If your baby liked "Feliz Navidad," they may also like...
October 7, 2013 8:30 PM Subscribe
My 9 month old baby likes it when I sing to him, but I am horrible at remembering song lyrics. He's a fan of "Feliz Navidad," which is cool because it has about 20 words to remember and the Spanish keeps him interested. What other happy, easy-to-remember songs should I learn the lyrics to and sing? English, Spanish, and German are all in my wheelhouse.
Maybe my Grandma was cynical, but she sang the words like this...
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
To see what he could see.
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see.
posted by calgirl at 8:47 PM on October 7, 2013 [3 favorites]
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
To see what he could see.
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see.
posted by calgirl at 8:47 PM on October 7, 2013 [3 favorites]
My mom sang me a lot of songs that I later realized were just old pop songs she remembered from when she was younger. I didn't know that Red Rubber Ball was about anything other than a literal red rubber ball, for example. So you could sing just about anything at all, he'll like it.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:05 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:05 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Raffi. Buy a cd or download some. you can also get board book versions of some of his songs. We used to just love them. :)
posted by lemniskate at 9:29 PM on October 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by lemniskate at 9:29 PM on October 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
I sang Amazing Grace to my baby, and some Elvis songs, and since I couldn't always remember the words, I just stuck with the verses I could remember.
posted by Capri at 9:30 PM on October 7, 2013
posted by Capri at 9:30 PM on October 7, 2013
Well, obviously Frere Jacques. :)
posted by Salamander at 9:36 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Salamander at 9:36 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Kopf und Schulter?
posted by novalis_dt at 9:38 PM on October 7, 2013
posted by novalis_dt at 9:38 PM on October 7, 2013
Best answer: Agree with the Raffi suggestion. In my experience, babies LOVE "Baby Beluga." "Apples and Bananas" is perfect for when you can't remember the words to anything, too.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:47 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:47 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Seconding that Frere Jacques is as simple as can be, in French or English.
My parents used various nursery rhymes (London Bridge), songs from the folk revival from people like Woody Guthrie, Peter, Paul and Mary (If I Had a Hammer), Pete Seeger and Burl Ives, and old popular songs like Moon River.
My sister and I were fond of this old lullaby:
The Riddle Song/I Gave My Love a Cherry (there are many variations on the lyrics; they made fun of this in the movie Animal House but I still like it)
I gave my Love a cherry that has no stone
I gave my Love a chicken that has no bone
I told my Love a ring that has no end
I gave my Love a baby that's no cryin'
How can there be a cherry that has no stone
How can there be a chicken that has no bone
How can there be a ring that has no end
How can there be a baby that's no cryin'
A cherry when it's bloomin', it has no stone
A chicken when it's a pippin, it has no bone
A ring when it's a rollin' it, it has no end
A baby when it's sleeping, there's no cryin'
posted by gudrun at 9:49 PM on October 7, 2013
My parents used various nursery rhymes (London Bridge), songs from the folk revival from people like Woody Guthrie, Peter, Paul and Mary (If I Had a Hammer), Pete Seeger and Burl Ives, and old popular songs like Moon River.
My sister and I were fond of this old lullaby:
The Riddle Song/I Gave My Love a Cherry (there are many variations on the lyrics; they made fun of this in the movie Animal House but I still like it)
I gave my Love a cherry that has no stone
I gave my Love a chicken that has no bone
I told my Love a ring that has no end
I gave my Love a baby that's no cryin'
How can there be a cherry that has no stone
How can there be a chicken that has no bone
How can there be a ring that has no end
How can there be a baby that's no cryin'
A cherry when it's bloomin', it has no stone
A chicken when it's a pippin, it has no bone
A ring when it's a rollin' it, it has no end
A baby when it's sleeping, there's no cryin'
posted by gudrun at 9:49 PM on October 7, 2013
Best answer: Maybe to sing together some day:
Lachen, lachen, lachen, lachenposted by XMLicious at 9:49 PM on October 7, 2013
Kommt der Sommer über das feld,
Über da-as feld kommt der Sommer, Ha ha ha
Lachen über das feld
My parents sang to me constantly when I was a kid, almost as much as they read to me. I have very fond memories of this. They sang everything from vaguely inappropriate pop songs to little kid rhymes. My mom has a lovely voice; my dad has more enthusiasm than talent.
