80 SONGS

CHILDREN SING

A Collection by Michael Stocks

for The Voices Foundation

 2

Songs Children Sing

A Collection for Teachers

(Courses)

ALPHABETICAL CONTENTS

A goblin lives in our house Lavender’s Blue

Alice, the camel Listen, listen, here I come
Bala, bala, bala Little Arabella Miller
Bells in the steeple Little Johnny dances
Biddy, biddy Little Sally Saucer
Blow ye winds Magic fingers
Can you tap this rhythm ? Michael row the boat
Can you tap your shoulders ? My strange body
Chest, chest, knee, toe Naka, naka, hoi
Chop, chop, choppety chop Now the day is over
Clap your hands Obsiwana
Dance to your Daddy Oh, won’t you sit down ?
Ding, dong, I’ve got the rhythm Once a man fell
Do you want a chocolate ice ? One little candle
Doggie, doggie Pease pudding hot
Double, double Rain on the green grass
Emeline Rain, rain
Engine, engine Row, boys (girls), row
Four white horses Sawubona Masithole
Good News ! Snail, snail
Have you brought your talking voice ? Snow in the night
Have you ever, ever, ever ? Spinning top
Hello, how are you ? Summer Goodbye
Here I come (Lemonade) Teddy Bear
Hey, hey, look at me The keys of Canterbury
Hey there ! There was a tailor
Hi, can you hear me ? There was an old woman
Hickety Tickety This is how a drummer boy (girl)
High, low, chickalow This old hammer
Hill ‘n Gully This old man
I gave my love a cherry Tingalayo
I have lost the cupboard key Touch your shoulders
I want to go to…. Walk Daniel
I, I, me oh my (pie song) We can sing high
I’ve a grey mare Who has it ?
Jack-in-the-box Wild and running horses
Janey Willum, he had seven sons
John, the blacksmith Winds through the olive trees
Jump Jim Joe Yes, we are going on the train
La, la, la, la, la Young Peter, the fiddler

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 3

Songs Children Sing

A Collection for Teachers

(Courses)

CONTENTS BY TONESET

Who has it ? (as chosen)

Chop, chop, choppety chop Chant
Double, double Chant
Hey there ! Chant
Clap your hands d’-l-s
Tingalayo d’-t-l-s-f-m-r-d
Young Peter, the fiddler d’-t-l-s-f-m-r-d-t,
Hickety Tickety d-l,-s,
High, low, chickalow d-l,-s,
Pease pudding hot f-m-r-d
My strange body f-m-r-d-l,-s,
Little Johnny dances f-m-r-d-t,-l,
Willum, he had seven sons f-m-r-d-t,-l,
Jump Jim Joe f-m-r-d-t,-l,-s,
Do you want a chocolate ice ? l-s
I’ve a grey mare l-s-f-m-r-d
Lavender’s Blue l-s-f-m-r-d
Obsiwana l-s-f-m-r-d
This old man l-s-f-m-r-d
Winds through the olive trees l-s-f-m-r-d
La, la, la, la, la l-s-f-m-r-d-t,-l,-s,
Doggie, doggie l-s-m
John, the blacksmith l-s-m
Little Sally Saucer l-s-m
Rain, rain l-s-m
Row, boys (girls), row l-s-m
Snail, snail l-s-m
Chest, chest, knee, toe l-s-m-r-d
Engine, engine l-s-m-r-d
Janey l-s-m-r-d
Michael row the boat l-s-m-r-d
I want to go to…. l-s-m-r-d-l,
Hill ‘n Gully l-s-m-r-d-l,-s,
I gave my love a cherry l-s-m-r-d-l,-s,
There was a tailor m’-r’-d’-t-l-s-m
Walk Daniel m-d-l,
Ding, dong, I’ve got the rhythm m-r-d
Good News ! m-r-d
Have you ever, ever, ever ? m-r-d
I have lost the cupboard key m-r-d
Alice, the camel m-r-d (t,-l.-s,)
A goblin lives in our house m-r-d-l,
There was an old woman m-r-d-l,
This old hammer m-r-d-l,
Yes, we are going on the train m-r-d-l,
Oh, won’t you sit down ? m-r-d-l,-s,
One little candle m-r-d-t,-l,
The keys of Canterbury m-r-d-t,-l,
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 4

