Songs for
a better world M-R
Magic
and moonbeams***
May
peace be in your heart***
My
guitar plays for the moon***
My
roots go down
Now
is the cool of the day
One
pair of hands
Only
one planet
Open
your eyes
Our
beautiful Earth
Our
planet is a garden ***
Our
poor planet Earth***
Plant
a seed ***
Please
and thank you
Polly
the pirate’s parrot likes fruit***
Praise
bogs / Ecology Doxology
Reach,
reach, reach for the stars ***
Reforest
the planet***
River
of song ****
Last updated: 9/4/2023
9:34 AM
The songs below are compiled and adapted by Dany
Rosevear
*** Original songs
by Dany Rosevear
Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home
To listen to music from these songs click on 🔊
To watch the
author sing a song click on the title at:
© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved
You
are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the
following conditions:
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you must give the original author credit
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you may not use this work for commercial purposes
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Your
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Magic and moonbeams 🔊 A Utopian
lullaby. Especially in
these more troubling days when things aren’t going so well with our planet
and Mother Nature’s welfare is in retreat; this is when we dive into our
imaginations and wonder how things could and might be with a little care and thoughtfulness from our
divisive politicians. Words and
music by Dany Rosevear. |
In the lovely land of lullabies
the nightingale gently sings,
The lion and lamb lay talking of
wise and wondrous things,
The dragon sleeps in slumber deep
and sheds a starlit tear.
Sweet magic and moonbeams weave
through your dreams,
Kind thoughts and wishes grow
here.
In the lovely land of lullabies
it's never too hot or cold.
The little folk think it’s a joke
to care for silver and gold;
For Nature’s store is worth so
much more, such beauty they hold dear.
Sweet magic and moonbeams weave
through your dreams,
Kind thoughts and wishes flow
here.
In the lovely land of lullabies
shadow rabbits tarry awhile,
The mice play round the old grey
cat whose whiskers twitch beguiled
Wild creatures roam through green
forest homes where air is pure and clear.
Sweet magic and moonbeams weave
through your dreams,
Kind thoughts and wishes flow
here.
In the lovely land of lullabies
there’s a companion for every child,
Who tells them cosy tales of old
and rhymes to make them smile;
Who listens when they’re worried
and sweeps away scaredycat fears.
Sweet magic and moonbeams weave
through your dreams,
Kind thoughts and wishes flow
here.
Sweet magic and moonbeams weave
through your dreams,
How I wish that land was here!
May
peace be in your heart 🔊 Take inspiration from the natural world, it has so much to offer as
balm for the soul and the ability to nurture the virtues and values that help
us become happy contented human beings. One of the rare pleasures of lockdown was the time and opportunity for
long walks and a chance to commune with nature in awe and peace where many
other rewards / words of nourishment come to mind: trust, faith, wisdom,
comfort, grace, laughter, gladness and courage. Words and music by Dany Rosevear. Each of these verses would
work with movements or as a handplay. |
Let the wild, wild wind blow your worries away, Worries away, worries away, Let the wild, wild wind blow your worries away, May peace be in your heart. Let the golden sun bring its warmth to your day, Warmth to your day, warmth to your day, Let the golden sun bring its warmth to your day, May joy be in your heart. Let the trees stand tall as they reach for the sky, Reach for the sky, reach for the sky, Let the trees stand tall as they reach for the sky, May strength be in your heart. Let the birds of the air sing the sweetest of songs, Sweetest of songs, sweetest of songs, Let the birds of the air sing the sweetest of songs, May hope be in your heart. Let the Earth feel love in each footstep you take, Footstep you take, each footstep you take, Let the Earth feel love in each footstep you take, May beauty be in your heart. Let a million stars brightly twinkle and shine, Twinkle and shine, twinkle and shine, Let a million stars brightly twinkle and shine, May wonder grow in your heart. |
