Ain’t it great to be crazy
Ain’t it great to be crazy
Doing
the monster stomp
Down
by the bay
Down
in the jungle
It ain’t
gonna rain no more
Knees up Mother Brown
Shake those sillies out
She
sailed away
Last updated: 31/08/2016 10:26
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 title at 🔊
To
watch the author sing a song click on the title at:
© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved
You
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you must give the original author credit
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any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder
Your
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Ain’t it great to be crazy! O A standard camp site song in the U.S.A., this works well as a cheerful
movement activity for younger children who will appreciate the humorous
words. Before attempting as a circle game, learn the words well and try as a
pair activity. Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB57qcGAPfw&feature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVLriQOFXg8&feature=related for more verses. Begin the game below by standing in pairs, holding hands, in a large
circle.
Do-si-do
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Doing the monster stomp O One of the many delights to be found in old copies of the BBC music
programme ‘Music Box’. The words and music clearly suggest the actions. Not much
encouragement will be needed for the children to develop their own vigorous
‘monster’ movements. Allow them to ‘show-off’ their particular monster’s
moves. Add a vigorous: Ooh-ah-ooh-ah,
ooh-ah-ooh-ah! Ooh-ah-ooh-ah,
ooh-ah-ooh-ah! to the end! Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LVaqBTIfZQ
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Down by the bay O Sing this with Hawaiian overtones as an echo song. Extend this song by
helping children think of more crazy ideas to make new rhyming phrases with
appropriate actions. This song encourages other creative endeavour: paint a
whale with a polka dot tail or dress up to make wacky combinations. Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2IWDF_PyuY&feature=related
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Down in the jungle 🔊
Adapt this song to include any geographical situation: forest, valley,
river etc. Ask children what kind of animals are found in these places and
suggest movements they might make: elephant waving a trunk, snake-like
movement with arm, tiger prowling, monkey bouncing up and downwith
hands scratching armpits (see below). Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFj3iQvRVkc
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It ain’t gonna rain no more O This song began as old country dance tune from Nebraska. Wendell Hall
composed the original version in 1923 but soon, as with many folk songs,
everyone would sing the chorus together and then vie to make up the wittiest
set of lines. Sing the refrain between each verse. Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYuWr9o8eek Form a square with partners standing side by side.
.
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Knees up Mother Brown O This music hall song was written in 1938 by Harris Weston and Bert
Lee. A more familiar and bawdy version of the one below, strongly associated
with Cockney culture, was developed in the pubs and streets of Follow this song with ‘Sur le Pont’ for a French flavour. Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z7OSHqgRXg&feature=related
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Shake those sillies out O This song is adapted from Raffi’s classic ‘Shake my sillies out’.
Raffi, the renowned Canadian songwriter and veteran children’s performer, has
written many other wonderful songs such as ‘Baby Beluga’ which are well worth
searching out as are his numerous CDs and videos. Watch him at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ37oXWKK9w&feature=related Move individually or with a partner to the rhythm of the music.
Encourage exploration of other movements – stamp, march, skip etc. Choose a
favourite action for the last verse – it will be quite a challenge to sing
own words while ignoring those of friends. Ankle and wrist bells will enhance
the movement of this tune.
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She sailed away O At the end of this song there will be a smile to be found on every
face. Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFj3iQvRVkc
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