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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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

Pledging our lives to peace?

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!

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,

Now there's peace, in all the land,

And o’er the deep blue sea.

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,

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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