My
guitar plays for the moon 🔊 An ode to a lovely companion. The moon was still up on my early
morning walk to swimming and my guitar was playing in my head….Words and
music by Dany Rosevear. |
My guitar plays for the moon, It plays for the twinkling stars, It plays for our wonderful, wonderful world; Songs of hope, songs of joy, Songs for our own Shangrila, Chorus: Songs for our planet, our ark, Songs for our planet, the Earth. My guitar beams at the sun, At the children singing their songs, It’s six gentle strings play the songs that we sing; Songs of hope, songs of joy, With everyone singing along, Chorus My guitar sighs with the wind, It sings with the rain and the snow, At the clouds that pass by in the darkening sky; Songs of hope, songs of joy, In places wherever we go, Chorus My guitar plays shadow songs, When children are tucked up in bed, It keeps me in tune as I play to that moon; Lullabies, soft night songs, Songs for all sleepyheads, Chorus |
My
roots go down 🔊 Words and music by Sarah Pirtle, © 1979 and 1989. You will find many other delightful versions of this song on the internet as Sarah has encouraged others to make up verses meaningful to their own lives. You will also notice differing interpretations of the music. Sarah has recently created a site
where people can hear and download sixty of her two hundred songs for free: http://sarahpirtle.com/hope-sings/heart-of-the-world.htm
Move with imagination; the video will give you some ideas! |
My roots go down, down to the earth, My roots go down, down to the earth, My roots go down, down to the earth, My roots go down! I am a wild flower reaching for the sun, I am a wild flower reaching for the sun, I am a wild flower reaching for the sun, My roots go down… I am a pine tree on the mountainside, I am a pine tree on the mountainside, I am a pine tree on the mountainside, My roots go down! I am a tiny stream trickling down, I am a tiny stream trickling down, I am a tiny stream trickling down, My roots go down! I am a willow in a raging storm, I am a willow in a raging storm, I am a willow in a raging storm, My roots go down! I am a waterfall skipping home… I am the river rushing to the sea…. I am an ocean wild and free… We are the
voice of every living thing… |
Now is the cool of the
day 🔊
Words
and music by the wonderful Jean Ritchie. Care
for the environment wasn’t one of the top of priorities when this was written
in 1970, (though Rachel Carson's Silent Spring had been published in 1963)
but the fine words of this song continue to resonated over the decades as a
younger generation take up the challenge to ‘keep the grasses green’. |
My Lord, he said unto me,
Do you like my garden so fair,
You may live in this garden if you keep the
grasses green
And I'll return in the cool of the day.
Now is the cool of the day,
Now is the cool of the day,
Oh this earth is a garden, the garden of my
Lord,
And he walks in his garden,
In the cool of the day.
Then my Lord, he said unto me,
Do you like my garden so pure,
You may live in this garden, if you keep the
waters clean,
And I'll return in the cool of the day.
Chorus
Then my Lord, he said unto me,
Do you like my pastures so green,
You may live in this garden if you will feed
my lambs,
And I'll return in the cool of the day.
Chorus
Then my Lord, he said unto me,
Do you like my garden so free,
You may live in this garden if you keep the
people free,
And I'll return in the cool of the day.
Now is the cool of the day,
Now is the cool of the day,
Oh this earth is a garden, the garden of my
Lord,
And he walks in his garden,
In the cool of the day.
This earth it is a garden, the garden of my
Lord,
And he walks in his garden,
In the cool of the day.
