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1. The Tempo Marches On
(Adapted from the tradtional melody by Jim Gill)
We are marching to the rhythm.
We are marching to the beat.
We are lifting up our knees
and we are stamping our feet.
But the song keeps getting faster
with each verse that we complete.
The tempo maches on.
Chorus:
Faster, faster, faster, faster.
Faster, faster, faster, faster.
Faster, faster, faster, faster.
The tempo marches on.
Instead of marching, try clapping or stamping along with this song.
Go Back to Jim Gill Sings Do Re Mi on
his Toe Leg Knee. . .
2. Knuckles Knees
Bend your fingers to show your knuckles . . . and play this game.
Knuckles knees
Knuckles nose
Knuckles tummy
Knuckles toes
Knuckles hair
Knuckles hips
Knuckles legs
Knuckles lips
Knuckles straight
Knuckles bend
Knuckles knuckles
That's the end.
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3. Spin Again
Children can spin during the chorus . . . and hold "freeze" during the
slow parts to enjoy their dizziness!
Let me tell you of the origin
of this game that I call "Spin Again."
One day I felt within that I must begin to spin.
Chorus:
Spin, spin, begin to spin.
Spin, spin, begin to spin.
Spin, spin, begin to spin.
Spin, spin, begin to spin.
Suddenly I wore a grin.
I was filled up with adrenaline.
I felt within that I must spin again.
Chorus
I was losing my self-discipline.
My need to spin was genuine.
I felt within that I must spin again.
Chorus
Don is playing on the mandolin.
Charlie joins him on the violin.
I feel within that I must spin again.
Chorus
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4. The Wrong Song
I knocked upon your doorbell to see if you weren't inside.
You locked the door and let me crawl through your window opened wide.
You took my hat and coat and you threw them on the floor
And then we sat down for a chat in your closet interior.
You said that you were sorry that your place was not a mess
And that's when I knew . . . there's something wrong at this address.
You offered me some breakfast at six o'clock at night.
You said you had just eaten and worked up quite an appetite.
I said "Perhaps a little something for my indigestion."
So you handed me a carrot in a hot dog bun.
I know it's full of fiber and beta-carotene,
but I also know this . . . There's something wrong with this scene.
We played solitaire together feeling well underfed
Until you looked at the thermostat and declared that it was time for bed.
You asked if I would help you with your nightly chores
Of bringing in the trash, unlocking all the doors,
and setting traps for the cats so they wouldn't catch your pet mouse . . .
There's something wrong with this house!
. . . something's bad in your pad.
. . . things aren't right at this site.
. . . all's not well where you dwell.
. . . all's not bon in your maison.
. . . something's twisted where you're listed.
. . . something's our of whack in your shack.
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5. Toe Leg Knee
Toe, leg, knee, arm, elbow, jaw, teeth, nose.
Nose, teeth, jaw, elbow, arm, knee, leg, toe.
Toe, leg, toe.
Toe, leg, toe.
Elbow, jaw, teeth, nose.
(repeat)
Elbow, jaw, arm.
(repeat)
Toe, leg, toe.
Toe, leg, toe.
Elbow, jaw, teeth, nose.
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6. My Ups and Downs
a poem you can play! Stretch up high and sink down low to the accompaniment
of the bass and drums
As I ascend my arms extend and I intend to
Stretch my body straight Ð as I elevate.
The music falls I'm getting small I finally sprawl
'til I can move no more Ð on the floor.
My body grows and grows until I pose on tiptoes
I am way up high Ð near the sky.
Soon I sink my size will shrink I'm on the brink
Of bruising my kneecaps Ð as I collapse.
One last time I think I'll climb this pantomime
Has surely been fantastic Ð like elastic.
My knees bend as I descend this song must end
While I am sitting down Ð on the ground.
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7. San Francisco
(Music and original lyrics by John Phillips)
This version of "San Francisco" began on a family car trip. The original recording was playing on the radio and, after about 30 seconds, We turned it off. A few moments later my wife Sue laughed and sang "If you go To San Francisco . . . be sure to put flowers on your foot." We have been Making up new lines ever since. Try it . . . it's free!
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8. Driving Here, Driving There
We'll pile into my tin Toyota
And drive up North to Minnesota.
Chorus:
Driving here, driving there, driving almost anywhere.
Driving near, driving far, driving in a car.
Don't you fret, don't you worry.
I plan on driving to ____________.
With good fortune, if we're lucky,
We'll find our way into ____________.
