Seasonal
songs
Spring
P-S
Pancake
Day
Pop a
little pancake
Pussy
got the measles
Pussy
willow
Sakura
/ Cherry blossoms
See
the dragon dance and prance
“Shall
I sing?” said the lark
Shrove
Tuesday
Silver
raindrops patter
Snowdrop
bells
Someone’s
making pancakes
Sounds
of Spring
Spring
carol
Spring-clean
tideo
Spring
cleaning
Spring
has come
Spring
has now unwrapped its flowers
Spring
has sprung
Spring
is coming (1)
Spring
is coming (2)
Spring
is here
Spring
secret
Spring
song
Spring
song / Frogs croak
Spring’s
waking
Sweet
bird in the maple tree
Also find Spring poems and songs at:
Last updated: 2/22/2021
11:05 AM
The songs below are part of ‘Away we
go’ compiled, adapted and
illustrated by Dany Rosevear
Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page
To listen to music from these
songs click on O 🔊
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
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Your
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Pancake Day 🔊 This song was broadcast on BBC
Television for Schools ‘Watch’ programme from the mid 1970s onwards. It was adapted by Liz Benett from the
traditional Dutch song ‘Hop Marjanneke’ which you can find at: http://www.singinggamesforchildren.com/A%20Cluster%202.8%20Dutch/1-6%20In%20Holland%20staat%20een%20huis.htm
|
Pancake Day, Pancake Day, Now’s the time to fry them, Pancake Day, Pancake Day, Now’s the time to fry. For today is Sunday, And tomorrow’s Monday, Tuesday, hey, is Pancake Day, Let’s dance our cares away. Toss them high, toss them high, Toss them to the ceiling. Toss them high, toss them high, Catch them as they fall. On the table pop them, Don’t you dare to drop them! Tuesday, hey, is Pancake Day, Let’s dance our cares away. |
Pop a
little pancake O Shrove Tuesday in Britain is
traditionally the time for making pancakes to use up all the good things in
the larder before Lent begins. It is also a time for pancake races and the
tossing of pancakes. |
Pop a little pancake into a pan, Pop a little pancake into a pan, Pop a little pancake into a pan, That’s for my dinner today. Toss it in the air up high, high, high...x3 That’s for my dinner today. Shake on the sugar with a shake, shake, shake...x3 That’s for my dinner today. Squeeze on the lemon with a squeeze, squeeze, squeeze...x3 That’s for my dinner today. Roll it all around with a roly poly roll...x3 That’s for my dinner today. Pop it in my mouth with a yum, yum, yum...x3 That’s for my dinner today. |
Pussy
got the measles O I found the first verse of this
song in Bill Meek’s ‘Moonpenny’. Jean Ritchie was familiar with the
original morbid Irish version which included verses about the death of the
cat; she adapted the music to suit her inimitable style of singing and added
the more soothing words as below to keep her children happy! I also remember a playground chant
and game ‘The cat’s got the measles, the measles, the measles, The cat’s got
the measles, the measles got the cat’. |
Pussy got the measles, on the first day of Spring, The first day of Spring, the first day of Spring, Pussy got the measles on the first day of Spring, The poor, the poor, the poor wee thing. We'll send for the doctor with his pills and things, Pills and things, pills and things, We'll send for the doctor with his pills and things, The poor, the poor, the poor wee thing. We'll make her some soup on a chicken's wing, A chicken's wing, a chicken's wing, We'll make her some soup on a chicken's wing, The poor, the poor, the poor wee thing. And all night long we will rock and sing, Rock and sing, rock and sing, And all night long we will rock and sing, The poor, the poor, the poor wee thing. |
Pussy
willow 🔊 A winter to spring hand play. A song by Mary Root Kern from
‘Songs of childhood’ published 1923. Tune adapted and arranged by Dany
Rosevear. 1. Shape sun, melt snow
away. Hand moves like stream. Hand to eyes. 2. Raise fingers behind
hand. Hand moves like brook. Stroke fur. |
The sun has melted all the snow, And icy streams begin to flow, Pussy Willow, Pussy Willow, Will you soon be here? Pussy Willow, Pussy Willow, Will you soon be here? Behind a sunny, quiet nook, Beside a busy little brook, Pussy Willow, Pussy Willow, Shows her sil’vry fur, Pussy Willow, Pussy Willow, Shows her sil’vry fur. |
Sakura / Cherry blossoms 🔊 A popular
Japanese folk song. It was once played at court and is often accompanied by
the koto, a Japanese harp, played on the floor by a kneeling musician. One of the
favourite Spring pastimes in Japan is cherry blossom viewing or ‘hanani’. Visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakura_Sakura to hear it
sung in Japanese and to find out more about this song. |
Blossoms pink, blossoms
fair, Floating lightly in the
air, ‘Tis not mist or clouds
one sees But countless lovely
cherry trees Wafting fragrance in the
breeze. Come and see, come and
see, Springtime is for cherry
trees. Sakura, sakura, Yayoino sorawa. Miwatasu kagiri, Kasumika kumoka. Nioizo izuru, Izaya, izaya, Mini yukan. |
