For Children Ages 6mos-5 years and their Loved Ones
This songbook compiled by Adriana Manfredi and the schools and families she plays music with every week is constantly evolving. Feel free to adapt this songbook for your family and friends. This curated song collection was started in 2012 by the families of Little Sunshine House and Bayshore Co-op, Long Beach CA.
We’d love to offer special thanks to Kate Richards of Inspired Music Play and Urban Voices Project Family Sing, and Little Sunshine House.
Catch a virtual class via Instagram live Saturdays at 8:30am @wearethe_musicmakers and archived.
Also Family Sing virtual class meet Mondays 9am-9:30, Register here. You will find demo’s of the songs in both of these spaces, We can’t wait to Sing with you!
Adriana Manfredi, MFA / Inspired Music Play (2023)
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APPLES AND BANANAS (C G7 C) (Raffi)
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas (2x)
(Substitute any silly vowels you like!)
BATMAN AND ROBIN
da na na na na (4x) BATMAN!! (repeat 2x)
BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN
Chords: dminor/ gminor/ A7
BEAT THE DRUM (Toca el tambor)
Gio (Child) beats the drum x2 (tap your feet, shrug shoulders) (toca el tambor)
Gio I see you (te veo)
Gio I hear you (te escucho)
Beating the drum (tocando el tambor)
BINGO
There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-I-N-G-O
(clap)-I-N-G-O
(clap)-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
And Bingo was his name-o.
CLAP YOUR HANDS (tune: Old Joe Clark)
Clap, clap clap your hands, clap your hands together (2x)
then- Stomp your feet, reach the sky, tap your shoulders, flash your hands, turn around, sing out loud, sing so soft…. The list goes on! Great one to ask for the kids’ ideas
CROSS AND TAP (Kate Richards, chant, with movements)
And Cross and Tap (Cross/ Tap shoulders)
And Cross and Tap
And Cross and Tap
And give yourself a hug! (Give oneself a hug)
Spanish translation: Cruzar, tocar (x3) y date un abrazo!
DID YOU EVER SEE A LASSIE
Did you ever see a lassie a lassie a lassie
Did you ever see a lassie go this way and that?
Go this way and that way and that way and this way
Did you ever see a lassie go this way and that?
DOWN BY THE BAY
Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do
My mother will say
"Did you ever see a fly
Wearing a tie?"
Down by the bay.
More (make your own!)-
"Did you ever see a bear
Combing his hair?"
Down by the bay.
"Did you ever see a moose
Kissing a goose?"
"Did you ever see a whale
With a polka dot tail?"
"Did you ever see a llama
Wearing pajamas?"
"Did you ever have a time
When you couldn't make a rhyme?"
DOWN BY THE STATION (Paul Mills, Slim Gailliard)
Down by the station
Early in the morning
See the little pufferbellies
All in a row
See the station master
Turn the little handle
Chug chug puff puff
Off they go
Down by the station
Early in the morning
See the shiny train cars
All in a row
Waitin' to get hitched up
And go on their adventure
Chug chug puff puff
Off they go
Down by the station
Early in the morning
See my favorite engine
Ready to tow
All the other train cars
Will follow on behind him
Chug chug puff puff
Off they go
Down by the station
Early in the morning
Climb on aboard
And hear the whistle blow
Mr. Conductor
Please take my ticket
Chug chug puff puff
Off they go
Down by the station
Early in the morning
See the little pufferbellies
All in a row
See the station master
Turn the little handle
Chug chug puff puff
Off they go
See the station master
Turn the little handle
Chug chug puff puff
Off they go
Chug chug puff puff
Off they go
5 LITTLE DUCKS
5 little ducks went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said quack quack quack quack quack
And four little ducks came back ….
5 LITTLE MONKEYS
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
Four little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
Three little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
Two little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
One little monkey jumping on the bed
He fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
GOING ON A BEAR HUNT
(d minor/ A7)
Going on a bear hunt ! (2x)
I’m not afraid !
