The author’s song box
Australian originals
(Two trips to the other side of the world and I was smitten
by the unique landscape, flora
and fauna of this wonderful
continent. The songs below were inspired by my latest visit.)
An Australian
animal alphabet
(Tread
lightly on the Earth my friend)
Did you ever see a kangaroo?
Grandma saw a
possum
Great big boomers
If you want to see a wallaby
Inky pinky
pumpkin pie
Kevin the Crow
The sea sings to me
Whales can’t ride a bike
Who wants an octopus cuddle?
With Wynken, Blynken
and Nod
Last updated: 7/28/2015 4:20 PM
The songs below are
part of ‘Away
we go!’ Round and about
written and
illustrated by Dany Rosevear
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©
Dany Rosevear 2012 All rights reserved
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Your fair use and other rights are
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(Tread
lightly on the Earth my friend) O What a curious continent with such unique and
wonderful animals! |
SPOKEN Tread lightly on the Earth my friend, tread
lightly as you go, Leave it as you found it for tomorrow’s
child to know. Albatross, archerfish, angel shark and ant, Bilby, bandicoot, budgie, brolga, bat. Cassowary, cockatoo, crocodile, cane toad, Dugong, dolphin and dingo by the road. In the bush, the swamps, the skies, the
oceans all around, We came along and wondered at the creatures
we had found. Emu, echidna, eastern tiger snake, Fairy penguin, frilled lizard, flying foxes
wake. Galah, goanna, gecko and the great white shark, Humpbacked whale, hare and hog deer leaping
through the dark. In the bush, the swamps, the skies, the
oceans all around. We came along and wondered at the creatures
we had found. Ivy leaf roller, island thrush, ibis, Jacky lizard, jabiru and box jellyfish. Kookaburra,
koala bear, kestrel, kangaroo, Lyrebird, lorikeet, long-footed potoroo. In the bush, the swamps, the skies the
oceans all around, We came along and wondered at the creatures
we had found. Marsupial mole, magpie, nightjar and numbat, Orcas, osprey, octopus, oystercatchers
catch. Possum, pelican, parrot, platypus, Quokka, quoll and button quail making such a
fuss. In the bush, the swamps, the skies, the
oceans all around, We came along and wondered at the creatures
we had found. Red back spider, rainbow lorikeet, Sugar glider, stink bug, swordfish and the
sheep. Tree frog, tiger moth, turtle and termite, Ulysses butterfly so beautiful in flight. In the bush, the swamps, the skies, the
oceans all around, We came along and wondered at the creatures
we had found. Vine hawk moth, vinegar fly, velvet gecko
then, Wombat, wallaby, willy wagtail, wren. Many eXtinct
animals then yabby, yakka
skink, Z is for the zebras; lionfish, shark and
finch. In the bush, the swamps, the skies, the
oceans all around, We came along and wondered at the creatures
we had found. SPOKEN Tread lightly on the Earth my friend, tread
lightly as you go, Leave it as you found it for tomorrow’s
child to know. |
Did you ever see a kangaroo? O A question and answer song. Groups can swap roles
for each verse. The words could easily be adapted to suit animals from other
continents. Children can have great fun making up daft rhymes – the more
ridiculous the better! |
Did you ever see a kangaroo? Yes sir! Did you ever see a kangaroo? Yes sir! Did you ever see a kangaroo Playing on a didgeridoo? Yes
sir! Surely not sir? Would I lie? Did you ever see a platypus? Yes sir! Did you ever see a platypus? Yes sir! Did you ever see a platypus Jumping on a Sydney bus? Yes
sir! Surely not sir? Would I lie? Did you ever see a bandicoot? Yes sir! Did you ever see a bandicoot? Yes sir! Did you ever see a bandicoot Flying with a parachute? Yes
sir! Surely not sir? Would I lie? ...kookaburra...... Surf boarding at
Scarborough.... ...great white whale... Swimming in a water
pail... ...jellyfish... Counting up to sixty six... |
Grandma saw a possum O And so she did with granddad on her grandson’s
very first birthday. It was on New Year’s Eve 2013 at Tarpeian
Precinct overlooking Sydney Harbour bridge! Down the gum tree ran the
marsupial and scarpered across the park in the hot sunshine much to the
delight of the multinational crowd gathered to watch the fireworks that day. This is just a song to enjoy rather than a singing
game. |
Grandma saw a
possum, It ran down a tree, “G’day,” said the possum, “You can’t ketch
me!” Chorus Well, a possum is a
possum, And a cross one
possibly, If you tried to
toss a possum Off a eucalyptus
tree. “You betcha?”