Wild and running horses m-r-d-t,-l,

Four white horses m-r-d-t,-l,-s,
Snow in the night m-r-d-t,-l,-s,-m,
Bala, bala, bala r-d-t,-s,
Rain on the green grass s-d
Biddy, biddy s-f-m-r-d
Now the day is over s-f-m-r-d
Once a man fell s-f-m-r-d
Sawubona Masithole s-f-m-r-d
Summer Goodbye s-f-m-r-d
Emeline s-f-m-r-d-t,-l,-s,
Blow ye winds s-f-m-r-d-t,-s,
Have you brought your talking voice ? s-m
Hello, how are you ? s-m
Here I come (Lemonade) s-m
Hey, hey, look at me s-m
I, I, me oh my (pie song) s-m
Magic fingers s-m
Touch your shoulders s-m
Bells in the steeple s-m-d
Can you tap this rhythm ? s-m-d
Can you tap your shoulders ? s-m-d
Hi, can you hear me ? s-m-d
Jack-in-the-box s-m-d
Spinning top s-m-d
Teddy Bear s-m-d
This is how a drummer boy (girl) s-m-r
Listen, listen, here I come s-m-r-d
Little Arabella Miller s-m-r-d
Naka, naka, hoi s-m-r-d
Dance to your Daddy s-m-r-d-l,-t,-s,-m
We can sing high s-m-r-d-s,

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 5

80 SONGS CHILDREN SING

A Collection for Courses
(Songs are presented in alphabetical order)

ORIGIN/TONESET TITLE INFORMATION

England A goblin lives in our house Introducing low lah

m-r-d-l, Major and minor tonalities
Starting note: d

England Alice, the camel Syncopated rhythm

m-r-d (s,-l,-t,) Introducing m-r-d
Starting note: d

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 6

International Bala, bala, bala Physical coordination

r-d-t,-s, ABAC structure
Starting note: d

England Bells in the steeple A metre of 3

s-m-d Melodic shape
Starting note: d

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 7

Carribean Biddy, biddy hol’ fas’ Syncopation

s-f-m-r-d ABABv Structure
Starting note: s

England Blow, ye winds southerly Compound time

s-f-m-r-d-t,-s, 2-part canon
Starting note: s

International Can you tap this rhythm ? Pitch matching

s-m-d Memorising rhythm
Starting note: s

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 8

International Can you tap your shoulders ? Accurate entries

s-m-d A metre of 4
Starting note: s Pitch-matching

2. Can you tap your knees ?

3. Can you tap your head ?
….etc

International Chest, chest, knee, toe Higher and lower (using

l-s-m-r-d body)
Starting note: s Introducing the doh
pentatone

England Chop, chop, choppety chop Introducing compound time

Chant Pulse
Starting note:

Making soup: chopping vegetables

Making fruit salad: chopping fruit
Making a stew: chopping meat and vegetables

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 9

England Clap your hands Counting

d’-l-s Syncopation
Starting note: d

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 10

England Dance to your Daddy Wide pitch range

s-m-r-d-l,-t,-s,-m Metre of 3
Starting note: d

2. You shall have a fishy on a little dishy,

You shall have a fishy and some bread and jam.
CHORUS

International Ding, dong, I’ve got the Singing with actions

m-r-d rhythm AAAB structure
Starting note: m Dotted quarter note

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 11

England Do you want a chocolate ice ? Call and response

l-s Pitch matching
Starting note: s Compound time

England Doggie, doggie Solo singing

l-s-m The m-l interval
Starting note: s

England Double, double Feeling the pulse

Chant AABA rhythm phrase
Starting note: structure

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 12

South Africa Emeline Repetition

s-f-m-r-d-t,-l,-s, Sequence
Starting note: d Plagal major scale

USA Engine, engine ABCB structure

l-s-m-r-d Introducing the doh
Starting note: s pentatone
Phrase

2. Engine, engine, number nine,

Running on the London line.
If the train goes off the track
Do you want your money back ?

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 13

African American Four white horses Advanced syncopation

m-r-d-t,-l,-s,
Starting note: d

African American Good News Simple syncopation

m-r-d Introducing m-r-d
Starting note: m

1. Good news, Peter’s waiting……..

2. Good news, Goin’ to heaven……..

International Have you brought your…..? Finding the singing voice

Speaking and singing Distinguishing types of voice
Starting note: s

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 14

International Have you ever, ever, ever ? Physical coordination

m-r-d Pause (fermata)
Starting note: d Introducing m-r-d

1. Have you ever, ever, ever in your short-legged life ?

2. ……..one-legged
3. ……..bow-legged
4. ……..cross-legged
5. ……..hairy-legged

International Hello, how are you ? Pitch-matching and solo

s-m singing
Starting note: s Higher and lower

England Here I Come (Lemonade) Physical coordination

s-m Changing starting pitch
Starting note: s

2. London……..Orangeade
……..etc
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 15

International Hey, hey, look at me Physical coordination

s-m Moving to the pulse
Starting note: s

* waving……..winking……..hopping……..etc

USA Hey, there ! Moving to the pulse

Chant
Starting note:

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 16

International Hi ! Can you hear me ? Solo singing

s-m-d Pitch-matching
Starting note: s Change of metre

International Hickety, tickety Pitch matching

d-l,-s, Solo singing
Starting note: d

International High, low, chickalow Higher and lower

d’-l-s Working with a partner
Starting note: d’

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 17

Caribbean Hill ‘n gully ride-a The pentatone

l-s-m-r-d-l,-s, Syncopation
Starting note: s

USA I gave my love a cherry Soh pentatone

l-s-m-r-d-l,-s,
Starting note: s,

2. How can there be a cherry which has no stone?

How can there be a chicken which has no bone?
How can there be a story which has no end?
How can there be a baby she's no cryin'?