One pair of hands 🔊
Together
we can make a difference. This
song is based on Pete Seeger’s ‘One man’s hands’; other words of protest for
good causes have been attached to this wonderful song over many years. It
was Marilyn and Paul Wilson’s version written with Wren choirs in Devon that
caught my imagination. The words for young children here are written by Dany
and Alan Rosevear and the music adapted and arranged by myself. |
One pair of hands
can’t stop the climate changing, Two pairs of hands
can’t stop the storms from raging; Chorus: But if two and two and
many make a million, Then we can change the
world, Then we can surely
change the world. One pair of hands
can’t stop the ice caps melting, Two pairs of hands
can’t stop sea waters rising; One pair of hands
can’t stop the forests burning, Two pairs of hands
can’t stop wildlife from dying; One pair of hands
can’t stop the waste from growing, Two pairs of hands
can’t keep clean water flowing; One pair of hands can’t
stop the car’s pollution, Two pairs of hands
won’t find the best solution; One pair of hands
can’t keep the whales a-spouting; Two pairs of hands
can’t keep us all from shouting; If two and two and
many make a million, Then we can change the
world, Then we can surely
change the world. Then we can surely
change the world. |
Only one planet 🔊 Sing and wonder at the treasure that is our Earth. Appreciate
our wonderful home and how imperative it is to preserve such a beautiful
place for the future well being of all those who live there. An
introduction to the importance of our diverse habitats and why planet Earth
is a good home for all living beings. And an urgent plea to correct the many
mistakes we have made in order to retain its magnificence. Written
by Dany Rosevear and set to an Irish folk tune ‘South Winds’. |
Way
up in the night sky oh, what do I see? Many stars in great numbers all twinkling at me; I see Jupiter, Saturn and Venus and Mars, Each bright planet shining from a distance afar. Chorus But we know of a planet of promise and worth. And that beautiful, blue and green planet is
Earth, Just so perfect for us in this vast universe, Yes, that blue and green planet can only be our
Earth. There are mountains and rivers and oceans so wide, Where once tall ships sailed with the wind and the
tide; Where the porpoises, dolphins, blue whales,
manatees And the gentle sea turtles swim happy and free. You’ll see woodlands and deserts and rainforests
homes, With a place for each creature to thrive and to
roam; Where the chimpanzee, panda, polar bear,
crocodile, Can find food, water, shelter and rest for the
while. For they live on a planet... But from all round our planet the warning bells
toll, For the world is in trouble as thunderclouds roll; The oceans are rising as melting ice falls, In your hands is our future! Wake up! Heed the
call! For we live on a planet… |
Open your eyes 🔊 And
really look. Everywhere! When singing
this encourage everyone to contribute something they have noticed, nearby or
a distance away. Words and music
by Dany Rosevear. |
Chorus: Stop, stand and stare,
look all around, Up, up high, down on the
ground; Far away to the hills
where the trees grow tall, Out in the grass where the
dewdrops fall. Everywhere I look there’s
a world for me, When I open my eyes and
see. Open your eyes, what can
you see? Chorus The world is very small
when you dash about, And there’s no time to
think things out; Stop and stand still, look
and listen with care, To find beauty everywhere. To find beauty everywhere. Chorus |
Our beautiful Earth 🔊 Written
by Frances E. Jacobs and set to a German folk tune from the “Children’s
hymnary” published 1968. Can
be used as a two or more part round. |
How beautiful is the green
earth, Each star in the heaven
above! But what would the whole
world be worth If we did not fill it with
love, with love, If we did not fill it with
love? |
Our planet is a garden 🔊
Everyone making small changes can make a big difference. Written by Dany Rosevear as a request from a preschool for a song
about climate change. We are never too young to consider what we can do to
make a difference to the future of our home called Earth. Line 1. Sweep out hands, cross hands at wrists
and flap. 2. One hand on top of the other with thumbs out, make hands dip and
dive. Point to others and self. 3. Shape a ball, put hands to heart. 4. Throw
out hands. Chorus: Wag finger. Stamp three times and hold nose. Beat fists
three times. Verse 2. Hold arms and shiver, prowl,
forefingers to mouth, shake elbows, hands to head with fingers outstretched
then as before. Verse 3. Make hands and arms into trees,
hand to ears, scratch armpits, wave arm for trunk then as before. |
All across our lovely
world the little birdies fly, The fishes swim, the
dolphins leap and so do you and I. Our planet is a garden
needing tender love and care, And if we all make changes
