and can easily follow or sing along.

Although the song was originally written with each animal and their mommy, I’ve added dads, grandmas and grandpas to the verses in my version.  In my travels I had met many kids that did not always have traditional families or a mom at home as a caregiver, so I changed the song a bit to help these children feel that their family was special and important, too.

You can see my version of Over In The Meadow here:

Over In The Meadow – Lyric Page
http://www.dariamusic.com/meadow.php

Over In The Meadow – Printable Lyric Page
http://www.dariamusic.com/docs/songs/Over%20in%20the%20Meadow%20Songbook.pdf

Over In The Meadow On Itunes (Track 13)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/this-little-light-of-mine/id292915765?i=292915774&ign-mpt=uo%3D6

Over In The Meadow On Amazon Mp3
http://amzn.com/B0024XB2FS

Best-Loved Songs For Kids: Báte, Báte Chocolate – Time To Mix The Chocolate!

There’s wonderful little song in Spanish called “Bate, Bate Chocolate”, about mixing (beating/whipping) a delicious kind of hot chocolate drink often served in Mexico for breakfast.  Originally heard mainly as a type of nursery rhyme among Spanish-speaking people, the song is now widely popular since it’s use in the PBS show, Dora The Explorer.

The song is really simple.  It counts to three (uno, dos tres), then it spells out the word “chocolate”(CHO CO LA TE).  The word “báte” is from the Spanish verb “batear” meaning to whip or beat .  Why is the chocolate being beaten or whipped?  It’s how the drink is prepared.  After you’ve put all the ingredients together and heated them up, a carved stick called a molinillo is rubbed between your hands to create the frothiness and delicious texture that makes this such a special treat!

abuelita  chocolateWant to try your own Mexican-style hot chocolate while singing the song?  Below are two posts that make it easy to try!  Although it does help to have a special molinillo tool to make it frothy, you really can’t find a wrong way to enjoy hot chocolate on a cold day!

Lyrics to my version of “Bate, Bate Chocolate” are below.  And if you want to count to 10 in Spanish, instead of just up to three as in the song; “Báte, Báte”, try the simple rhyme below.  Diez Amigos/Ten Good Friends is a fun and easy bilingual counting song for teaching children numbers in both English and Spanish.

Listening Links

Báte, Báte Chocolate on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2osmKIhdalG0si6IjQri3j
Báte, Báte Chocolate on Apple Music https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beautiful-rainbow-world/id208109471
Báte, Báte Chocolate on Pandora https://www.pandora.com/artist/dora-the…/bate-bate-chocolate/TRlVgkxZ6rxkcwK

Links And Resources

Báte, Báte Chocolate- Free Printable Lyric Sheet https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bate-Bate-Chocolate-Free-Lyric-Sheet-3732121

bate iconLearn How To Make Your Own Mexican Hot Chocolate!

Directions For Mexican Hot Chocolate From Pati’s Mexican Table: https://patijinich.com/ancient_ways_for_comfort_in_cold_days_mexican_hot_chocolate/

Directions For Mexican Hot Chocolate From Multicultural Cooking Network http://multiculturalcookingnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/authentic-mexican-hot-chocolate-recipe/

————–

Diez Amigos/Ten Good Friends

Uno, dos, tres amigos,
Cuatro, cinco, seis amigos,
Siete, ocho, nueve amigos,
Diez amigos son….

One (and) two (and) three good friends

Four (and) Five (and) six good friends

Seven (and) eight (and) nine good friends

Ten good friends are we!

(Photo above courtesy of Pati’s Mexican Table – An Excellent site for exploring Mexican Cooking!)

Silly Songs for Kids: How Much Wood Could a Woodchuck Chuck?

Groundhog’s Day is on its way and it’s a great time to encourage being silly with your little ones!  Do you remember tongue-twisters from when you were a child?  Did you ever say “She sells seashells by the seashore” or wonder how many pecks of pickled peppers that peter piper could pick? Or collapse in giggles because it was really hard to say “rubber baby buggy bumpers” three times fast without totally messing it up?

Although it may not seem very serious, any time you speak or sing to your baby or child you’re increasing their intelligence and helping them develop language skills. As they listen and enjoy the sound of your voice they are developing their sense of what sounds right, even if they haven’t begun to speak on their own.