cried old grandma, She chucked up her
hat. It landed on the
possum And stopped it in
its track. “Is it night time?”
cried the possum, “I can no longer
see.” So he popped it in
his pocket And he ran back up
the tree. Grandma danced a
jig, She danced the old
can can, While possum
twirled the hat around Shouting “Ketch it
if you ken!” Grandma caught her
hat, She doffed it high
and low. She blew the possum
kisses And danced off on
tippy toes. |
Great big
boomers O No visit to Australia is complete without sight
or sound of the amazing wildlife to be found in the outback, bush and
billabong. Early and late in the day are the times when these creatures stir
and make themselves known with their movements and incredible choruses. |
I’d like to see the great big boomers, Bouncing in the bush lands, I’d like to see the great big boomers, Bouncing as the sun goes down. Hippy hop, don’t stop, great big boomers, Hippy hop, don’t stop, leap and bound, Hippy hop, don’t stop, great big boomers, Bouncing as the sun goes down. I’d like to see the long necked turtles, Paddling in the billabong, I’d like to see the long necked turtles, Paddling as the sun goes down. Snippety snap, long necked turtles, Snippety snap, all around! Snippety snap, long necked turtles, Paddling as the sun goes down. I’d like to watch the dingoes dancing, Dancing in the outback, I’d like to watch the dingoes dancing, Dancing as the sun goes down. Howl as the sunsets, dancing dingoes, Howl as the sunsets, paw the ground, Howl as the sunsets, dancing dingoes, Dancing as the sun goes down I’d like to hear the kookaburra, Laughing in the treetops, I’d like to hear the kookaburra, Laughing as the sun comes up. Whoop-a-whoop, hoo
ha ha, kookaburra, Whoop-a-whoop, woo, you’ll get hiccups, Whoop-a-whoop, hoo
ha ha, kookaburra, Laughing as the sun comes up. |
If you want to find
a wallaby
O
A
song about the urbanisation of many Australian animals. Several species are
drawn to cities and towns where there are plenty of green areas, abundant
food supplies and places to roost and make their home. I
am sure there are many more verses that could be added about other creatures
that have colonized gardens, houses and parks in the urban environment. This
familiar melody is from WW1 ‘ Hanging on the old barbed wire’; there are many
great tunes that children will love that were written at the beginning of the
last century but often these have words beyond their understanding. |
If you want to find a wallaby, I know where one is, I know where one is, I know where one is, If you want to find a wallaby I know where one is, And it’s bouncing out of the bush like this. I saw it, I saw it, Bouncing ‘cross the road, watch out young Jack! Then I heard it, then I heard it, Thumping in my veggie patch. If you want to find a kookaburra I know where one is, I know where one is, I know where one is, If you want to find a kookaburra I know where one is, And it’s hopping out of the bush like this. I saw it, I saw it, Hopping up and down my garden path; Then I heard it, then I heard it, Waking up the neighbours with its laugh. If you want to find a possum… And it’s scooting out of the bush like this. I saw it, I saw it, Scooting up a tree in the pale moonlight; Then I heard it, then I heard it, Scrabbling in the roof all night. If you want to find the animals, we know where they are, I know where they are, we know where they are, If you want to find the animals, we know where they are Yes, they’re out there in our own back yard. We’ve seen them, we’ve seen them, In the gardens, parks and picnic places where we play; And we’ve heard them, we’ve heard them, Calling to us all “G’day!” |
Inky pinky
pumpkin pie O What to do when something unwanted grabs hold of
you? Send it as far away as possible wrapped up in a pumpkin pie – if you
can! |
A pink pirhana in
the pool is tugging my toe and won’t let go, A pink pirhana in
the pool is tugging my toe and won’t let go, That pink pirhana
in the pool will not let go but I’m no fool, I’ll send it off to Istanbul; In an inky pinky pumpkin
pie. An octopus in the deep blue sea is pulling
my leg and won’t let go x2 An octopus in the deep blue sea will not let
go but I’ll get free And send it off to Tennessee; In an inky pinky
pumpkin pie. A tiny flea with great big bite is nipping my
