Summer songs F-H

Five little seashells

Fiddle de dee! Grasshoppers three

Fishing, fishing

Five hungry ants

Fly little bird in the golden sun

Georgina’s garden

Give me a bucket and spade

Have you ever been a-fishing

Hawaiian boat song

Hello bubble

Hello, ladybug

Here is a seashell

Here is the sea

Honeybee, honeybee

How does a caterpillar go?

How pleasant to sit on the beach

Hush, baby, hush

Summer songs I-S, T-Z

Also see:

Down in the grass, curled up in a heap

Going down to Devon

My shadow

Over in the meadow

Rock gently sailboat

Scraping up sand (Shiloh)

She sailed away on a lovely summer’s day

Last updated: 6/26/2023 11:58 AM

The songs below are part ofAway we gocompiled, adapted and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page

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:

·       you must give the original author credit

·       you may not use this work for commercial purposes

·       for any re-use or distribution, you must make clear to others the licence terms of this work

·       any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder

Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.


 

 

Fiddle de dee! Grasshoppers three 🔊

 

 


A song from a Waldorf collection with no author attribution: http://studylib.net/doc/10214747/verses---waldorf-homeschooling-connection

Melody written by Dany Rosevear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Fiddle de dee!

Grasshoppers three,

Rollicking over the meadow.

Scarcely the grass

Bends as they pass,

So fairy light is their tread-o.

 

Said Grasshopper one

The summer's begun,

This sunshine is driving me crazy.

Said grasshopper two

I feel just like you,

And leapt to the top of a daisy.

 

Please wait for me

Cried Grasshopper three,

My legs are ready for hopping.

So Grasshoppers three,

Fiddle de dee,

Raced all the day without stopping!

 


 

 

Fishing, fishing 🔊

 

 


From ‘Okki-tokki-unga’ the classic book of action songs for children published in 1976.

Words and music by M. L. Reeve.

 

After singing the song through once, move away and mime the activities as you hum the tune; or just mime the action of fishing as you hum the last four bars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Fishing, fishing, down by the sea.

We'll take our fishing rods, you and me.

Sit on the sea wall all the long day,

Watching the passing ships far away.

Something is moving just over there;

See how the big fish jumped into the air?

Is he on your line, is he on mine?

Oh look, I’ve got him! Isn’t he fine!

Mm-m-m-m-m-m-m-m-m.

 


 

 

 

Five hungry ants

 

 


It’s picnic time but look out for those pesky ants.

A subtraction / ‘one less’ hand play.

Get into a marching rhythm by slapping knees in time to the chant.

 

Hold up five fingers. March swinging elbows to and fro. Hold hands to face in horror. Throw out hands. Crook elbow for a big sneze. Repeat with four fingers and so on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five hungry ants marching in a line,

They come upon a picnic where they could dine.

They march into the salad,

They march into the cake,

They march into the pepper

Uh-oh, that was a mistake!

Aa aa-aa-aa-CHOO!

Four hungry ants marching in a line...


 

 

Five little seashells O

 

 


Find a conch shell and listen to the sea calling.

The ending of this traditional rhyme has been adapted by Dany Rosevear who also set it to music.

 

Use shells in the sand tray / pit and the hand as the waves to remove them; Alternatively use as a simple finger play; hold up five fingers and bend one down for each verse moving hand like a big wave to cover each finger in turn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Five little seashells lying on the shore.

Swish! went a big wave and then there were four.

 

Four little seashells, pretty as can be.

Swish! went a big wave and then there were three.

 

Three little seashells, all pearly new.

Swish! went a big wave and then there were two.

 

Two little seashells, lying in the sun.

Swish! went a big wave and then there was one.

 

One little seashell, lying all alone.

I put in my pocket and took it back home.

 

No little seashells lying on the shore.

But one whispered in my ear,

Swish! hear the sea roar.


 

 

 

Fly little bird in the golden sun 🔊

 

 


From The Songs and Music of Friedrich Froebel's Mother Play’ (Mutter und Kose Lieder) published 1895. The original music was in 6/8 time, I have added a tune in ľ to these lovely words.

Words by W.W. Gilchrist. New tune by Dany Rosevear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Fly little bird in the golden sun;

Fly little bird ‘til the day is done;

Fly little bird where the grasses play;

Fly to the blue heav’n far, far away.

Fly! fly! fly! Fly! fly! fly!

Fly to the blue heav’n far away.

 

Fly little bird thro’ the summer hours,

Fly ‘til the night wind rocks the flow’rs;

Fly thro’ the twilight and silver dew,

Home to the nest that waits for you.

Fly! fly! fly! Fly! fly! fly!

Home to the nest that waits for you.