What’s up ahead?
_______ can’t go over it…. Can’t go under it …. Gotta go through it !
Lyrics (Variations: Dragon Hunt)
GRASSY GRASS GRASS (Woody Guthrie)
Grass grass grass,
tree tree tree,
leafy leaf leaf,
one two three.
Birdy birdy bird,
fly fly fly,
nest nest nest,
high high high.
Cloudy cloudy cloud,
wind wind wind,
rain rain rain,
mud mud mud,
Doggie doggie,
dog runy run run,
quickie quick quick,
homey home home.
Bedy bed bed
sheety sheet sheet,
sleepy sleep sleep,
dreamy dream dream.
Dancie dance dance,
singy sing sing,
grow grow grow,
biggy big big.
GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND (Harry Jerome, Harry Von Tilzer, 1912)
Oh in the woods there was a tree
The prettiest tree
You ever did see
And the tree was in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all around, and the green grass grew all around
And on that tree
There was a limb
The prettiest limb
That you ever did see
And the limb was on the tree
And the tree in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all around, and the green grass grew all around
And on that limb
There was a branch
The prettiest branch
That you ever did see
And the branch was on the limb,
And the limb was on the tree,
And the tree was in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all around, and the green grass grew all around
And on that branch
There was a nest
The prettiest nest
That you ever did see
And the nest was on the branch
And the branch was on the limb
And the limb was on the tree
And the tree was in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all around, and the green grass grew all around
And in that nest
There was an egg
The prettiest egg
That you ever did see
And the egg was in the nest
And the nest was on the branch
And the branch was on the limb
And the limb was on the tree
And the tree was in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all around, and the green grass grew all around
And in that egg
There was a bird
The prettiest bird
That you ever did see
And the bird was in the egg
And the egg was in the nest
And the nest was on the branch
And the branch was on the limb
And the limb was on the tree
And the tree was in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all around, and the green grass grew all around
HEAD SHOULDERS KNEES AND TOES
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes. (2x)
Eyes, and ears, and mouth,
And nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
HAPPY HEARTS
Thank you for our happy hearts
For rain and sunny weather
Thank you ______ for our snack
And that we're here together!
HELLO!
(S-M, S-M, S-D-D-R-R-M, S-M, S-M, S-L-S-M-R-D)
Hello, hello
Hello, hello
I'm glad you're here today
To sing, to sing
To play, to play
And we'll be on our way.
I AM TEACHABLE (Kate Richards)
I am teachable! / Puedo aprender
I am huggable / Me puedes abrazar
I am adorable / Soy adorable
I am lovable / Me puedes amar
IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT
"Clap your hands… stomp your feet... shout/say, 'Hooray'!"
"... slap your knees!"
"... slap your legs!"
"... clap your hands!"
"... turn around!"
"... snap your fingers!"
"... nod your head!"
"... tap your toe!"
"... honk your nose!"
"... pat your head!"
"... pull your ears!"
"... shout/say, 'We are'!"
"... stomp/stamp your feet!"
"... shout/say, 'Ha, ha'!"
"... shout/say, 'Oh yeah'!"
"... shout/say, 'Amen'!"
"... raise your drink!"
"... give a whistle!"
"... do all three, four, etc.!"
I KNOW AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY
I know an old lady who swallowed a fly,
I don't know why she swallowed the fly,
Perhaps she'll cry.
I know an old lady who swallowed a spider,
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,
I don't know why she swallowed the fly,
Perhaps she'll cry.
I know an old lady who swallowed a bird,
How absurd to swallow a bird!
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her,
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,
I don't know why she swallowed the fly,
Perhaps she'll cry.
I know an old lady who swallowed a cat,
Imagine that, to swallow a cat!
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her,
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,
I don't know why she swallowed the fly,
Perhaps she'll cry.
I know an old lady who swallowed a dog,
My, what a hog, to swallow a dog!