From the simple kid pile:
Baa, Baa Black Sheep
Itsy, Bitsy Spider
A Tisket, a Tasket
Mary Had a Little Lamb
She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Hush Little Baby
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Ring Around the Rosie
Purple People Eater (one of my FAVORITES, especially when my dad would do a falsetto part)
A couple of the songs they loved to sing scarred me for life, but I still know all the words. :)
My Grandfather's Clock (about a guy who dies)
Charley on the MTA (about a guy who gets trapped on public transit)
posted by xyzzy at 9:54 PM on October 7, 2013
From the simple kid pile:
Baa, Baa Black Sheep
Itsy, Bitsy Spider
A Tisket, a Tasket
Mary Had a Little Lamb
She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Hush Little Baby
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Ring Around the Rosie
Purple People Eater (one of my FAVORITES, especially when my dad would do a falsetto part)
A couple of the songs they loved to sing scarred me for life, but I still know all the words. :)
My Grandfather's Clock (about a guy who dies)
Charley on the MTA (about a guy who gets trapped on public transit)
posted by xyzzy at 9:54 PM on October 7, 2013
Go buy Pete Seeger's Children's Concert at Town Hall.
posted by brookeb at 10:05 PM on October 7, 2013
posted by brookeb at 10:05 PM on October 7, 2013
My parents are not that musical, but both of them sang to me a lot when I was little.
My mom:
- All The Pretty Little Horses, which I find especially endearing because it's kind of obscure and we're not really horse people or appalachian ballad collectors or anything;
- The Wheels On The Bus (she probably regretted teaching me the words)
- Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and I Just Called To Say I Love You (both of which were popular on the radio when I was little)
- You Are My Sunshine
- All Things Bright And Beautiful
My dad:
- Yellow Submarine
- Frere Jacques
- Dixie, weirdly enough (we are liberals, though we are from the south.)
- That "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" Coke jingle
So, yeah, anything will do. Really.
posted by Sara C. at 10:25 PM on October 7, 2013
My mom:
- All The Pretty Little Horses, which I find especially endearing because it's kind of obscure and we're not really horse people or appalachian ballad collectors or anything;
- The Wheels On The Bus (she probably regretted teaching me the words)
- Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and I Just Called To Say I Love You (both of which were popular on the radio when I was little)
- You Are My Sunshine
- All Things Bright And Beautiful
My dad:
- Yellow Submarine
- Frere Jacques
- Dixie, weirdly enough (we are liberals, though we are from the south.)
- That "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" Coke jingle
So, yeah, anything will do. Really.
posted by Sara C. at 10:25 PM on October 7, 2013
Best answer: The Chocolate song!
Uno, dos, tres, cho;
uno, dos, tres, co;
uno, dos, tres, la;
uno, dos, tres, te.
¡Chocolate! ¡Chocolate!
¡A mí me gusta el chocolate!
That's impossible to forget.
In the vein of singing old pop songs to children, I also used to sing Besame Mucho to my son when he was a baby.
posted by BlueJae at 10:48 PM on October 7, 2013
Uno, dos, tres, cho;
uno, dos, tres, co;
uno, dos, tres, la;
uno, dos, tres, te.
¡Chocolate! ¡Chocolate!
¡A mí me gusta el chocolate!
That's impossible to forget.
In the vein of singing old pop songs to children, I also used to sing Besame Mucho to my son when he was a baby.
posted by BlueJae at 10:48 PM on October 7, 2013
My mom sang me a lot of songs that I later realized were just old pop songs she remembered from when she was younger.
My mom did the same thing. It was years before I realized that Yellow Submarine was a pop song, not a kids' song!
posted by cairdeas at 10:52 PM on October 7, 2013
My mom did the same thing. It was years before I realized that Yellow Submarine was a pop song, not a kids' song!
posted by cairdeas at 10:52 PM on October 7, 2013
I am just now remembering she did the same thing with "Walk on the Wild Side" (!!!) She definitely didn't sing all the lyrics to that one.
posted by cairdeas at 11:01 PM on October 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by cairdeas at 11:01 PM on October 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
My 6 week old son currently only respond to row row your boat, sung until your mind snaps:
"Row row row your boat,
Gently down the steam,
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily,
Life is but a dream."
posted by Cannon Fodder at 11:37 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
"Row row row your boat,
Gently down the steam,
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily,
Life is but a dream."
posted by Cannon Fodder at 11:37 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Mairzy Doats! Kid-fun video version; history; lyrics. And from the last link, a page with a lot of other kid song ideas and links to lyrics.