we can make it fit to share. No more dirty air and
water, No more dirty air and
water, No more dirty air and
water, Our lovely world needs
everyone, To help and fix it
quick! All across our icy
lands the polar bears can roam, The walruses, the
penguins and the reindeer have a home. Our planet is a garden
needing tender love and care, And if we all make
changes we can make it fit to share. No more dirty air and
water, No more dirty air and
water, No more dirty air and
water, Our lovely world needs
everyone, To help and fix it
quick! All across our wooded
lands the jungle creatures call, Monkeys screech, and
elephants, oh, how we love them all. Our planet is a garden
needing tender love and care, And if we all make
changes we can make it fit to share. No more dirty air and
water, No more dirty air and
water, No more dirty air and
water, Our lovely world needs
everyone, To help and fix it
quick! |
Our poor planet Earth 🔊 Little things that we do can make a difference to the health of our
precious world. Another song written by Dany Rosevear as a request from a preschool
for a song about climate change. The tune might be familiar to young children
as ‘Miss Polly had a dolly’. Encourage children to add their own ideas for
making our world a healthier place to live. NASA has a great site for kids
to learn more about the environment and ways that they can help effect
change. Verse 1. Wipe tears. Throw out hands. Tap
wrist put fist under chin. Knock three times on forehead. 2. Rock arms. Stretch arms above head. Hands
to heart, twist tap. Clean teeth, turn tap. 3. Waggle then shake finger. Put up one
finger at a time. Shake finger. Use thumb and forefinger to indicate little. 4. Throw out hands. Mime switching off
light and cyling. Dig. Show one then two trees with arm and outstretched
fingers. Throw out arms, point outwards then to self. 5. Hands to cheek. Rock arms, then as
before. |
Our poor planet Earth
is getting sick, sick, sick, How can we save her quick,
quick, quick? It’s time to put on
our thinking caps, And knock on our
noddles with a rat-a-tat-tat! Poor planet Earth
says, “Please take care of me! Wake up now to save my
land and seas. Show me your love each
time you use a tap, And when you clean
your teeth turn it off like that! Remember your toilet
is not a bin, Think three p’s: just
paper, pee and poo go in; Recycle waste and
don’t buy tat, Use far less plastic,
little things like that.” Tell us planet Earth,
what else should we do? “You could switch off
the lights, walk or bike to school, Grow your own fruit
and veg, plant a tree (or two), You’re doing it for
ev’ryone, not just you and me.” Poor planet Earth is
very, very old, She needs looking
after so we are told, It’s time to put on
our thinking caps, And knock on our
noddles with a rat-a-tat-tat! |
Plant a seed, plant a seed 🔊 And those precious thoughts, words and
deeds to bring about change in our communities. Freedom is being able to express
yourself through thoughts, words and deeds without fear of danger and
imprisonment. There have been so many places in
the world throughout time and sadly in the present where these precious
freedoms are banned through suppression of the press and other media, in our
literature: books, poetry and political speech and of course songs of protest. ‘Our individual well-being is
intimately connected both with that of all others and with the environment
within which we live.... Our every action, our every deed, word, and thought,
no matter how slight or inconsequential it may seem, has an implication not
only for ourselves, but for all others, too.’ Dalai Lama This song could equally apply to
freedom from waste, noxious air and other problems that have allowed our
planet to descend into a dangerous state. Words and
music by Dany Rosevear. |
Plant a seed, plant a seed, Let it blossom, let it grow; That seed of hope and joy One day will bless this Earth we know. For that seed, for that seed, Will quickly grow so tall and strong And set our hearts a-singing Freedom’s dear and precious song! Plant a thought, plant a thought, Let it blossom, let it grow; That thought of peace and love One day will bless this Earth we know. Hold that thought, hold that thought, In an ever flowing stream, To set our hearts a-singing As each thought becomes a dream. Plant a word, plant a word, Let it blossom, let it grow; That word of truth and light One day will bless this Earth we know. For that word, for that word, Will soon be very clear to see And set our hearts a-singing When a thousand join with me. Plant a deed, plant a deed, Let it blossom, let it grow; That deed of grace and faith One day will bless this Earth we know. For that deed, for that deed, Will spread so far and so wide And set our hearts a-singing When change comes to turn the tide. And those thoughts, words and deeds Well, whatever could they be? That will bless this Earth with beauty, Giving hope to you and me? Search for wisdom, be courageous, Be independent of mind Seek the right path to travel Then all such answers you will find. |