Chorus
Turn off the air conditioning.
Open up the windows wide and sing.
I'm sure there's no need to explain
Why I want to drive to _________.
Then with just a little jaunt
We will end up in ___________.
Chorus
We will change the tempo of the song,
So the windshield wipers can wipe along.
We'll see Grandpa, we'll see Grandma
Way down South in _________.
I should tell ya, I should warn ya.
We're going all the way to __________.
Chorus
Think of all the places that we've been
On just ten tanks of gasoline.
If I had one with again.
I'd wish we'd drive to _________.
Yes, I'll drive you to Nebraska,
But this car's not going to ___________.
Chorus
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9. My Bonnie
(traditional)
I first learned the game presented here from Michael Brandywine, who tells me that scouts and summer campers all over North America play this game at circle times and around campfires.
The game: The object is to concentrate on the words that begin with the letter "b." While sitting down, reach your hands high in the air when you sing the first word In the song that begins with the letter "b" (bonnie, in this case). Hold your arms there until you sing another word beginning with "b" (bonnie, once again). Continue in this manner throughout the song. You can, of course, pick different movements such as standing up or sitting down, leaning to the left and right, or flapping arms up and down like a chicken.
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10. Yes, No, Maybe
Do you clearly understand this whold process?
Do you mind answering me in an echo?
Are you carefully considering each guess?
Do you feel that these are merely rhyming traps?
Do you expect to finish with success?
Do I ask too many questions in a row?
Am I seeing signs of your distress?
Should we pause and let the band play free?
Do you feel that weÕve made much progress?
Honestly, do we have much to show?
Does this all just seem like foolishness?
Do you think itÕs time to stop and quit?
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11. Color Game
My daughter and I like to play this game when we are wearing very colorful
clothing or sitting on a very colorful carpet. We just pretend to "pick" the
colors as the game moves along.
Take red, put it on your head.
Take blue, put it on your shoe.
Take black, put in on your back.
Take yellow, put it on your elbow.
Take white, put it on your right.
Take brown, put it all around.
Take the color of a rose, put it on your nose.
Take the color of snow, put it on your toe.
Take the color of sand, put it on your hand.
Take the color of cheese, put it on your knees.
Take the color of jelly, put it on your belly.
Take the color of bubble gum, put in on your thumb.
Take the color of your skin, put it on your chin.
Take the color of your hair, wave it in the air.
Take the color of your eye, hold it up high.
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12. Mashed Potatoes
Just another song about a song that becomes a hit . . . when, in fact,
it isn't.
If you have a moment and would like to lend an ear
I'll sing you the story that describes my whole career.
I was in the kitchen cooking something up to eat
And I just sang what I was doing to a simple beat.
Chorus:
You scrup 'em up
peel 'em up
boil 'em up
mash 'em up
whip 'em up
eat 'em up
Singin' about mashed potatoes.
I cut a record thinking I might have a hit -
A composition with nutrition as an added benefit.
Soon in all the clubs they were dancing to my song -
Standing in a long line and mashing all night long.
Chorus
Imagine my surprise when I turned on a radio station
And heard my spud song in heavy rotation.
Now my friends worry that success may lead to hubris,
But I know my roots my friends . . . and they are tuberous.
Chorus
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13. Spin Again . . . Again
(Adapted from the traditional melody by Jim Gill)
There was a girl named Lucy Finnegan.
She would spin and spin and spin again.
When the song was over she'd beg to begin again.
Pool Lucy Finnegan.
SPIN AGAIN!
(repeat)
Children can, of course, take turns spinning and spinning while their name
is inserted into the song. I enjoy spinning around and around on an office chair
in this game . . . perhaps that is why I have had trouble holding onto a job.
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14. The Nothing Wrong Song
There's nothing wrong with jumping up and down.
Just be sure that when descending your feet land on the ground.
There's nothing wrong with jumping up and down.
There's nothing wrong with stamping down your feet.
In fact without the rhythm any song is incomplete.
There's nothing wrong with stamping down your feet.
There's nothing wrong with spinning round and round.
After spinning for awhile the simplest thoughts can seem profound.
There's nothing wrong with spinning round and round.
There's nothing wrong with crawling on the floor.
Especially if you're dizzy from spinning in the verse before.
There's nothing wrong with crawling on the floor.
There's nothing wrong with singing simple songs.
The simpler the better so everyone can sing along.
There's nothing wrong with singing simple songs.
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