knee and won’t let go! x2... A tiny flea with a great big bite will not
let go so I’ll grab that mite And send it off to the Isle of Wight; In an inky pinky
pumpkin pie. A boa constrictor smooth and sleek is
squeezing me tight and won’t let go! x2 A boa constrictor smooth and sleek won’t let
go so I will shriek And send it off to Mozambique. In an inky pinky
pumpkin pie. A vampire bat in a dark, dark cave is
tugging my hair... A vampire bat in a dark, dark cave won’t let
go but I’ll be brave and send it to Spain with a smile and a wave. In an inky pinky
pumpkin pie. A cockatoo at the Sydney zoo is pecking my
nose and won’t let go x2 The cockatoo at the Sydney zoo will not let
go so I’ll shout, “Shoo!” And send it off to Wallamaroo;
In an inky pinky pumpkin
pie. I wish the fish, the octopus, the flea, the
snake, the bat, the bird would let me go x2 I’ve been tickled and chased all over the
place; Now I’ll wiggle and jiggle and shiver and
quake And shake them all into a pastry case, To make an inky pinky,
slinky malinky, winky-blinky,
rinky-dinky pumpkin pie; A great big inky pinky
pumpkin pie. |
Kevin the Crow O
A
baby play game with a lovely ľ rhythm for rocking. The
big black corvid species that are found in
Australia especially in Victoria are invariably ravens though they are still
commonly called crows: https://geoffpark.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/sorry-but-we-dont-have-crows-around-here/
Rock baby from side to side.
Tickle tummy and toes. Hold still. Lift up high. Pretend to take off nose and
place thumb between fingers. Resume rocking. |
I’m Kevin the Crow, I fly high and low, I’ll tickle your tummy and tickle your toes, I’ll sit in a gum tree until the wind blow, Up, up I’ll go soaring… Then peck off your nose! I’m a mischievous crow wherever I go, In the bush and the creeks around old Bendigo. 2nd
time Watch out, I’m about, I’m a rascally rogue. |
The sea sings to me O
What
will the future hold if conservation of our sea life is not taken seriously? Sitting
on the beach with my two young grandsons I looked out to sea and wondered how
many of the endangered creatures that lived there would be around when my
grandchildren reached my own venerable age. Make hand movements for the sea
and each marine animal. |
The sea sings to me, the sea sings to me, It sings of the dolphins so wild and so free, So wild and so free, so wild and so free; Of dolphins in peril, wherever they be. The sea sings to me, the sea sings to me, It sings of the turtles, way down gliding deep, Way down gliding deep, way down gliding deep; Of turtles in peril, wherever they be. The sea sings to me, the sea sings to me, It sings of the blue whales out there swimming free, Out there swimming free, out there swimming free; Of blue whales in peril, wherever they be. The sea sings to me, the sea sings to me, It sings of the dugongs that graze round the reefs, That graze round the reefs, that graze round the reefs, Of dugongs in peril, wherever they be. The sea sings to me, the sea sings to you, Of creatures in peril out there in the blue; In shallows and deeps, in reefs, round the quays; Singing, stay here forever, be wild and be free. X2 |
Whales can’t ride a bike O There are many wonderful information books that
will tell you some of the amazing facts about whales and what they really can
do. Make up more rhyming
verses the more ridiculous the better. |
Whales can’t
ride a bike but they can swim, They
can’t fly a kite but they can spin. They
can’t sing with us in a minibus, But can
snuggle up to an octopus!/ a fat walrus! Watch
the whale go SPLASH! Yes,
the whale just goes SPLASH! Whales
can’t toot a flute but they can hum, They
can’t wear a suit but they have fun. They
can’t shout hoorah in an open car, But can
travel far where the icebergs are! Watch
the whale go SPLASH! Yes,
the whale just goes SPLASH! Whales
can’t bake a cake but can eat krill, They
can’t ski or skate but they can trill. They
can’t play in snow with a friend they know, But can
boom hallo in the seas below! Watch
the whale go SPLASH! Yes,
the whale just goes SPLASH! |
Children stand in a circle and mime movements. Hold hands and move into the circle and raise
hands high. Crouch and leap to the second ‘SPLASH!’ letting go of hands. Repeat this sequence for each verse. |
Who wants an
octopus cuddle?