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her,
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,
I don't know why she swallowed the fly,
Perhaps she'll cry.
I know an old lady who swallowed a goat,
Just opened her throat and swallowed a goat!
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog,
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her,
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,
I don't know why she swallowed the fly,
Perhaps she'll cry.
I know an old lady who swallowed a cow,
I wonder how she swallowed a cow?!
She swallowed the cow to catch the goat,
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog,
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider,
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her,
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly,
I don't know why she swallowed the fly,
Perhaps she'll cry.
I know an old lady who swallowed a horse,
She's dead, of course!!
THE ITSY BITSY SPIDER
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Went Up the Water Spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Up came the sun
And dried out all the rain
And the Itsy Bitsy Spider
Went up the spout again!
JOHNNY WORKS WITH ONE HAMMER
- Johnny works with one hammer,
One hammer, 1 hammer,
Johnny works with 1 hammer,
Then he works with two.
- . . . Two hammers
- . . . Three hammers
- . . . Four hammers
- Johnny works with five hammers,
Five hammers, five hammers,
Johnny works with five hammers
Then he goes to sleep.
LADYBUGS PICNIC (Bud Luckey, Donald Hadley, 1971)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Ladybugs Came
to the ladybugs' picnic
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
And they all played games
At the ladybugs' picnic
They had twelve sacks so they ran sack races
They fell on their backs and they fell on their faces
The ladybugs 12
At the ladybugs' picnic
They played jump rope but the rope it broke
So they just sat around telling knock-knock jokes
The ladybugs 12
At the ladybugs' picnic
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
And they chatted away
At the ladybugs' picnic
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
They talked about the high price of furniture and rugs
And fire insurance for ladybugs
The ladybugs 12
At the ladybugs' picnic
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Ladybugs Came
to the ladybugs' picnic
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
And they all played games
At the ladybugs' picnic
LOOBY LOO
Here we go Looby Loo
Here we go Looby li
Here we go Looby Loo
All on a Saturday Night!
I put my right hand in,
I take my right hand out,
I give my right hand a shake shake shake
And I turn myself about
Oh, here we go Looby Loo (repeat)
(Left hand, right foot, left foot, head, whole self)
LOVE SOMEBODY
Love somebody yes I do
Love somebody won't say who
Love somebody can you guess?
You're the one I love the best!
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB
Mary had a little lamb,
His fleece was white as snow,
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.
He followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule,
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.
And so the teacher turned it out,
But still it lingered near,
And waited patiently about,
Till Mary did appear.
"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
The eager children cry.
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know."
The teacher did reply.
MAKE NEW FRIENDS
Make new friends
but keep the old,
One is silver
and the other gold.
A circle is round,
it has no end.
That's how long,
I will be your friend.
A fire burns bright,
it warms the heart.
We've been friends,
from the very start.
You have one hand,
I have the other.
Put them together,
We have each other.
MARY WORE A RED DRESS
Mary wore a red dress, red dress, red dress
Mary wore a red dress, all day long
MI CUERPO (Harmony Hope and Healing)
Mi cuerpo, Mi cuerpo hace musica (2x)
Mis manos hace clap clap clap
Mis pies hace stomp stomp stomp
Mi voz canta “la la la”
Mis caderas hacen “cha cha cha” (3x)
MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN 🌊
My bonnie lies over the ocean
My bonnie lies over the sea
My bonnie lies over the ocean
So bring back my bonnie to me
Bring back, bring back
O bring back my bonnie to me, to me (2x)
THE OCEAN REFUSES NO RIVERS (Lila Flood) link
Spanish: El mar dice bienvenidos a todos los ríos
- SUN (Raffi)
Oh Mr. Sun. Sun. Mr. golden sun. Please shine down on me.
Oh Mr. Sun. Sun. Mr. golden sun. Hiding behind a tree.
These little children are asking you. To please come out so we can play with you.
Oh Mr. Sun. Sun. Mr. golden sun. Please shine down on me.
