Help me lead a harvest sing along!
September 18, 2024 10:40 PM Subscribe
I have the privilege of putting together a sing-along with some scout kiddos and the residents of a local nursing home. I need help compiling a song list!
I have kids ages 4-14 who will be going to a nearby nursing home on Halloween to trick or treat to each of the rooms (their activity coordinator is stocking all of the rooms with candy!), and then to invite them to participate in a sing-along in their fireside room. We sang Christmas carols with these lovely people last Christmas, and they loved it. They actually requested that we come back and sing with them. I'm trying to think of fun songs that we can all sing together. I can print off lyrics to hand out to those who would like them (and for our girls to follow along with). I am looking for suggestions of songs that many of the folks will recognize and enjoy, but that aren't melancholy or too complicated for everyone to sing. Bonus points if they are autumn related (no need for Halloween songs, although that's okay too). So far, we've only come up with Singing in the Rain, and Shine on Harvest Moon, as sort-of thematic songs they might enjoy singing. Anyway, I'd be super grateful for suggestions! Thanks all!
I have kids ages 4-14 who will be going to a nearby nursing home on Halloween to trick or treat to each of the rooms (their activity coordinator is stocking all of the rooms with candy!), and then to invite them to participate in a sing-along in their fireside room. We sang Christmas carols with these lovely people last Christmas, and they loved it. They actually requested that we come back and sing with them. I'm trying to think of fun songs that we can all sing together. I can print off lyrics to hand out to those who would like them (and for our girls to follow along with). I am looking for suggestions of songs that many of the folks will recognize and enjoy, but that aren't melancholy or too complicated for everyone to sing. Bonus points if they are autumn related (no need for Halloween songs, although that's okay too). So far, we've only come up with Singing in the Rain, and Shine on Harvest Moon, as sort-of thematic songs they might enjoy singing. Anyway, I'd be super grateful for suggestions! Thanks all!
I'm pretty sure Rise Up Singing has a harvest/farming/seasonal section.
posted by chaiminda at 3:42 AM on September 19 [2 favorites]
posted by chaiminda at 3:42 AM on September 19 [2 favorites]
I find the melody of Neil Young's Harvest Moon to be quite simple, and the lyrics terribly sweet.
posted by knile at 4:43 AM on September 19 [1 favorite]
posted by knile at 4:43 AM on September 19 [1 favorite]
Seconding all those ones on BobTheScientist's list! Absolute stalwarts of my primary school (UK) assemblies. Along with 'Autumn Days' which I have found myself humming this week...(though I had forgotten all about it's bizarre third line, maybe the lyricist lived near a military base?!).
posted by atlantica at 4:55 AM on September 19
posted by atlantica at 4:55 AM on September 19
A search on "hayride song" turned up several possibilities.
When I was a kid, the Halloween Parade always ended with cider and doughnuts.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:16 AM on September 19 [1 favorite]
When I was a kid, the Halloween Parade always ended with cider and doughnuts.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:16 AM on September 19 [1 favorite]
The residents would love it if you sang songs they already knew, or were familiar with.
"Don't sit under the apple tree," is well known among the older age group.
Some more here: "Oh what a beautiful morning", "Happy Trails," "Daisy (Bicycle built fot 2)," and "Let me call you sweetheart." They're not quite harvest themed, but would be well appreciated. The littler kids would love singing "How much is that doggy in the window".
There are a lot of great sing-alongs for seniors on youtube that can help spark your imagination, too.
posted by hydra77 at 5:55 AM on September 19 [1 favorite]
"Don't sit under the apple tree," is well known among the older age group.
Some more here: "Oh what a beautiful morning", "Happy Trails," "Daisy (Bicycle built fot 2)," and "Let me call you sweetheart." They're not quite harvest themed, but would be well appreciated. The littler kids would love singing "How much is that doggy in the window".
There are a lot of great sing-alongs for seniors on youtube that can help spark your imagination, too.
posted by hydra77 at 5:55 AM on September 19 [1 favorite]
A slight derail:
"Don't sit under the apple tree", "Oh what a beautiful morning", "Happy Trails," "Daisy (Bicycle built fot 2)," and "Let me call you sweetheart."
I will relay what my 80-year-old mother-in-law said about songs like these when played at her assisted living facility. These are not songs they listened to growing up. They grew up with Elvis, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, etc. Those songs are of a previous generation and people playing music for the current elderly still haven't realized it.
posted by ShooBoo at 8:07 AM on September 19 [9 favorites]
"Don't sit under the apple tree", "Oh what a beautiful morning", "Happy Trails," "Daisy (Bicycle built fot 2)," and "Let me call you sweetheart."
I will relay what my 80-year-old mother-in-law said about songs like these when played at her assisted living facility. These are not songs they listened to growing up. They grew up with Elvis, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, etc. Those songs are of a previous generation and people playing music for the current elderly still haven't realized it.
posted by ShooBoo at 8:07 AM on September 19 [9 favorites]
Try to Remember, from The Fantasticks.
posted by little mouth at 8:08 AM on September 19 [1 favorite]
posted by little mouth at 8:08 AM on September 19 [1 favorite]
These people probably watched children's shows with their children and grandchildren, so how about "I had a rooster" by Fred Penner, which always makes people smile.
posted by Enid Lareg at 9:09 AM on September 19
posted by Enid Lareg at 9:09 AM on September 19
Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:23 PM on September 19
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:23 PM on September 19
Following Shooboo's suggestion, the sing along songs I remember best are Hey Jude (Beatles), Puff the Magic Dragon (Peter, Paul & Mary), and I'm Henery the VIiII, I am (Herman's Hermits).
posted by SemiSalt at 4:37 AM on September 20 [2 favorites]
posted by SemiSalt at 4:37 AM on September 20 [2 favorites]
All of the songs listed on riseupandsing.org are designed for singing and singing along. The “ harvest and autumnal songs” has a whole list -and- the page with the song has videos of people singing the song.
The books (2) are a treasure and each have a list under “farm and prairie” that might be germane.
posted by childofTethys at 11:11 AM on September 20
The books (2) are a treasure and each have a list under “farm and prairie” that might be germane.
posted by childofTethys at 11:11 AM on September 20
I’d look for fun songs that are easy to pick up whether you know them or not.
Also, the residents will enjoy watching Jo the kids sing and have fun probably more than they will be feeling their own nostalgia. So some silly ones the kids love would be just the ticket. I can’t link these all rn but you can look them up.
Some suggestions:
The Cat Came Back
Good Day Sunshine (Beatles)
Rattlin’ Bog
The Green Grass Grows All Around
Stand by Me
Going on a Bear Hunt
Lean on Me
The Ants Go Marching
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Sloop John B
Country Roads
posted by Miko at 5:02 PM on September 21
Also, the residents will enjoy watching Jo the kids sing and have fun probably more than they will be feeling their own nostalgia. So some silly ones the kids love would be just the ticket. I can’t link these all rn but you can look them up.
Some suggestions:
The Cat Came Back
Good Day Sunshine (Beatles)
Rattlin’ Bog
The Green Grass Grows All Around
Stand by Me
Going on a Bear Hunt
Lean on Me
The Ants Go Marching
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Sloop John B
Country Roads
posted by Miko at 5:02 PM on September 21
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posted by BobTheScientist at 12:53 AM on September 19 [1 favorite]