See the dragon dance and prance 🔊 Chinese New
Year was a great time in school, We made a large dragon head out of boxes and
dragony drapes under which the whole class danced, whirling and twirling to
songs like this one accompanied by cymbals and other metal instruments. |
See the dragon dance and
prance, dance and prance, dance and prance. See the dragon dance and
prance on Chinese New Year's Day. See the lanterns swing and
sway, swing and sway, swing and sway, See the lanterns swing and
sway on Chinese New Year's Day. Hear the fireworks pop and
bang, pop and bang, pop and bang, pop and bang, Hear the fireworks pop and
bang on Chinese New Year's Day. Hear the cymbals clash and
clang, clash and clang, clash and clang, Hear the cymbals clash and
clan on Chinese New Year's Day. See the dragon shake its
tail, shake its tail, shake its tail. See the dragon shake its
tail on Chinese New Year's Day. See the dragon weave and
turn, weave and turn, weave and turn, See the dragon weave and
turn, on Chinese New Year's Day. Hear the children laugh
and clap, laugh and clap laugh and clap. Hear the children laugh
and clap, on Chinese New Year's Day. See the dragon go to
sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep. See the dragon go to sleep
on Chinese New Year's Day. |
“Shall I sing?” said the lark 🔊 Also called
‘April’, The first verse is from ‘The
Children's Encyclopedia’ by Arthur Mee. The second two verses by Margaret
Lane can be found ‘Harlequin – 44 songs around the year’ published by A&C
Black. Music by Dany Rosevear. This could easily be played
as a hand play. |
"Shall
I sing?" says the lark, "Shall I bloom?" says the flower; "Shall I come?" says the sun, "Or shall I?" says the shower. You must sing, happy lark, For cold winter’s sleep is past. You must bloom lovely flowers, For Spring has come at last. Welcome, sun, gently shine, Give your warmth to the earth. Welcome, shower, gently fall, Giving Spring new birth. |
Shrove
Tuesday O In this traditional song his sister
poisons poor Jack - accidently one hopes! Play this as a ‘Thread the needle’
game. Hold hands in one long line, two
children at the end make an arch for the line to pass through as in 'The big
ship sails through the Ally ally-o'. The line ends up with everyone's hands
crossed in front. Such games were popular at Shrove
Tuesday festivals in Wiltshire. Find out more about such customs and how to
play it at: http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/traditional-games-2/traditional-games-2%20-%200330.htm |
Shrove Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, When Jack went to plough, His mother made pancakes, But she didn't know how. She tipped them, she tossed them, She made them so black, She put in some pepper And she said, ‘Jack, eat that!’ Jack’s father made pudding, ‘Twas done in an hour, He hadn’t got eggs And he hadn’t got flour. He hadn’t got figs And he hadn’t got fat. He dropped it on the table And he said, ‘Jack, eat that!’ Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Jack’s father went to plough, His sister made pancakes, But she didn't know how. She buttered them, she sugared them, She burnt them so black, She made them so awful That she poisoned poor Jack! |
Silver raindrops patter 🔊 Here comes the
gentle rain to help Spring on its way. Arrangement by
Dany Rosevear. In a circle sit back on lower legs. Make fingers fall gently to the
ground and then drum fingers softly on the floor. Rub eyes and stretch, then
slowly rise following hands pointed upwards– frame face with outstretched
hands. |
The silver raindrops
patter Upon the earth today, Tip tap! Their knock is
gentle, And this is what they say: “Awake now little flowers And open wide your door, Put on your rainbow
dresses For Spring is here once
more!” |
Snowdrop bells 🔊 A song set to
the music of Jean de Neuville a 12th century troubadour. The words
are by Anne Mendoza and Joan Rimmer and can be found in ‘Thirty folk song
settings for children’ published in 1960. |
Snowdrop bells go
ring-a-ding. Winter’s gone and here is
Spring. Primroses sweet in
woodlands grow, Under trees where breezes
blow. Lambs skip and play in
meadows green, Winter’s gone and Spring
is Queen. |
Someone's making pancakes O This rhyme was
written by Elizabeth Fleming and was set to music by Herbert Wiseman for ‘A third
sixty songs for little children’ published 1960. The word ‘girdle’ rather
than ‘griddle’ was used in this publication – no idea why?! |
Someone's
making pancakes, The
griddles on the grate, The bowl
of batter’s beaten up So I am
going to wait Until
the work is over, And
there perhaps will be, Among
the brown and speckled ones’ A yellow
one for me!
|
Sounds of Spring O A seasonal
action song. Music by Dany Rosevear. 1. Move forefingers downwards. 2. Frog, a loose fist
jumps up arm. 3. Cross hands and flap wings, thumb and forefinger open and
close. 4. Wind left hand up right arm. 5. Cross forefingers and move around.