3. A cherry when it's blooming, it has no stone

A chicken when it's hatching, it has no bone
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 18

The story that I love you, it has no end

A baby when she's sleeping, she's no cryin'.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 19

England I have lost the cupboard key Louder and quieter

m-r-d ABABv structure
Starting note: d

England I want to go to……. Lah pentatone

l-s-m-r-d-l, Compound time
Starting note: s

2. I want to go to Zanzibar, I want to go by train,

I want to go to Zanzibar, there and back again.
Don’t want to go by hovercraft because of the wing and because of the draught.
I want to go to Zanzibar, without such stress and strain.

International I, I, me oh my Solo singing

s-m Simple rhythm
Starting note: s Introducing s-m

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 20

Wales I’ve a grey mare Doh pentatone

l-s-f-m-r-d Irregular phrases
Starting note: s

England Jack-in-the-box Introducing compound time

s-m-d Higher and lower
Starting note: s

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 21

Caribbean Janey Doh pentatone

l-s-m-r-d Syncopation
Starting note: s Upper and lower pentatone

England John, the blacksmith l-m interval

l-s-m 3-bar phrase
Starting note: s

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 22

USA Jump Jim Joe Dancing song

f-m-r-d-t,-l,-s, Dotted eighth notes
Starting note: d

Israel La, la, la, la, la Syncopation

l-s-f-m-r-d-t,-l,-s, Varying phrase lengths
Starting note: l,

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 23

England Lavenders blue Metre of 3

l-s-f-m-r-d doh hexachord
Starting note: d ABAC structure

3. Roses are red, dilly, dilly, violets are blue,

Now you love me, dilly, dilly, I will love you.

International Listen, listen, here I come Distinguishing pulse and

s-m-r-d rhythm
Starting note: s Solo drum playing

England Little Arabella Miller Eighth note movement

s-m-r-d AAB structure
Starting note: s

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 24

France Little Johnny dances lah hexachord

f-m-r-d-t,-l, Feeling pulse
Starting note: l, Minor tonality

2. On my knee, knee, knee…on my thumb, thumb, thumb

3. On my head, head, head…my knee, knee, knee…on my thumb, thumb, thumb…etc

England Little Sally Saucer Singing and speaking

l-s-m The m-l interval
Starting note: s The quarter note ‘rest’

International Magic Fingers Counting

s-m Place value in number
Starting note: s

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 25

African American Michael, row the boat doh pentatone

l-s-m-r-d
Starting note: d

2. Sister help to trim the sail, Allelujah,

Sister help to trim the sail, Allelujah.

3. The River Jordan is deep and wide, Allelujah,

Milk and honey on the other side, Allelujah.

2. Jordan’s river is chilly and cold, Allelujah,

Chills the body but not the soul, Allelujah.

2. Michael, row the boat ashore, Allelujah,

Michael, row the boat ashore, Allelujah.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 26

South Africa My strange body Tied notes

f-m-r-d-l,-s, Eighth note ‘rest’
Starting note: d The sixteenth note

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 27

Japan Naka, naka, hoi ! The quarter note ‘rest’

s-m-r-d Physical coordination
Starting note: d Finalis on r

2. ‘Naka’ becomes ‘soto’; ‘soto’ becomes ‘naka’.

England Now the day is over doh pentachord

s-f-m-r-d
Starting note: m

2. Now the darkness gathers, Stars their watches keep,

Birds and beasts and flowers soon will be asleep.

Native Canadian Obsiwana Stick-passing game

l-s-f-m-r-d Metre of 2
Starting note: m

Peace be with you (translation).

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 28

African American Oh, won’t you sit down ? Advanced syncopation

m-r-d-l,-s, Da Capo al Fine
Starting note: s, AAvAB chorus ABAB verse

2. Who’s that yonder, dressed in blue ?

Must be the children a-comin’ through.
Who’s that yonder, dressed in black ?
Must be the children a-comin’ back.

3. Who’s that yonder, dressed in green ?

Must be Ezekiel in his flyin’ machine.
Who’s that yonder, dressed in pink ?
Must be Solomon a-tryin’ to think.