THE MORE WE GET TOGETHER
The more we get together together together
The more we get together the happier we'll be
For your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends
The more we get together the happier we'll be
ON TOP OF MY PIZZA
On top of my pizza
All covered with sauce
Could not find the mushrooms
I think they got lost
I looked in the closet
I looked in the sink
I looked in the cup that
Held my cola drink
I looked in the saucepan
Right under the lid
No matter where I looked
Those mushrooms stayed hid
Next time you make pizza
I’m begging you, please
Do not give me mushrooms
But just plain old cheese
PETE THE CAT - ROCKIN’ IN MY SCHOOL SHOES
(Adriana Manfredi, adapted from the Pete the Cat Too Cool for School book, by James Dan)
I’m rockin’ in my school shoes (6 times, to a 12 bar blues)
PUMPKINS
Pumpkins pumpkins here and there
Pumpkins pumpkins everywhere!
We must find the perfect one!
Halloween is so much fun!
RAM SAM SAM
A ram sam sam, a ram sam sam
gooey gooey gooey gooey gooey ram sam sam
A ram sam sam, a ram sam sam
gooey gooey gooey gooey gooey ram sam sam
A rafi, a rafi,
gooey gooey gooey gooey gooey ram sam sam
A rafi, a rafi,
gooey gooey gooey gooey gooey ram sam sam
SEVEN DAYS IN THE WEEK
There are 7 days (3x) in the week
There are 7 days (3x) in the week “WHAT ARE THEY?”
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
SHOO FLY
Shoo, fly, don't bother me,
Shoo, fly, don't bother me,
Shoo, fly, don't bother me,
For I belong to somebody.
I feel, I feel, I feel like a morning star,
I feel, I feel, I feel like a morning star.
Oh, shoo, fly, don't bother me,
Shoo, fly, don't bother me,
Shoo, fly, don't bother me,
For I belong to somebody.
THE MORE WE GET TOGETHER (hello or goodbye song)
The more we get together
Together, together
The more we get together
The happier we'll be
'Cause your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together
The happier we'll be
Let’s wave hello (goodbye) to Kate and Cathy and Adriana….
THERE ARE SEVEN DAYS IN THE WEEK
There are 7 days (3x) in the week - repeat
What are they?
Sunday Monday, Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday (repeat)
THREE LITTLE FISHES
(Josephine Carringer and Bernice Idins, Saxie Dowell, 1939)
Down in the meadow in a little bitty pool
Swam three little fishies and a mama fishie too
"Swim" said the mama fishie, "Swim if you can"
And they swam and they swam all over the dam
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
And they swam and they swam all over the dam
"Stop" said the mama fishie, "or you will get lost"
The three little fishies didn't wanna be bossed
The three little fishies went off on a spree
And they swam and they swam right out to the sea
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
And they swam and they swam right out to the sea
"Whee!" yelled the little fishies, "Here's a lot of fun
We'll swim in the sea till the day is done"
They swam and they swam, and it was a lark
Till all of a sudden they saw a shark!
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
Till all of a sudden they saw a shark!
"Help!" cried the little fishies, "Gee! look at all the whales!"
And quick as they could, they turned on their tails
And back to the pool in the meadow they swam
And they swam and they swam back over the dam
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
Boop boop dit-tem dat-tem what-tem Chu!
And they swam and they swam back over the dam
TINY TIM
I had a little turtle
His name was Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim
He drank up all the water
And ate a bar of soap
And now he's in his bed
With bubbles in his throat
Bubble, bubble, bubble
Bubble, bubble, bubble
Bubble, bubble, bubble
Bubble, bubble, pop!
Bubble, bubble, bubble
Bubble, bubble, bubble
Bubble, bubble, bubble
Bubble, bubble, pop!