And, best if all, you are bonding.  Although a tiny baby can’t pop up out of her crib and say “Gee mom, thanks, that really made me laugh!”.  Or her toddler brother won’t declare: “Wow, that increased my vocabulary!”, children know when you are speaking to them and sense your delight in playing with words or in singing a simple song or a set of silly syllables!  It stimulates their mind and the attention makes them feel wanted, included and loved.

So, if you’re stuck inside in the cold, you might want to pass the time by trying some tongue-twisters with your kids. Or you might want to try your hand at the Groundhog’s Day song. It asks the timeless question:

“How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck chuck could chuck wood?”  and

“How much ground could a groundhog hog if a groundhog could hog ground?” and even

“How much sap could a sapsucker suck if a sapsucker could suck sap?”

If you master any of the groundhog’s day tongue-twisters, you might want to reenact Groundhog’s day in your own living room.  Below is a link to an easy pop-up puppet activity.  Color your own puppet and the woodchuck or groundhog will pop out of the cup to see its shadow – or not!

So whether you’re waiting for Spring or not concerned about the weather at all, take the time to speak or sing a silly rhyme with your child.  Or try not to trip over a tongue-twister with them!  Chances are good, they will love and remember the fun you’ve had with them for a long time to come!

Fun Resources

Groundhog’s Day Song – Printable Lyric sheet

http://www.dariamusic.com/theGroundHogSong.php

Groundhog’s Day Pop Up Puppet Activity

http://www.dariamusic.com/docs/PuppetInstructions.pdf

Groundhog’s Day Song On Amazon mp3

http://amzn.com/B003YE1T2C

Groundhog’s Day Song On Itunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/groundhog-song-how-much-wood/id385842751

Lyrics to The Groundhog Day Song

The Groundhog Song (How Much Wood Could A Woodchuck Chuck?)

Words and music by Daria A. Marmaluk-Hajioannou

How much ground could a groundhog hog

If a groundhog could hog ground? (2x)

If he could hog ground,

On Groundhog’s Day

I know he surely would!

But, how much ground would a groundhog hog

If a groundhog could hog ground?

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck

If a woodchuck, could chuck wood? (2x)

If she could chuck wood,

She would chuck wood

I know she surely would!

But, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck

If a woodchuck, could chuck wood?

How much sap could a sapsucker suck

If a sapsucker could suck sap? (2x)

If he could suck sap,

He would suck sap

I know he surely would!

But, how much sap would a sapsucker suck

If a sapsucker could suck sap?

Some Popular Tongue Twisters (In English) 

She sells seashells by the seashore.

Toy boat. Toy boat. Toy boat.

I saw Esau sitting on a seesaw.  Esau, he saw me.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
 If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

A proper copper coffee pot.

Six thick thistle sticks. Six thick thistles stick.

Three free throws.

One-One was a racehorse.
Two-Two was one, too.
When One-One won one race,
Two-Two won one, too.

Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches?

Write Your Own “12 Days Of Christmas” Carol!

12 daysSinging with your children is one of the simple pleasures of the holiday season.  It’s a great time to relive memories from your childhood and also to make new ones for your family! Have you ever thought of making your own, custom-tailored Christmas song?  If you have creative kids and a sense of humor, you can easily make your own version of the classic holiday song – the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Almost everyone is familiar with the song’s lyrics:

“On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,

a partridge in a pear tree.”

Then, each day, a new gift is added and the list becomes part of the song.  To see the popular list of 12 days/gifts, take a look below.  However, originally the song was used as part of a memory game where each person added a verse and then had to recite all the items that had come before them.  Some people believe there is special hidden symbolism in the words, and that each items reflects some part of the story of the life of Jesus.  In any event, the song has been treasured and passed down for many generations and has easily become part of holiday festivities in countries all over the globe.

How can you write your own version?  Use the same melody and format, but add the names of things that are special to you and your loved ones.  You can also describe what the holiday means to people in your area.  For instance, here’s a great version of the 12 days of Christmas written by a class of school children in St. Croix.  The wanted to share what holiday cheer meant to them on their island.  It’s a funny and fun version of their own special 12 days and I especially love their choice for day 5 – five centipedes!