 

 

Georgina’s garden 🔊

 

 


For all those who love their gardens and especially Georgina and her mother who are long term fans of my YouTube channel. They asked if I could write a song with her name in it. I noticed one of her favourite songs was the Russian lullaby ‘Kalinka’ so I allowed this song to provide inspiration. I just hope she likes or grows to like gardening! You can easily adapt this song to add other children’s names and what they like to do in the garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Georgina, Georgina, runs out in the sun,

To plant some seeds and pull the weeds

For now the summer’s come.

Georgina loves her garden,

Green and shady garden,

Watch her somersault and climb the trees.

The robin and the hedgehog,

The blackbird singing true,

The badger and the little frogs,

They love that garden too.

You can plant your garden,

Green and shady garden,

You can linger there and dream.

La la la la la la la,

La la la la la la la,

You can linger there and dream.

 

Georgina, Georgina, runs out in the sun,

She loves to play outside all day,

For now the summer’s come.

Georgina loves her garden,

Green and shady garden,

She chases the butterflies and bumble bees.

The robin and the hedgehog,

The blackbird singing true,

The badger and the little frogs,

They love that garden too.

You can plant your garden,

Green and shady garden,

You can linger there and dream.

La la la la la la la,

La la la la la la la,

You can linger there and dream.


 

 

Give me a bucket and spade O

 

 


I found this anonymous rhyme on the internet without any accreditation. Please let me know if you have come across the author.

Dany Rosevear wrote the melody and arranged the chords.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Give me a bucket and spade,

Give me a bucket and spade,

I'll build a sandcastle oh so high,

When I stand on top I will touch the sky

And wave to the seagulls flying by,

With my bucket and spade.

Bucket and spade,

Bucket and spade!

 

Give me a bucket and spade,

Give me a bucket and spade,

I'll dig and dig and never drop,

When I reach Australia then I'll stop,

Then like the kangaroo see me hop,

With my bucket and spade.

Bucket and spade,

Bucket and spade!

 

Give me a bucket and spade,

Give me a bucket and spade,

I'll stand and stare at the roaring sea,

‘Til the setting sun tells me time for tea,

I'll be back tomorrow please wait for me

And my bucket and spade.

Bucket and spade,

Bucket and spade!


 

 

 

Have you ever been a-fishing O

 

 


A great community song that can be sung with or without actions.

 

As an action rhyme:

1.  Pretend to fish 2. Make sun with arms 3. Hands move like fish 4. Slap pockets / slap hips 5. Make a wriggly dance 6. Clap to Tra la las 7. As before

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Have you ever been a-fishing on a hot summer’s day,

And seen all the little fishies swimming up and down the bay,

With their hands in their pockets and their pockets in their pants,

And all the little fishies doin’ the hootchie kootchie dance.

 

CHORUS:

Tra-la-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la.

Tra-la-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la.

With their hands in their pockets and their pockets in their pants,

All the little fishies doin’ the hootchie kootchie dance.

 

Have you ever been a-fishing on a cold and rainy day,

And seen all the little fishies with umbrellas in the bay,

With their hands in their pockets and their pockets in their pants,

And all the little fishies doin’ the hootchie kootchie dance.

Tra, la, la, la, la….

 

Have you ever been a-fishing on a cold winter’s day,

And seen all the little fishies frozen solid in the bay

With their hands in their pockets and their pockets in their pants,

And it’s too darn cold to do the hootchie kootchie dance.

Tra, la, la, la, la….

 

Have you ever been a-fishing on a hot and sunny day,

And you’re sitting on a bench and the bench gives way,

And an alligator snapping at the seat of your pants,

And all the little fishies doin’ the hootchie kootchie dance.

Tra, la, la, la, la….


 

 

Hawaiian boat song  🔊

 

 


The water and music – nothing gets better. In Hawaii, so it is said, people love to float along in an outrigger canoe, playing the ukelele. You can find it in ‘Music near and far’ published by Silver Burdett 1956

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Our boat is gliding, gliding, gliding,

Our boat gliding o'er the water,

Our boat is gliding, gliding, gliding,

Our boat is gliding o'er the sea.

The ukuleles, the ukuleles,

Are sounding gently o’er the water,

The ukuleles, the ukuleles,

Are sounding gently o'er the sea.


 

 

Hello bubble 🔊

 

 


A simple song for soapy outdoor play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Hello bubble, hello bubble,

Come and land, come and land,

Right in the middle, right in the middle,

Of my hand, of my hand.

 

Goodbye bubble, goodbye bubble,

Time to go, time to go,

I will help you, I will help you,

With a blow, with a blow.

 


 

 

Hello, ladybug ladybird 🔊

 

 


A song for all our gardener’s friends.

Just love children’s songs like this one by Malvina Reynolds.

Ladybug / ladybird? - you decide; Malvina wouldn't mind at all - she was a very generous lady and encouraged her audience to make her songs their own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Hello ladybug, little lady, ladybug

Hello ladybug, my little friend

Eating up the crawlers that eat up my roses

Fly around ladybug, come back again.

