Songs for
a better world A-L
A
jewel in the universe / Hear the stars sing***
A
plea for one world
Be
kind
Be
kind to one another
Bound
for the promised land
Deep
blue sea
Do
you know how many little stars
Earth
we thank thee
Good morning
dear Earth
Hineh
ma tov / How good and pleasant
Hymn
for the Russian earth
I
love to sit in silence
In my
bones
Let
it be
Little
blue top
Little
Pixie Pick-me-up ***
Little
things
Look
at the little things ***
Lots
of worms
Last updated: 2/15/2021
10:56 AM
The songs below are compiled and adapted by Dany
Rosevear
*** Original songs
by Dany Rosevear
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© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved
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A jewel in the universe / Hear the stars sing 🔊 Imagine the stars could speak…What
might they say? Our planet is unique in the universe; we need to look after
it! Written by Dany Rosevear with help and
ideas from my eldest grandson. This adapted tune might very well be a
familiar one and is very popular with my eldest grandson who hums it all the
time and loves to dress up as Darth Vader. It is adapted here with apologies
by Dany Rosevear. |
Stars shine, up in the universe, Shining so brightly, in the dark night. Tell me stars, what can you see up there, Out in the universe, all blazing with light? Shooting stars, comets and asteroids, Suns, moons and planets, zoom and spin round. Great black holes, billions of galaxies, The wonderful Milky Way, where Earth can be found. Stars shine, up in the universe Shining so brightly, in the dark night. Tell me stars, what can you see down here, Down on our lovely Earth, our own paradise? Oceans blue, forests and islands green, Ice caps and glaciers, mountains sky high, Volcanos, rivers and waterfalls, A jewel in the universe just teeming with life. Stars shine, up in the universe, Shining so brightly, in the dark night. Tell me stars, what must we do down here, Down on our lovely Earth, to keep it’s delights? Take good care, care of your neighbourhoods, Wasting less water, recycle and mend, Plant a tree, use clean energy, Travel responsibly with family and friends. Little jewel, our jewel in the universe, We’ve now heard the stars sing, twinkle and sing; We’ve listened well, we’ll do what we can to help,
Keeping our Earth home safe, for all living
things, For all living things. Spoken: For you and
me! |
A plea for one world 🔊 Sing in unison or as a two part
round. It was possibly written by the Jazz
musician Russ Garcia and his wife Gina; they are members of the Baha'i Faith
and promote World Peace. I found it in my collection of books published by
the Cooperative Recreation Service / World Around Songs which suggested this
was a song of the Young Pioneers translated from the Russian. Find out more at: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=10191 |
A plea for one world, Is heard in many different lands. This is a plea of a world That is hungry for peace. When can we all live together? When will we all work together, Striving to make the world better |
Bound for the promised land 🔊 A song of faith and hope. This old hymn seems very much in
tune with the present day; times are hard but if we try to remain positive
the good times will come once again. During the 1800's waves of
religious revival occurred in America. This song echoes the optimism of the
pioneers who travelled West. The words were written by Samuel
Stennett in 1787 and the tune composed later by M. Durham in 1835. |
On Jordan's stormy banks I stand And cast a wishful eye To Canaan's fair and happy land, Where my possessions lie. Chorus: I am bound for the promised land, I’m bound for the promised land; Oh, who will come and go with me? I am bound for the promised land. Oh, the transporting rapt'rous scene, That rises to my sight; Sweet fields arrayed in living green, And rivers of Delight. Chorus There generous fruits that never fail, On trees immortal grow; There rocks and hills and brooks and vales, With milk and honey flow. Chorus |
Be kind 🔊 Words and deeds have the power to
bring hurt or happiness;use them carefully and wisely. Words and music by Dany Rosevear. |