Here’s what they created:

On The Twelve Days of Christmas – Crucian Style
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
An iguana in a Mango tree.
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
2 forts with cannons etc.
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
3 mocko jumbies etc. (Special stilt walkers seen in St. Croix)
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
4 frogs a singing etc.
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
5 centipedes etc.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
6 cruise ships coming etc.
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
7 roosters crowing etc
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
8 geckos climbing etc.
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
9 lobsters swimming etc
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
10 Crucians speaking etc
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
11 children dancing etc.
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
12 steel pans drumming etc.

What can you sing about?  Choose anything that is a part of your holiday celebration.  Will there be a number of presents wrapping?  A nativity set up?  Cookies being baked?  Visits to friends?  Are their ornaments to be hung?  Special pictures to be taken?  Carols sung by the tree?  If you enlist your kids help, it won’t be hard to find 12 things you all love about Christmas to turn into a very special and unique song.

Here’s hoping this fun holiday song makes some great memories for you and your family this year!

The Original 12 Days of Christmas

1 A Partridge in a Pear Tree

2 Turtle Doves

3 French Hens

4 Calling (or Colly) Birds

5 Golden Rings

6 Geese A-Laying

7 Swans A Swimming

8 Maids A-Milking

9 Ladies Dancing

10 Lords A-Leaping

11 Pipers Piping

12 Drummers Drumming

———————————–

Many thanks to Miss Barb and her students at the AZ Academy on the island of St. Croix for allowing me to share their creative songwriting in this post!

Illustration is from the Catholic Toolbox, who have created a cute memory game with the twelve images seen here:

http://catholicblogger1.blogspot.com/2009/11/twelve-days-of-christmas-memory-game.html

Do Your Ears Hang Low?

Do your ears hang low?  Have you checked lately?

This is one of those wonderfully funny songs that draw a smile from babies, toddler, moms, dads and grandparents alike!  It’s often listed as a kids song, a folk song, a summer camp song, a scout song and also as a song that is accompanied by hand motions and all of these are true!

While it’s related in lyrics and melody to the famous fiddle tune “Turkey In The Straw”, no one really knows who wrote it and the song has certainly been handed down to so many people that a variety of different versions have survived.  You can look below for a version that I like to sing and also one that Wikipedia lists as alternate lyrics.

How do you do the hand movements?  They are really easy.  Check out the link below to see the guitar chords and hand movements explained.  Or download the free sheet music.  Or download my free mp3 of this song from that great kids song resource – Kiddiddles.

So, go ahead.  Get silly.  And let your kids see you getting silly! Challenge them to learn the hand movements – they will probably master them before you!  Just one warning here – it may not be a good idea to sing this song while you have a cold. Have you guessed why?  If not, check verse five below and get ready to catch some run-away appendages!

Hear Daria’s version on Kiddiddles here:
http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/d104.html

Do Your Ears Hang Low?
On Itunes

Do Your Ears Hang Low?
On Amazon mp3

Do Your Ears Hang Low Lyrics, Sheet Music and Misc.
Printable lyric Sheet
Free Sheet Music For Piano
Hand Motions

More Silly Songs from Daria’s website:
http://www.dariamusic.com/sillysongs.php

DO YOUR EARS HANG LOW?
Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow ?
Can you throw them over your shoulder?
Like a continental soldier?
Do your ears hang low?

Do your ears flip flop?
Can you use them for a mop?
Are they stringy at the bottom?
Are they curly at the top?
Can you use them for a swatter?
Can you use them for a blotter?
Do your ears flip flop?

Do your ears hang high?
Do they reach up to the sky?
Do they droop when they’re wet
Do they stiffen when they’re dry?
Can you semaphore your neighbor
With a minimum of labor?
Do your ears hang high?

Do your ears hang wide?
Do they flap from side to side?
Do they wave in the breeze
With the slightest little sneeze?
Can you soar above the nation?
With a feeling of elation?
Do your ears hang wide?

Do your ears fall off?
Does it happen when you cough?
Do they lie there on the ground?
Or bounce around at every sound?
Can you stick them in your pocket
Like a little Davey Crockett?
Do your ears fall off?