 

Hello, wiggleworm, little wiggle, giggleworm

Hello, wiggleworm, my little friend

Churning up the ground so the roots can go down

Wiggle, wig, wiggleworm, come back again.

 

Hello buzzy bee, little buzzy, fuzzy bee

Hello buzzy bee, my little friend

Carrying the pollen that makes food and flowers grow

Buzz around, buzzy bee, come back again.

 

Hello ladybug, little lady ladybug

Hello ladybug, my little friend

Eating up the crawlers that eat up my roses

Fly around ladybug, come back again.


 

 

Here is a seashell 🐚

 

 


What makes a seaside holiday special? Add your own special memories to this song. Find a conch shell and listen to the sea calling.

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Here is a seashell, Shhhhhh!

Singing a song of the sea;

Of buckets and spades and sandy waves,

Just for me! Just for me!

 

Here is a seashell, Shhhhhh!

Singing a song of the sea;

Of crabs and fishes and salty wishes,

Just for me! Just for me!

 

Here is a seashell, Shhhhhh!

Singing a song of the sea;

Where jellyfish float round pirate boats,

Just for me! Just for me!


 

 

Here is the sea O

 

A gentle calming song for water or seaside themes. This tune is the one from the BBC Playschool programme and the words slightly different from the classic ones from ‘This little Puffin’. You might well just prefer to recite it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Here is the sea, the wavy sea,

Move arm up and down like the sea.

Here is a boat and here is me!

Cup hands and rock. Put up one finger.

And little fishes, way down below,

Place hands together and move downwards.

Wiggle their tails and away they go!

Wiggle fingers and put them behind back.

 


 

 

How does a caterpillar go? O

 

A song by M.C. Dainton.

Mime actions for each of the creatures in this song. The last line will help you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


How does a caterpillar go?

Dear me, does anybody know?

How does a caterpillar go,

On a cabbage leaf the whole day long?

Wriggle, wriggle, wriggle!

 

How does a butterfly go?

Dear me, does anybody know

How does a butterfly go?

From flower to flower the whole day long.

Flip flap, flip flap, flip flap!

 

How does a little froggy go?

Dear me, does anybody know?

How does a little froggy go,

On a lily pad the whole day long?

Hoppity-hop, hoppitty-hop, hoppitty-hop!

 

How does a fluffy duckling go?

Dear me does anybody know?

How does a fluffy duckling go,

A-searching worms the whole day long?

Cheepy-cheep, cheepy-cheep, cheepy-cheep!

 


 

 

Honeybee, honeybee 🔊

 

 


Still busy as night draws near.

The summer is a time when insects are busy and bees are the busiest of all.

Adapted from the German and sung to a German folk song’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Honeybee, honeybee, far from home,

Round about, in and out, how you roam!

Fly away, fly away, don’t you hear?

Honeybee, honeybee, night is near.

 

Butterfly, butterfly, fold your wing!

How it glows on the rose as you swing!

Fly away, fly away, don’t you hear?

Butterfly, butterfly, night is near.

 

Katydid, katydid, all is still,

On the lea, in the tree, on the hill!

Sing your rhyme, it is time, never fear,

Katydid, katydid, night is near.


 

 

How pleasant to sit on the beach  🔊

 

 


A poem written by the wonderful Ogden Nash; just a few words that say everything about the pleasure of a seaside holiday.

Music by Dany Rosevear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


How pleasant to sit on the beach,

On the beach, on the sand, in the sun,

With oceans galore within reach,

And nothing at all to be done!

 


 

 

Hush, baby, hush 🔊

 

 


A lullaby from Jamaica.

I have a special affection for songs that come from Jamaica in the West Indies as I taught the children of recently arrived immigrants in the late 1960s in Handsworth, Birmingham. We sang many calypsos but I was not familiar with this particular song. Sung by Herbert in 1983 while selling Aloe Vera to tourists on a beach in Jamaica; it was recorded by Davia Nelson of The Kitchen Sisters (Davia Nelson & Nikki Silva)

 and is used with kind permission. Arranged by Dany Rosevear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Hush, baby, hush,

Mama’s gonna market to buy Coco Cola,

Hush, lady, hush,

Mama’s gonna market to buy Coco Cola,

Papa’s gonna bush to go look for wood,

So Mama soon come with sweet sweet candy.

 

Hush, baby, hush,

Pass the little bottle, let me give you feedin’ stuff,

Hush, lady, hush,

Mama’s gonna market to buy Coco Cola,

Papa’s gonna bush to go look up the wood,

Catch up the fire, put on the pot,

When Mama come back, your belly will be full,

So hush, baby, hush, Mama’s gonna market,

Hush, lady, hush.


 

 

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