Be thoughtful, be caring But most of all be kind; For with kind deeds and warm words Fun and laughter you will find. You must leave behind those mean, mean words, It will brighten up each day, You’ll meet good friends and happy folk, To cheer you on your way. |
Be kind to one another 🔊 The way to a happier world. This extremely difficult pandemic
has made us see the world as one entity and how each individual can affect
what happens here on earth. Let us hope that thinking can be
translated to a more thoughtful attitude to our own, very dear planet. Let’s
make the world smile. Words and music by Dany Rosevear
inspired by the first couplet. |
Be kind to one another and every living thing, The fish swimming in the water, the bird upon the
wing. Each tiny little creature be it ant or worm or
flea; With kindness, care and loving, make a world you’d
like to see. Be kind at play together, you’ll be happy all the
day, Shun careless words and think a while of lovely
things to say. Like brilliant, bravo, well done, how are you,
thank you, please; With kindness, care and loving, make a world you’d
like to see. And spread that kindness far and wide, wherever
you would go, Across earth’s mountain ranges, to oceans far
below. To dolphin, whale, orang-utan, each animal in
need; With kindness, care and loving, make a world you’d
like to see. So hug a tree, walk barefoot and let the fresh air
in, Appreciate just what we have, show gratitude
within. Then plant a tree, turn off the lights and start a
compost pile; With kindness, care and loving, feel the world
give you a smile! With kindness, care and loving, feel the world
give you a smile! |
Deep blue sea 🔊 This lullaby is based on John
Bell’s Peace version of the traditional song of the same name which included
the line ‘It was Willie what got drownded’ sung by Odetta and Pete Seeger
among others; we knew it well in the late 1960s. The third verse is written by Dany
Rosevear. |
Deep blue sea, baby, deep blue sea, Deep blue sea, baby, deep blue sea, Deep blue sea, baby, deep blue sea, Now there's peace, in all the land, And o’er the deep blue sea. Sleep my child, you are safe with me, Sleep my child, you are safe with me, Sleep my child, you are safe with me, Now there's peace, in all the land, And o’er the deep blue sea. Feel the love, it is all around, Feel the love, it is all around, Feel the love, it is all around, Now there's peace, in all the land, And o’er the deep blue sea. Moon is high and the sun’s at rest, Stars are twinkling, the night is dressed, Dream, sweet dreams in your downy nest, Now there's peace, in all the land, And o’er the deep blue sea. |
Do you know how many
little stars 🔊 This lullaby was originally a hymn.
I have adapted it to reach a wider audience and to encourage older children
to consider how we can care for the wonders of our world and our place in it. |
Do you know how many little
stars There are, twinkling in the
skies? Do you know how many clouds
above Every day go drifting by? Could we count them, count them
eve’ry one, Would we miss one should it
fall? Yes, we’d miss one should it
fall, Precious little star of the
night. Do you know how many birdies In the sunshine sing each day? Do you know how many fishes In the sparkling water play? Our Earth is here for all living
things, Food and life to each is given, With our love and care they will
flourish there, Precious wonders of our world. Do you know how many children Go to little beds at night, And without a care or sorrow Wake again with morning light? But our parents well, each name
can tell, For us they know, and they love
us so, They’re our best and dearest
friends, Precious little child of the
night. |
Earth we thank thee 🔊 Giving thanks in of the Earth's
bounty. Written by Rebecca Weston in 1890; how
the world has changed since then. |
Earth, we thank thee for the night, And for the pleasant morning light; For rest and food and loving care, And all that makes the day so fair. Help us to do the things we should, To be to others kind and good; In all we do, in work or play, To grow more loving every day. |
Good morning dear Earth 🔊 A greeting song to help children
understand how we are all interconnected and part of a wider entity. Make up
verses to include parts of the natural world around your own setting. 1. Touch ground. 2. Make circle above head with arms. 3. Place one hand
curled on the other. 4. Open hands round face. 5. Cross forefingers and fly.