International Once a man fell in a well doh pentachord

s-f-m-r-d Moving by step
Starting note: d Inversion

2. Once a man fell off a cliff, walking with his daughter,

Found himself a-tumbling down, splash into the water.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 29

Israel One little candle lah pentachord

m-r-d-t,-l, Repetition
Starting note: l, Inversion

England Pease pudding hot The note ‘fah’

f-m-r-d The quarter note ‘rest’
Starting note: d Changing phrase lengths

International Rain on the green grass Higher/lower by large

s-d gesture
Starting note: s

England Rain, rain The m-l interval

l-s-m
Starting note: s

2. Sunshine’s here to stay, now we can go out to play.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 30

England Row, boys (girls), row Metre of two

l-s-m The quarter note ‘rest’
Starting note: s Changing phrase lengths

s-m-d Sawubona, Masithole Solo singing

Starting note: s Chang of metre

International Snail, snail Moving to a slower pulse

l-s-m Moving by step
Starting note: s Simple time rhythm

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 31

Russia Snow in the night Stepwise movement

m-r-d-t,-l,-s,-m, Minor tonality
Starting note: m 3-bar phrases

International Spinning top The doh triad

s-m-d ABAB structure
Starting note: d

Germany Summer goodbye Metre of 3

s-f-m-r-d Repetition and sequence
Starting note: m Inversion

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 32

International Teddy bear Simple time rhythm

s-m Using s-m
Starting note: s Phrase - same

2. Teddy bear, teddy bear, climb the stairs,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, say your prayers.

3. Teddy bear, teddy bear, switch off the light,

Teddy bear, teddy bear, say good night.
(s - m - d)

England The keys of Canterbury Compound time

m-r-d-t,-l, lah petachord
Starting note: l,

2. Oh Madam, I will give to you a beautiful new gown,

And, for your dreams and comfort, a bed of softest down.
If you will be my joy, my sweet and only dear,
And come along with me anywhere.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 33

Scotland ? There was a tailor Minor tonality

m’-r’-d’-t-l-s-m Tonal shift
Starting note: m’

2. The tailor had a tall silk hat, etc. 3. The tailor chased him o’er the lea, etc.
The mouse he ate it, fancy that, etc. The last of that mouse he ever did see, etc.
CHORUS CHORUS

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
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 34

England There was an old woman Minor tonality

m-r-d-l,
Starting note: l,

2. One night she thought she’d take a walk. Oo……

3. She went down by the old graveyard. Oo……
4. She saw the bones a-lying around. Oo……
5. She went to the cupboard to fetch a broom. Oo……
6. She opened the door, and ………… BOO !!

International This is how Improvising four-beat

s-m-r a drummer boy (girl) rhythms
Starting note: s Imitating rhythms

USA This old hammer lah pentachord

m-r-d-t,-l, Echo song
Starting note: l, Drone

___________________________________________________________________________________________
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www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 35

England This old man Melodic shape

l-s-f-m-r-d Simple time rhythm
Starting note: s ABCD structure

Caribbean Tingalayo Syncopation

d’-t-l-s-f-m-r-d Authentic major scale
Starting note: m Sequence

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 36

International Touch your shoulders Physical coordination

s-m Learning the s-m interval
Starting note: s

International Walk, Daniel African ring shout

m-d-l, Moving to the pulse
Starting note: m

2. Fly, Daniel, Fly, Daniel.

3. Fly the other way, Fly, Daniel.
4. Bend the kneebone, Bend, Daniel.
5. Now go back home, Daniel.

International We can sing high Higher and lower

s-m-r-d-s, Contrary motion
Starting note: m The octave interval

As chosen Who has it ? Solo singing

Starting note: Imitating melodic phrases

___________________________________________________________________________________________
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www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 37

Unknown Wild and running horses Melodic shape

m-r-d-t,-l, Minor tonality
Starting note: l, AABA structure

2. This is the dance of the swiftly racing horses.

Chase down the racecourse.

3. This is the dance of the strong and pow’rful horses.

Heavy your full load.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 38

International Willum, he had seven sons lah hexachord

f-m-r-d-t,-l, Contrary motion
Starting note: l,

2. First they went to chop the wood, chop the wood, chop the wood……
3. Then they went to make a fire,…………etc

England Winds through the olive A metre of 3

l-s-f-m-r-d trees Sequence
Starting note: s AAvBAv phrase structure

___________________________________________________________________________________________
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www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 39

USA Yes, we are going on the Sixteenth notes

m-r-d-l, train Minor tonality
Starting note: l,

___________________________________________________________________________________________
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www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005
 40

Sweden Young Peter, the fiddler The authentic major scale

d’-t-l-s-f-m-r-d-t, The note ‘fah’
Starting note: s

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Voices Foundation Song Collection for Courses Prepared by Michael Stocks
www.voices.org.uk Please do not photocopy © 2005