Just in case that page ever goes missing, here's the list for posterity (the first eight link to various songs):
School House Rock - History Rock
School House Rock - Grammar Rock
From the Wizard of Oz
From Mary Poppins
From Alladin
From The Lion King
From Beauty and The Beast
From The Little Mermaid
Little Bunny Foo Foo
If All The Raindrops
The Ants Go Marching
Kookaburra
Itsy Bitsy Spider
The Noble Duke of York
Do Your Ears Hang Low
Six Little Ducks
There Are Seven Days
Boom Boom Ain't It Great To Be Crazy
What's Your Name
A Penny
A Peanut Sat On A Railroad Track
Three Little Fishies
Pop Goes The Weasel
You Are My Sunshine
Are You Sleeping
Lullaby And Goodnight
I Got A Nickel
Baby Bumblebee
Bill Grogan's Goat
The Green Grass Grows All Around
Swingin' On a Star
Puff the Magic Dragon
posted by taz at 12:13 AM on October 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
Just in case that page ever goes missing, here's the list for posterity (the first eight link to various songs):
School House Rock - History Rock
School House Rock - Grammar Rock
From the Wizard of Oz
From Mary Poppins
From Alladin
From The Lion King
From Beauty and The Beast
From The Little Mermaid
Little Bunny Foo Foo
If All The Raindrops
The Ants Go Marching
Kookaburra
Itsy Bitsy Spider
The Noble Duke of York
Do Your Ears Hang Low
Six Little Ducks
There Are Seven Days
Boom Boom Ain't It Great To Be Crazy
What's Your Name
A Penny
A Peanut Sat On A Railroad Track
Three Little Fishies
Pop Goes The Weasel
You Are My Sunshine
Are You Sleeping
Lullaby And Goodnight
I Got A Nickel
Baby Bumblebee
Bill Grogan's Goat
The Green Grass Grows All Around
Swingin' On a Star
Puff the Magic Dragon
posted by taz at 12:13 AM on October 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken,
Drei Ecken hat mein Hut,
Und hätt er nicht drei Ecken,
So wär es nicht mein Hut.
posted by flod logic at 3:58 AM on October 8, 2013
Drei Ecken hat mein Hut,
Und hätt er nicht drei Ecken,
So wär es nicht mein Hut.
posted by flod logic at 3:58 AM on October 8, 2013
My parents were fans of singing selected songs from The Sound of Music: Do-Re-Mi, Edelweiss, My Favorite Things.
posted by topophilia at 4:13 AM on October 8, 2013
posted by topophilia at 4:13 AM on October 8, 2013
Best answer: A simple Spanish one from my childhood:
Très palabritas son,
las que tengo de memoria:
Yo te amo!
La la la la la la la la la!
Here's the melody, but for some reason the lyrics are changed and they made it about God. Couldn't find the version I remember. But I always sing my version to little ones in my care!
posted by functionequalsform at 7:40 AM on October 8, 2013
Très palabritas son,
las que tengo de memoria:
Yo te amo!
La la la la la la la la la!
Here's the melody, but for some reason the lyrics are changed and they made it about God. Couldn't find the version I remember. But I always sing my version to little ones in my care!
posted by functionequalsform at 7:40 AM on October 8, 2013
Mairzy Doats. Be warned, it can be a bit of an earworm!
posted by HotToddy at 7:47 AM on October 8, 2013
posted by HotToddy at 7:47 AM on October 8, 2013
This song is not just great for babies but is also perfect to teach to young children before they go on a long car journey, one where you stay home...
To the tune of The William Tell Overture (The Lone Ranger theme)
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ball,
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ball,
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ball,
Just li-iiii-ke a ping-pong ball!
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ball,
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ball,
Pop's got-
A head like-
A pi-iing pong ball,
Pop's got-
A head like-
A pi-iing pong ball!
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ball,
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ball,
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ball,
Just li-iiii-ke a ping-pong ball!
posted by essexjan at 8:02 AM on October 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
To the tune of The William Tell Overture (The Lone Ranger theme)
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ball,
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ball,
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ball,
Just li-iiii-ke a ping-pong ball!