6. Cross hands at wrists and fly. 7. Open arms out then cross arms to chest. |
Good morning dear Earth, Good morning dear Sun, Good morning, dear stones And the flowers every one. Good morning, dear bees, And the birds in the trees, Good morning to you And good morning to me! |
Hineh ma tov / How good and pleasant 🔊 A wish or plead for a kinder world based
on the psalm 133 ‘Behold how good and pleasant it is for brothers and sisters
to live together in unity.’ The Jewish song is about communities coming
together and is popular in scouting. This is often sung as a round. The English interpretation of the
words are by Dany Rosevear. |
Oh, what a world this would be If we could just live together; How good and pleasant it would be To live in peace together. Chorus: In peace and harmony, Sisters and brothers together, In peace and harmony, Sisters and brothers together. Hineh ma tov uma na'im Shevet achim gam yachad. Hineh ma tov uma na'im Shevet achim gam yachad. Chorus: Hineh ma tov Shevet achim gam yachad. Hineh ma tov Shevet achim gam yachad. |
Hymn for the Russian earth 🔊 This Russian folk song has been
credited to Yuri Zaritsky and Eugene Friesen but its origins are obscure; you
can find a discussion here. This song is usually sung as a four
part round or danced in a circle getting faster each time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m-BufY_obk |
If the people lived their lives As if it were a song for singing out the light; Providing music for the stars To go dancing circles in the night. |
I love to sit in silence 🔊 Silence and the peace it brings can
be very calming for the soul even in these times of isolation. This poem was written by anonymous.
Music by Dany Rosevear. |
I love to sit in silence, Beneath the shady trees; And listen to the song of birds And to the buzz of bees. I love to sit in silence, And watch the Clouds roll by; Then read a book or sing a song, And hear the wild bird cry. I love to sit in silence, When the day is almost done; And see behind the distant hill The paint glow of the sun. I love to sit in silence, In the evening twilight; And listen to the whippor-will It sings with all its might. I love to sit in silence, Beneath the Starry sky; And pray to all in earnest (To live in silence all the while.) For silence just the while. |
In my bones 🔊 Living the
simple life; a wistful memory of a gentler world. Written in
1986 by Nancy Schimmel. |
There once was a time when
people were gentle, We talked to the trees and
were never alone, And all that we owned were
our baskets and digging sticks, I still remember it, in my bones. And sometimes we
quarrelled and then we forgot it, For all to keep living we
needed each one, And all that we owned was
the skill in our fingers, I still remember it, in my bones. We never had locks so our
lives were not hidden, Our tears and our laughter
were shared all around, And all that we owned were
our dreams and our stories I still remember it, in my bones. There once was a time when
people were gentle, We talked to the trees and
were never alone And all that we owned were
our baskets and digging sticks…. I still remember it, in my bones. |
Let it be 🔊 Nature thrives without our help as
long as we don’t bother it. A delightfully thoughtful song by
Malvina Reynolds. |
When you walk in the forest, let it be. There's a flower in the wood, let it be. There's a flower in the wood, and it's innocent and good, By the stone where it stands, let it be. Let it be, let it be, It's so lovely where it is, let it be. Tho you want it for your own, If you take it from its home, It will not be what it was when you loved it Where it stood in the wood. Let it be, let it be, It's so lovely where it is, let it be. It's a thoughtful child, innocent and wild, By the stone, by the reed, Let it bloom, let it seed, let it be. |
Little blue top 🔊 We
need to show some respect for our beautiful world. Hear
Tony Hughes who wrote it in 1970 singing the original here: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/kgreels_unk/518/ . Since
that time it has been adapted in particular to address gender issues; I have
also made slight changes, including the third verse, with diversity and young
children in mind. |
And around and around goes
the little blue top, Whirling and turning with
never a stop, Dappled with white,
dappled green and brown, And the little blue top
keeps a-turning around. There's wild raging oceans
and proud mountain chains, Green, peaceful valleys
and wide grassy plains, Families of life that each
setting contains; Tigers and spiders and
dolphins and cranes. There's a rainbow race,
you can find every hue, There’s good folk and kind