6. With palms and forearms together move upwards then fan out fingers. |
The
melting snow says, "Drop, drop, drop." The
little frog goes, "Hop, hop, hop." The
little bird says, "Peep, peep, peep." The
little vine goes, "Creepetty creep." The
little bee says, "Hum, hum, hum." The
little flower says, "Spring has come!" |
Spring carol 🔊 This song for
Spring is a sister tune to ‘Deck the Halls’ a traditional Welsh carol. It
comes from BBC Broadcasts to Schools ‘Time and tune’ Spring 1961. |
Let us sing with hearts
o’er flowing, Fa la la la la, la la la
la. Now the winter's quickly
going, Fa la la la la, la la la
la. In the spring we'll show
our gladness, Fa la la la la, la la la. Cast away all thoughts of
sadness, Fa la la la la, la la la
la. Echo mountains with our
singing, Fa la la la la, la la la
la. Steeple bells begin your
ringing, Fa la la la la, la la la
la. Dance we round, our
garlands wearing, Fa la la la la, la la la. With our friends our new
hopes sharing, Fa la la la la, la la la
la, Fa la la la la, la la, la,
la! |
Spring-clean tideo 🔊 The sun is out
– the dust is showing! A traditional song with additional verses by Ana
Sanderson. It would be easy to mime many of these movements. |
Sun
gets brighter, days get long, Birds
begin to sing their song. We
know springtime’s on its way, Let’s
all clean our homes today. Chorus:
Tideo,
tideo, Time for a spring-clean, tideo. Tideo,
tideo, Time for a spring-clean, tideo. Dust
the tables, wipe the doors, Shake
the rugs and sweep the floors. When
we’ve got the cleaning done, We’ll
go out and have some fun. Buds
appear without a sound, Tadpoles
wriggle round and round. Baby
ducklings waddle by, Fluffy
chicks learn how to fly. |
Spring cleaning 🔊 My eldest grandson
spent some of half term dusting the skirting boards in my house with great
enthusiasm, at the end he asked if I could make up a dusting song. 1. Mime dusting everywhere. 2. As before, stretch up
high then fall to the floor, make spiders scuttle around. 3. Clean everywhere
then window, wiggle fingers. |
Dusting, dusting,
dusting, Dusting all day long, Dusting high and
dusting low, Singing a dusting song. Up and down and all
around, Dusting in the hall; Stretching high, the
feathers fly, Watch all the cobwebs
fall. (Hear come the
spiders!) Doors, floors and
skirting boards, Wipe away the grime; Scrub-a-dub and wash
and rub, Make every window
shine. |
Spring has come 🔊 How do we know
it is Spring? I think this might be from a hymnal but have been unable to
find a tune so as usual have made up my own, Dany Rosevear. |
Spring has come, I
know, I know, Pussy Willow told me
so! Spring has come, I
know, I know, Robin Redbreast told me
so! Spring has come, I
know, I know, Little flowers told me
so! Spring has come, I know,
I know, Little lambkins told me
so! |
Spring has now unwrapped its
flowers 🔊 Also known as
‘The flower carol’ the longer version is very old and was originally sung in
Latin and sung to what is now known as the tune of ‘Good King Wenceslaus’ and
‘Yankee Doodle’ among others’! The little tune here is more familiar as
‘Hungarian round’ or ‘Boots of shining leather’. It can also be sung as a
round. My friend Sara Piazza from Edgartown, Martha’s
Vineyard Island has made a delightful video of a dance to go with this song
that she has tried out with her class of five year olds that you may well
enjoy: https://youtu.be/0QyTlqH9tPU
. |
Spring has now
unwrapped its flowers, Day is fast reviving, Life in all its growing
powers Towards the light is
striving. All the world with
beauty fills, All the world with
beauty fills, Gold the green
enhancing; Flowers make glee among
the hills, And set the meadows
dancing. |
Spring has sprung 🔊 Words and music
by Peter Lewis; it was inspired by the first two lines of the Brooklyn song: Spring has
sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where
the boidies is The boid is on
the wing, But that’s absoid From what I hoid
The wing is on the boid! |
Spring has sprung, the
grass is riz. I wonder where the
birdies is? Spring has sprung, the
buds do break; Spring has sprung and
nature wakes. Spring has sprung, the winter’s
gone, And now we sing our
happy song: Fa la la, la la la lay Sweep those old dead
leaves away! |
Spring is coming (1) 🔊 A gentle song
to celebrate the coming of Spring. |
Spring is coming, spring
is coming. Birdies build your nest. Weave together straw and
feather. Doing each your best. Doing each your best. Spring is coming, spring
