Afro American songs

All around the kitchen

Here we go zudio

Hop old squirrel

Little Sally Walker

Mister Rabbit

Oh, watch the stars

Wake me! Shake me!

You gotta sing

Last updated: 14/02/2016 15:00

The songs below are part of ‘Away we go’ Round and about compiled, adapted, translated and illustrated by Dany Rosevear

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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

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All around the kitchen O

In days gone by children playing outside the kitchen would make up verses and actions to this song in the hope of a freshly-baked reward for their entertaining performance.

This African-American play song from Alabama can be quite lively when sung fast with no stopping between each action.

Catch an exuberant Dan Zanes singing a rollicking version of this song at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKSnyS-vmkg and another on Schooltube at:

http://www.schooltube.com/video/bbc5ec3520534cd39a9b/All-Around-the-Kitchen

Play this game in a circle with a leader in the middle or just spread around the room. Children move rhythmically to the music and the words will suggest actions to be made.

}x2 Refrain All around the kitchen, Cock- a -doodle doodle doo. Well we stop right there, Cock- a -doodle doodle doo. Wave your hands in the air, Cock- a -doodle doodle doo, Whizz around here and there, Cock- a -doodle doodle doo. Refrain Follow each phrase with; Cock- a -doodle doodle doo. Well we stop right there, Make your arms into wings, Then you flap those things, Fly around in a circle, Refrain

Well we stop right there, Hands in front, hands behind, Raise your left hand high, Put your right hand on your hip, Refrain Well we stop right there, Jump in the air, Sit down, Stand up! Refrain Well we stop right there, Touch your knees , touch your toes, Touch your ears, touch your toes, Move to the beat, And stamp your feet, Reach to the sky, Now wave goodbye, FREEZE!

Here we go zudio O

This singing game comes from the Afro-American playground tradition.

Pairs can be placed to make a straight alley or by forming a double circle. In the version below couples begin spread about the room, face each other with crossed hands

A similar version can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFWfB8-9Uz8&feature=related.

Here we go zudio, zudio, zudio, Here we go zudio, all night long. Here we go zudio, zudio, zudio, Here we go zudio, all night long. Step back Sally, Sally, Sally, Step back Sally, all night long. Walking through the alley, What do I see? A great big man from Tennessee. }x2 I betcha five dollars that you can’t do this: To the front, to the back, To the side, side, side. Include further verses with appropriate actions: Mamma called the doctor and the doctor said: “Ooh! Aah! I got a pain in my side!” “Ooh! Aah! I got a pain in my toe!” “Ooh! Aah! I got a pain in my tummy!” “Ooh! Aah! I got a pain in my head!” Mamma called the doctor and the doctor said: “Ooh! Aah! I got a pain in my chin!” “Ooh! Aah! I got a pain in my knee!” “Ooh! Aah! I got a pain in my back!” “Ooh! Aah! I got a pain in my belly button!”

Partners swing hands back and forth to the beat of the music while moving bent knees up and down. Partners jump back and clap to the beat. Walk on the around the room, find a new partner. Put hand to forehead and look from side to side. Hands mime a large stomach. Right hands make a ‘high five’ on new partner’s hands. Jump forward and then back. Jump from side to side. Begin again with new partner.

Hop, old squirrel O

Sing the first verse moderately fast to follow the movement of a squirrel jumping from tree to tree. Change the tempo to reflect the pace of other creatures in subsequent verses. Let children make up their own verses to these songs with different animals and actions, silly and sensible; ‘hop old elephant’. Mix adjectives; ‘hop grey squirrel’

Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb2GHnUCJfI

Try Fly, old bird... Slink, old cat... Run, old dog... Leap, green frog... Plod, old elephant... Prowl, old lion...

Hop freely about the room changing action to suit the movement of each creature.

Little Sally Walker O

Learn the compass positions of East and West. Include North and South or change the words to right and left for further challenge.

Watch a historical video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJVnuQEhfCU

one for the youngest at:

http://www.cyloong.com/Multicultural/AfricanAmerican.html

and a modern version at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktfm3WjpqhQ&feature=related

The game below is for individual participants but can also be played in a circle with one child squatting in the centre. All act out the words to the song.

On the last line the child in the centre creates an action for their chosen child to copy. That one then becomes the new Sally or Sammy Walker and the game continues.

Little Sally Walker, sitting on a saucer, Crying and a-weeping over all that she has done. Oh, rise up on your feet, And wipe away your tears, Turn to the east. Turn to the west, Turn to the very one that you love the best! Shake it to the east, shake it to the west, Shake it to the very one that you love the best! Shimmy to the east, shimmy to the west, Shimmy to the very one that you love the best!