I had a little turtle
His name was Tiny Tim
I put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim
He drank up all the water
And ate a bar of soap
And now he's in his bed
With bubbles in his throat
Bubble, bubble, bubble……
TURN THE WORLD AROUND by Harry Belafonte
We come from the fire
Living in the fire
Go back to the fire
Turn the world around
We come from the fire
Living in the fire
Go back to the fire
Turn the world around
We come from the fire
Living in the fire
Go back to the fire
Turn the world around
We come from the water
Living in the water
Go back to the water
Turn the world around
We come from the water
Living in the water
Go back to the water
Turn the world around
We come from the water
Living in the water
Go back to the water
Turn the world around
We come from the mountain
Living on the mountain
Go back to the mountain
Turn the world around
We come from the mountain
Living on the mountain
Go back to the mountain
Turn the world around
We come from the mountain
Living on the mountain
Go back to the mountain
Turn the world around
Oh, oh, so is life
Ah, ha, so is life
Oh, oh, so is life
Ah, ha, so is life
Do you know who I am?
Do I know who you are?
See we one another clearly
Do we know who we are?
Do you know who I am?
Do I know who you are?
See we one another clearly
Do we know who we are?
Do you know who I am?
Do I know who you are?
See we one another clearly
Do we know who we are?
Oh, oh so is life
A ba tee wah ha, so is life
Oh, oh, so is life
A ba tee wah ha so is life
Water make the river
River wash the mountain
Fire make the sunlight
Turn the world around
Heart is of the river
Body is the mountain
Spirit is the sunlight
Turn the world around
We are of the spirit
Truly of the spirit
Only can the spirit
Turn the world around
We are of the spirit
Truly of the spirit
Only can the spirit
Turn the world around
Do you know who I am?
Do I know who you are?
See we one another clearly
Do we know who we are?
Do you know who I am?
Do I know who you are?
See we one another clearly
Do we know who we are?
Do you know who I am?
Do I know who you are?
See we one another clearly
Do we know who we are?
Oh, oh, so is life
A ba tee wah ha, so is life
Oh, oh, so is life
A ba tee wah ha, so is life
WHEELS ON THE BUS
The wheels on the bus go round and round...
The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish...
The horn on the bus goes Beep, beep, beep...
The doors on the bus go open and shut...
The Driver on the bus says Move on back....
The babies on the bus says Wah, wah, wah...
The mommies on the bus say I Love You....
The daddies on the bus say I Love You....
all through the town.
WHERE IS THUMBKIN? (same tune as Good Morning song)
Where is Thumbkin? (2x)
Here I am! (2x)
How are you this morning?
Very well I thank you
WITH FLOWERS AND LOVE WE SING TO YOU
With flowers and love we sing to you
Dear birthday child dear birthday child
With flowers and love we sing to you
Dear birthday child today
YELLOW SUBMARINE (The Beatles)
In the town where I was born,
Lived a man who sailed to sea,
And he told us of his life,
In the land of submarines,
So we sailed on to the sun,
Till we found the sea green,
And we lived beneath the waves,
In our yellow submarine,
We all live in a yellow submarine,yellow submarine, yellow submarine,
We all live in a yellow submarine,yellow submarine, yellow submarine.
And our friends are all aboard,
Many more of them live next door,
And the band begins to play.
We all live in a yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine,
We all live in a yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine.
As we live a life of ease (life of ease)
Every one of us (every one of us) has all we need, (has all we need)
Sky of blue, (sky of blue) and sea green, (sea of green)
In our yellow(In our yellow) submarine.(submarine)
We all live in a yellow submarine….
MORE MUSIC RESOURCES:
Beth's Notes: Preschool / Pre-K
Harmony Hope and Healing Family Music Class
Katie Traxler: PreK Music Curriculum Maps
Kodaly Center American Folk Song Collection
Robert Amchin Lesson Ideas/ Precesses
Spanish Songs plus Lesson Plans
Traditional children's songs-Wikipedia
Songs not in public domain are credited with authorship to the best of my knowledge.
More vetted music resources here.