Wikipedia lists this as another set of verses:
Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie ‘em in a knot?
Can you tie ‘em in a bow?
Can you throw ‘em o’er your shoulder
Like a regimental (or continental) soldier
Do your ears hang low?

Do your ears stand high?
Do they reach up to the sky?
Do they droop when they are wet?
Do they stiffen when they’re dry?
Can you semaphore your neighbor
With a minimum of labor?
Do your ears stand high?

Do your ears flip-flop?
Can you use them as a mop?
Are they stringy at the bottom?
Are they curly at the top?
Can you use them for a swatter?
Can you use them for a blotter?
Do your ears flip-flop?

Do your ears stick out?
Can you waggle them about?
Can you flap them up and down
As you fly around the town?
Can you shut them up for sure
When you hear an awful bore?
Do your ears stick out?

Magdalena, Hagdalena …And Her Many Aliases!

Want to hear it? Listen free on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/track/1DxQ0RXQe1a1gy5mlfrgiZ    or Apple Music:  https://music.apple.com/lu/album/jadda-jadda-jing-jing-jing/474677341

Do you recognize this very silly song?

When I recorded my first children’s music CD many moons ago, I included a hysterical little summer camp song called “Magdalena Hagdalena”.  I learned the song from my sister-in-law who had sung it during her girls scout years in the Philadelphia area.  Little did I know that as I took that song around, I would find out that good old Magdalena had a host of aliases and lots of rather odd and unusual traits.  In fact, it’s one of the songs that people talk about most, because they’ve always heard a slightly different version.  I just love that aspect of certain folksongs… everyone recognizes the song, but each one has their own twist or lyric change that makes it more personal, memorable or unique for them.

If you haven’t heard Magdalena Hagdalena, it’s a song that folklorists call a “nonesuch”.  You know… something that can’t possibly happen, like the old rhyme that starts…

“One dark night in the middle of the day
Three dead boys came out to play
Back to back
they faced each other”
(Complete rhyme below)

In this case, Magdalena was an interesting character with several hairs on her head, strange dental irregularities and two feet like bathroom mats.  In short, it’s just a silly song that makes you smile with how the sounds in the song fit together and by imagining what the impossible lyrics might really be describing.

The best part of this tongue-twisting tune is the many names that folks have Screen shot 2018-11-05 at 8.35.54 PMcreated for good old Magdalena.  In fact, there were apparently so many that one author named Tedd Arnold collected them in a wildly illustrated book he calls:
Catalina Magdalena Hoopenstiener Wellendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name.

Tedd’s book lists a host of choruses that I had heard for our likable character and some that I had never imagined including:
Madalina Catalina, Whoopastina Wilamina
Oopsy Doopsy Woopsy was her name
Aggalina Maggalina Whoops Now Whoops Now
Ooga Booga Booga was her name
Madalina Catalina, Rupesteena Wanna Donna
Hoko poko poko was her name

The lyrics I learned and recorded can be found in the freebie lyric sheet below.  But, whichever version you are familiar with, it’s nice to share silly songs with your child.  It lets them hear you play with language and also fires up their brain to think out why something might be impossible or ridiculous and still funny at the same time.  If Magdalena, Hagdalena or one of her incarnations is part of your past, you can also talk to them about where you learned it and what other songs are part of your life story and why. Were you at summer camp? Did your parents or siblings teach it to you?  Were you jumping rope or did you sing it on the bus to school to drive the bus driver crazy?  And what were your favorites songs way back when?

Sharing these kinds of seemingly simple experiences helps kids answer important questions about where you come from. Mom (or Dad or Grandma or Grandpa) what were things like when you were my age?   You know, in the time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth … along with silly little girls named Magdalena!

Links and Resources

Magdalena Hagdalena Printable lyric page

Tedd Arnold’s Book:
Catalina Magdalena Hoopenstiener Wellendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name. http://amzn.com/B000JGWDS

One Dark Night


One dark night in the middle of the day
Three dead boys came out to play

Back to back They faced each other
Drew their swords and shot each other

If you don’t believe what I’m telling you is true.
Go ask the blind man…he saw it , too!