O
We
all like a cuddle but there are limits! Encourage children to make up more verses
about animals they would not like to cuddle. 1. Move hands like the sea. Join
thumbs so eight fingers wiggle like tentacles on toes, knees and nose. Put
hands to the face and make a loud sneeze. Cuddle self. 2. Thumb and forefingers open and
close like crocodile jaws. Then as above. 3. Put paws out in front. Stroke
toes, knees and toes. Make a tiny sneeze and cuddle self. |
Under the sea there’s an octopus, An octopus, an octopus, And under the sea that kind octopus, Wants to give you an octopus cuddle. It’s after your toes, it’s after your knees, It’s after your nose with a wigglely ease; But just in time comes a great big sneeze... ATCHOO! HOORAY! IT’S WIGGLED AWAY, For we don’t want an octopus cuddle, No, we don’t want an octopus cuddle! Down in the swamp lives a crocodile, A crocodile, a crocodile, And down in the swamp that kind crocodile, Wants to give you a crocodile cuddle. It’s after your toes, it’s after your knees, It’s after your nose with a snippety ease; But just in time comes a great big sneeze... ATCHOO! HOORAY! IT’S WADDLED AWAY, For we don’t want a crocodile cuddle, No, we don’t want a crocodile cuddle! Up in a gum tree sits a koala bear, A koala bear, a koala bear, And in the gum tree that kind koala bear, Wants to give you a koala bear cuddle. It’s after your toes, it’s after your knees, It’s after your nose with a snufflely ease; But all at once comes the teeniest sneeze... ATCHOO! HOORAY! IT’S STILL HERE, For we all want a koala bear cuddle, Yes, we all want a koala bear cuddle! |
With Wynken,
Blynken and Nod O In 1889 the poet Eugene Field published a
beautiful poem about these three wonderful characters; it was later set to
music and filmed by Disney. Wynken, Blynken and Nod
have since become synonymous with bedtime as they
sail and fish through the night sky in a wooden shoe. Find out more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wynken,_Blynken,_and_Nod. This song was inspired by a young relative, an
Australian 2˝ year old in his pyjamas at bedtime who had just discovered the
moon and also loved to point at people and say ‘Ooh-oo!’
in order to get a reaction. Woe betides if you did not point back and answer
‘Ooh-oo!’ |
Ben saw the moon in the night sky, The moon saw Ben; winked an eye. “Oo-oo!” said Ben,
“Oo-oo!” said the moon, “I’ll sing you a soft lullaby, I’ll sing you a soft lullaby.” Chorus With Wynken, Blynken and Nod, Wynken, Blynken and Nod, “We’ll rock you to sleep As the stars skip and leap,” Sang Wynken, Blynken and Nod. Ben saw an owl in the night sky, The owl saw Ben; winked an eye. “Too-whit-too-woo!” said Ben,
“Too-whit-too-woo!” said the owl, “To the land of dreams we shall fly, To the land of dreams we shall fly.” Chorus Ben saw a cow the night sky, The cow jumped over the moon. “Moo-moo!” said Ben, “Moo-moo!” said the
cow, “See you in Sandy land soon, See you in Sandy land soon.” Chorus Ben saw those three little fellows, Fishing up there so high. “Oo-oooo!” said
Ben, “Oo-oooo!” said the three, “Come sail in our boat through the sky, Come sail in our boat through the sky.”
Chorus |
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