Please
and thank you 🔊 How to be polite and show you
appreciate the kindness of others. The words we use make a big
difference to how others see us; if we use kindly, thoughtful words like
these two it helps to make the world go round. Music by
Dany Rosevear. 1. Raise two fingers and point to self. 2.Place palms in frount of
face and open. 3. Raise one finger, put up thumb. 4. Raise other finger, make a hands
together bow. |
There are two little words I know, That will open any door you see, One little word is “Thank you!” And the other little word is “Please!” |
Polly the pirate’s parrot 🔊 Encourage children to eat healthily and make the world a happier
place. Initial sounds, animals, adjectives, healthy eating and a bit of fun
all mixed together. Identify some of the more exotic fruits that begin with a particular
letter sound. Similar verses could be made up to include other creatures, adjectives
and vegetables. Words and music by Dany Rosevear. |
P, p, p, p,…. Polly the pirate’s parrot
likes fruit; What sort of fruit does she like? She likes fruit beginning
with: ‘P’… Pineapples, pears, papaya,
pomegranate… B, b, b, b. ….. Bertie the big, brown bear
likes fruit; What sort of fruit does he
like? He likes fruit beginning
with: ‘B’… Blackberries, blueberries,
bananas… M, m, m, m, ….. Melvin the mischievous
monkey likes fruit; What sort of fruit does he
like? He likes fruit beginning
with: ‘B’… Melon, mango, mandarins… |
Praise bogs / Ecology doxology 🔊 This short
song by Paul Tinkerhess is a parody of the traditional 16th C hymn
‘Old Hundreth’ or ‘The Doxology’. Bogs today play an important role in the
fight against climate change as they are reservoirs for carbon from our
atmosphere. Find out more at: http://www.ancarn.org/en/community-projects/ENVISION/Biodiversity/Habitats/PRESS-RELEASE-In-Praise-of-Bogs |
Praise
bogs from whom all waters flow. Praise
bugs above and frogs below. Praise
lily pads and all by luck Who
thrive while seated in the muck. |
Reach, reach, reach for the stars 🔊 If you must… But
it is our planet Earth that needs attention for future generations to enjoy
as we have done. Words and
music by Dany Rosevear. |
We
can reach, reach, reach for the stars, Reach
for Jupiter, Venus and Mars; But
down on this Earth we must reach hand in hand, To
do, to do, to do, whatever we can! Some
will go, go, go to the moon, Zoom
up in a rocket then back again soon; But
Earth needs us now with the gentlest of hands, To
do, to do, to do, whatever we can! Our footprints are large but our planet is small, Tread lightly, so
lightly, think well where they fall, Take care, great care
to hear the loud call To do, to do, to do,
whatever we can! |
Reforest the planet 🔊 Count and
plant for a greener Earth. Once upon
a time the world was covered with trees, in fact twice as many as there are
now. We are losing 10 billion
trees each year.
Give back to nature. Words and
music by Dany Rosevear. |
One tree! One tree! I plant in the ground,
One tree to watch as the seasons go round.
Keep digging, keep planting, we need
them,
Our beautiful, life giving trees.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Ten trees! Ten trees! Plant ten trees with me.
To shelter the robin, the squirrel and bee.
Keep digging…
10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100.
One hundred! Two hundred! Plant three hundred trees,
For walks in the woodlands, come walking with me.
Keep digging…
400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1,000.
One thousand! Two thousand! Three thousand grow
high,
In leaf, branch and root, creatures creep, crawl and
cry.
Keep digging…
4,000, 5,000, 6,000, 7,000, 8,000, 9,000,
10,000, big jump!!
One million! Two million! Three million trees sing,
“Make the world fit for humans and all living
things.”
Keep digging…
4,000,000, 5,000,000, 6,000,000 7,000,000
,8,000,000, 9,000,000, 10,000,000, big jump!!
One billion! Two billion! Three billion and more,
Reforest our planet, replace and restore.
The oak, the walnut, horse chestnut and pine,
Will make good our future, both yours and mine.
…and they’re great fun to climb!
Keep digging…
A
river of song will carry us along, Run
river, run river, gentle river of song. Chorus Sun
shines, rain falls, cherish life, treasure all, As
we walk, walk the earth in harmony, Walk,
walk the earth in harmony, Join
together and sing as one! X2 A
mountain of song will carry us afar, Up
twisting pathways, to reach for the stars. A
forest of song will carry us on through, Dark
ancient places so shady and cool. An
ocean of song will carry us away, Roar,
as we soar, o'er your wild restless waves. |
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