is coming. Flowers are waking too. Pansies, lilies,
daffodillies, All are coming through. All are coming through. Spring is coming, spring
is coming, All around is fair! Shimmer, quiver on the
river, Spring is really here, Joy is everywhere! |
Spring is coming (2) 🔊 A song of all
the seasons. It is a lovely idea to sing the appropriate verse for the season
and encourage children in turn to fill in the blank. Words unknown
music by Milton Kaye. |
Spring is coming, spring
is coming, How do you think I know? I found some (------) pussy
willow; I know it must be so! Summer’s coming, summer’s
coming, How do you think I know? A (------) black-eyed
Susan winked at me; I know it must be so! Autumn’s coming, autumn’s
coming, How do you think I know? A (------) yellow leaf
just fluttered by; I know it must be so! Winter’s coming, winter’s
coming, How do you think I know? I (------) felt a
snowflake tickle my nose; I know it must be so! |
Spring is here 🔊 A traditional
song I haven’t yet found its source; still looking! Any help appreciated. Make up your
own verses. |
“Spring
is here!” said the bumblebee, “How do you know?” said the old oak tree, “I see yellow daffodils, Dancing with the fairies on the windy hill.” “Spring is here!” said the bright blue sky, “How do you know?” said the butterfly, “I just saw a new born lamb, Feeding from its mother near the beaver dam.” “Spring is here!” said the tiny mouse, “How do you know?” said the lady in the house, “The doors are open and the children gone, Playing with the fairies all day long.” |
Spring secret 🔊 A secret to
keep. This song is
from the 1950s by May Justus and Vonnie Burleson. |
Nobody
knows what I know, nobody knows but me! I hunted
around and aroung about to find the secret and found it out. Nobody
knows what I know, nobody knows but me! Nobody
knows what I know, nobody knows but me! It’s
high up high in an apple tree and snug and safe as a nest can be. Nobody
knows what we know, the mother bird and me! |
Spring song O A German folk
song. |
As I sat
on the hillside, I heard
the birds sing, And I watched
them a-building, Their
nests in the Spring. As I
walked in the garden, Bees
buzzed away home, With
their sweet load of honey, To store
in the comb. |
Spring song /
Frogs croak 🔊 A simple
Spring poem and hand play. Set to music
by Dany Rosevear. 1. Leap off hand and open thumb and fingers. 2. Fingers wiggle
downwards, rub upper arms. 3. Open and close thumb and forefinger. 4. Hand
jumps. 5. Hand to ear, cross fingers and flap. 6. Cross hands at wrist and
flap. 7. Open and close thumb and forefinger. 8. Throw out hands. |
Frogs
croak Rains
soak Chicks
peep Crickets
leap Bees hum Robins
come Birds
sing Its
spring! |
Spring’s waking 🔊 Here comes the
snowdrop. Love it when this
time of year comes and the seasons’s flowers lift their heads. Music by Dany
Rosevear. |
A snowdrop lay in the
sweet, dark ground. "Come out," said
the Sun, "come out!" But she lay quite still
and she heard no sound. "Asleep," said
the Sun, "no doubt!" The snowdrop heard, for
she raised her head. "Look spry,"
said the Sun, "look spry!" "It's warm,"
said the snowdrop, "here in bed." "O fie!" said
the sun, "O fie!" "You call me too
soon, Mister Sun, you do." "No, no," said
the Sun, "oh, no!" "There's something
above and I can't see through." "It 's snow,"
said the Sun, "just snow." "But I say, Mister
Sun, are the robins here?" "May be," said
the Sun, "may be." "There wasn't a bird
when you called last year." "Come out," said
the Sun, "and see." The snowdrop sighed, for
she liked her nap, And there wasn't a bird in
sight; But she popped out of bed
in her white nightcap. "That's right,"
said the Sun, "that's right!" And soon as that small
nightcap was seen A robin began to sing The air grew warm and the
grass turned green. " 'Tis spring,"
laughed the Sun, " 'tis spring!" |
Sweet bird in the maple tree 🔊 The sounds of
Spring. Written by
Kate Forman and set to a traditional German folk tune used by Brahms,
published 1935. |
There's a sweet bird in
the maple tree, Singing a wonderful thing; Clear are the words of his
melody: “See I have brought you
the Spring!” Blue is the bird in the
maple tree, Glossy and fine is his
wing; Roguish his eye as he
sings to me: “See I have brought you
the Spring!” Milk-white the blooms of
the cherry tree, Hawthorn buds rosily
swing; Buzzing and brisk is the
honey-bee. “See I have brought you
the Spring!” |
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