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ball,
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ball,
Pop's got-
A head like-
A pi-iing pong ball,
Pop's got-
A head like-
A pi-iing pong ball!
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ball,
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ball,
Pop's got a head like a ping-pong ball,
Just li-iiii-ke a ping-pong ball!
posted by essexjan at 8:02 AM on October 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, Chick Chick Chick Chick Chicken (Tune here)
Chick Chick Chick Chick Chicken,
Lay a little egg for me
Chick Chick Chick Chick Chicken
I want one for my tea
Oh I haven't had an egg since Easter,
And now it's half-past three
So!
Chick Chick Chick Chick Chicken
Lay a little egg for me.
posted by essexjan at 8:18 AM on October 8, 2013
Chick Chick Chick Chick Chicken,
Lay a little egg for me
Chick Chick Chick Chick Chicken
I want one for my tea
Oh I haven't had an egg since Easter,
And now it's half-past three
So!
Chick Chick Chick Chick Chicken
Lay a little egg for me.
posted by essexjan at 8:18 AM on October 8, 2013
Best answer: I remember when I used to sing to my son. His favorite was "Rubber Duckie." Now he's 16 and listens to death metal. (Probably not a direct result of too much Rubber Duckie. I'm pretty sure.) So, here are two folk songs I learned when studying German:
Der Han ist Tod - The melody is here. Words and music here. Bonus-- it can also be sung as a round.
Words:
Der Hahn ist tot, der Hahn ist tot.
Er kann nicht mehr kräh'n, kokodi, kokoda.
Kokokokokokokokodi, kokoda
Heut Kommt der Hans du mir - this sincere man will sing it to you. It's basically a tongue-twister auf Deutsch.
The words, as best as I can re-construct them:
Heut kommt der Hans zu mir, freut sich die Lies.
Ob er aber über Oberammergau
oder aber über Unterammergau
oder aber überhaupt nicht kommt,
das ist nicht g'wiss.
The idea is to sing it repeatedly faster each time until you can't keep it straight. Your little one will love it.
posted by tuesdayschild at 8:24 AM on October 8, 2013
Der Han ist Tod - The melody is here. Words and music here. Bonus-- it can also be sung as a round.
Words:
Der Hahn ist tot, der Hahn ist tot.
Er kann nicht mehr kräh'n, kokodi, kokoda.
Kokokokokokokokodi, kokoda
Heut Kommt der Hans du mir - this sincere man will sing it to you. It's basically a tongue-twister auf Deutsch.
The words, as best as I can re-construct them:
Heut kommt der Hans zu mir, freut sich die Lies.
Ob er aber über Oberammergau
oder aber über Unterammergau
oder aber überhaupt nicht kommt,
das ist nicht g'wiss.
The idea is to sing it repeatedly faster each time until you can't keep it straight. Your little one will love it.
posted by tuesdayschild at 8:24 AM on October 8, 2013
Best answer: Schnitzelbank is a fun song that can be adapted to fit whatever items are nearby! The link goes to an Animaniacs version, but there are more traditional versions available.
posted by 1367 at 10:23 AM on October 8, 2013
posted by 1367 at 10:23 AM on October 8, 2013
Free ABC Songs. Not the site I was looking for, but one I used when I was teaching preschool ESL in Korea.
posted by kathrynm at 3:53 PM on October 8, 2013
posted by kathrynm at 3:53 PM on October 8, 2013
Response by poster: Awesome! Thanks so much, especially those of you who spoon fed me manageable lyrics and YouTube links. Baby Maarika will like all of these songs much more than the one I made up about clipping his nails.
posted by Maarika at 7:53 PM on October 8, 2013
posted by Maarika at 7:53 PM on October 8, 2013
Response by poster: Oh my god, I clicked on the Raffi songs in YouTube and discovered that my subconscious remembers ALL OF THE LYRICS (I totally wore out my Raffi cassette tapes as a kid).
QUESTION RESOLVED.
posted by Maarika at 8:01 PM on October 8, 2013 [2 favorites]
QUESTION RESOLVED.
posted by Maarika at 8:01 PM on October 8, 2013 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
The bear went over the mountain
The bear went over the mountain
And what do you think he saw?
He saw another mountain
He saw another mountain
He saw another mountain
And what do you think he did?
The bear went over the mountain...(those are all the lyrics, you can sing it forever)
posted by xingcat at 8:32 PM on October 7, 2013