The children crouch down pretending to cry using their hands. They stand up and wipe tears away. Turn first one way then the other with hands out to the side. Shake arms and body out to one side then the other with feet on the spot Shimmy to one side then the other.

Mister Rabbit O

Rabbits regularly turn up in African-American folk song. Fleet-footed and wily, they were regarded by slaves with respect for the qualities needed for survival and escape.

Mister Rabbit, a traditional call and response song, might simply be about a quick witted, fast talking rabbit, in the Brer Rabbit mould, caught in the farmer’s vegetable garden. It could, more pertinently, be about accepting people for what they are. Rabbits like people come in all shapes and sizes.

Listen to Pete Seeger singing this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb1W3Da0JR0&feature=related

Rabbit stands in the middle of the circle miming eating lettuce. The farmer, owner of the field, walks around the outside hand to his eyes on the lookout for rabbits.

Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, your ears are mighty long, Yes, my lawd, they’re put on wrong. Refrain Ev’ry little soul must shine, shine, shine, Ev’ry little soul must shine, shine, shine. Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, your coat is mighty grey, Yes, my lawd, t’was made that way. Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, your tail’s mighty white, Yes, my lawd, I’m a-getting out of sight. Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, your feet are mighty red, Yes, my lawd, I’m almost dead. Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, you’re in my cabbage patch, Yes, my lawd, I won’t come back.

The circle holding hands moves to the right. Rabbit, if confident sings the response. During the refrain those in the circle drop hands and clap The rabbit leaves the circle and must run a complete circle round the outside and get back to the same place before being caught by the farmer. The farmer and the rabbit choose children from the circle to take their place and the game continues.

Oh, watch the stars O

Calm down after a lively session of singing games with this quiet gentle African American spiritual from South Carolina.

Listen at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0k9mZUAHx8&feature=related and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6rARcux-Hg

Children sit in a circle with hands on their laps.

Oh, watch the stars, see how they run. Oh, watch the stars, see how they run. The stars run down at the setting of the sun. Oh, watch the stars, see how they run. Oh, watch the moon, see how it shines. Oh, watch the moon, see how it shines. The moon floats by across the clear night sky. Oh, watch the moon, see how it shines. Oh, watch the wind, see how it blows. Oh, watch the wind, see how it blows. The north wind blows and we shall see the snow. Oh, watch the wind, see how it blows. Oh, watch the clouds, come rolling by. Oh, watch the clouds, come rolling by. The clouds roll by the big blue sky. Oh, watch the clouds, come rolling by. Oh, watch the stars, see how they ‘re done. Oh, watch the stars, see how they’re done. No more to run with the rising of the sun. Oh, watch the stars, see how they’re done.

Open and close fingers gently moving hands through a wavy pathway. Use finger and thumb of each hand to make an open moon shape. Rock hands from side to side. Wave both hands high above head from side to side. Sprinkle snow with fingers Roll forearms round each other moving arms from side to side. Open and close fingers gently moving hands through a wavy pathway moving slower and slower until they come together to rest against the cheek.

Wake me! Shake me! O

Adapted from an African American spiritual. Try stamping instead of clapping but more

importantly note it‘s a dance that swings.

Watch different moves in a rather sedate teacher training video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxR7hRSizRw

Make a square in groups of four with partners side by side.

Oh, we’ll wake up early in the morning, To swing on that Golden Gate! Wake me! Clap! Clap! Shake me! Clap! Clap! Don’t let me sleep too late! We’re gonna sing and dance together in the morning, And we’ll swing on that Golden Gate!

Stretch arms above head and wave from side to side. Swing partner. Clap partner’s hands. Clap hands of child opposite. Swing that child round. All four hold hands and skip round in a small circle. Swing partner.

You gotta sing O

This rhythmically happy song is adapted from the African American spiritual tradition and has been sung in black churches for many years.

Listen to Raffi at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1jhz50lW8I&feature=related

Make movements suggested by the words and add more: wiggle like a worm etc.

You gotta sing when the spirit says: “Sing!” You gotta sing when the spirit says: “Sing!” And when the spirit says: “Sing!” You gotta sing right along, You gotta sing when the spirit says: “Sing!” You gotta clap when the spirit says: “Clap!” etc. You gotta jump when the spirit says: “Jump!” etc. You gotta stomp when the spirit says: “Stomp!” And when the spirit says: “Stomp!” Stomp here and there like a bear, etc. You gotta shake when the spirit says: “Shake!” And when the spirit says: “Shake!” You gotta shake like a snake, etc. You gotta fly when the spirit says: “Fly!” And when the spirit says: “Fly!” You gotta fly in the sky, etc. You gotta rest when the spirit says: “Rest!” And when the spirit says: “Rest!” You gotta rest your very best, etc.

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