folk to name just a few, Folk with green fingers
and some play the blues, Folk past a century,
babies just new. Doctors and lawyers and
teachers who sing, Places to go to and people
who've been, There’s folk who stay home
to tend to the shop, And they all whirl and
turn on the little blue top. But there's some who are
greedy and some who don't care, They've messed up our
rivers and polluted the air, Well it's you and it’s me
and we've all gotta stop, And show some respect for
the little blue top! |
Little Pixie Pick-me-up 🔊 Keep
our world from being overwhelmed by waste; too much affects all living things
including us. Learn from Little Pixie Pick-me-up how you can change your
wasteful ways. |
Little Pixie Pick-me-up
has a bag so wide; Everything of use that’s
found, goes right inside, Finding once an elephant
with a dimple on its chin; One, two, three and izzy
whizz! We watched it stuffed
right in. Little Pixie Pick-me-up
with your bag so wide; Can you pick the litter up
that others drop outside? “My dear children I have
seen you drop it on the ground; One, two, three and izzy
whizz! It blows around and
round.” Says Little Pixie
Pick-me-up, “I’ll help each one of you, For a clean and healthy
world, here’s what we must do; Sort your rubbish
carefully; glass, paper, plastic, tin; One, two, three and izzy
whizz! Just put it in a bin.” Says Little Pixie
Pick-me-up, “I can be your guide. Everything of use you
find, you must set aside, Then recycle, mend, reuse
your waste with care and speed; One, two, three and izzy
whizz! You’ll help our world
indeed.” |
Little things O These
words are adapted from a hymn written by Julia Carney in 1845. I have adapted
the second verse. |
Little drops of water, Little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean And a pleasant land. Little seeds of friendship Sown by little hands, Grow to feed the nations In near and far-off lands. Little deeds of kindness, Little words of love, Make our earth an Eden, Like the heaven above. And the little moments, Humble though they may be, Make the mighty ages Of eternity. |
Look at the little
things 🔊 Find
delight in those things that might seem insignificant. Many things are beyond
our control especially in these difficult times so concentrating on the small
things can give us pleasure and lift our spirits. These are some of the less
significant things I’ve noticed this year in lockdown; I’m sure you’ll have
many more to add. Words and music by Dany Rosevear. |
Look at the little things, little things, little things, A leaf as it whirls and spins, In wonder delight! Round and round it floats like a russet brown boat. If we look for those little things, each day will be bright. Listen to the little things, little things, little things, A blackbird that sweetly sings, In wonder delight! Up high in a tree, it trills merrily. If we listen for those little things, each day will be bright. Feel, feel the little things, little things, little things, A breeze blowing softly brings, Such wondrous delight! Feel the kiss of the air as it sweeps away care. If we feel, feel those little things, each day will be bright. Gently touch the little things, little things, little things, The pussy willow so dear in Spring, In wonder delight! Stroke the soft silver down with its tiny green crown. If we gently touch those little things, each day will be bright. Notice each little thing, little thing, little thing, A feather from a magpie’s wing, In wonder delight! The perfume of a rose, that ant on your toes! Notice each and everything and your day will be bright. |
Lots of worms O What
would our world do without worms?! A song
with swing by Patty Zeitlin. Wiggle fingers for worms and make
up actions to fit the words; digging with a spade, bending knees and pointing
down etc. Just use the rhythm of the music
and your imagination! |
Well there’s lots of worms way under the ground, Lots of worms that I've never found, But I bet they’re just there a-diggin' around Way under the ground. I dug the biggest hole I ever did dig. The biggest hole, it sure was big! And then I got to the bottom, you know what I found, Way under the ground? I found a worm to go on a fishing pole Way down there in that deep dark hole. But I left him alone ‘cause he liked his own home Way under the ground. I found a bumpety bug with big black dots, Three pairs of legs and twenty two spots. But I left him alone ‘cause he liked his own home Way under the ground. I found an old sow bug curled up in a ball, He didn't move from there at all. But I left him alone ‘cause he liked his own home Way under the ground. |
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