singing books at school

[culnara]

does anyone remember those colourful singing books you got in Primary class and everyone had to sing along including the teacher??

I remember a couple of songs, one was about a russian called Boris??
could be way out with that one but i still remember it

the other I have kinda tracked down

most memorable lyrical verse

Old Joe Clark, he had a house; fifteen stories high
Every story in that house was filled with chicken pie!

OLD JOE CLARK : Old Joe Clark lyrics, song history, tab & free MP3 download

[Richard1978]

Re: singing books at school

I remember one series of songbooks with orange covers with a yellow circle.

I can remember others where the words were transcribed onto OHP sheets & only the teacher playing the piano had the actual book.

One such book had a title based on one of the songs, something on the lines of "A Pusky Dusky A Pusky Doo", it was about sardines.

[culnara]

Re: singing books at school

I remember one series of songbooks with orange covers with a yellow circle.

I can remember others where the words were transcribed onto OHP sheets & only the teacher playing the piano had the actual book.

One such book had a title based on one of the songs, something on the lines of "A Pusky Dusky A Pusky Doo", it was about sardines.

maybe a different cover but sounds like the one your speaking about

Apusskidu: Songs for Children (Songbooks): Amazon.co.uk: Beatrice Harrop, David Gadsby, Ana Sanderson, Peggy Blakeley, Mark Timmins: Books

[Richard1978]

Re: singing books at school

Thanks that's the one I was thinking of.

[wispa lover]

Re: singing books at school

I can't remember the name of one songbook my old school used to have but it had a tape with songs,
one was called 'catch me the colours of the rainbow' (I can still remember it) and one was 'wham bang fizz whizz', we sang the latter on Guy Fawkes' Day.

[moonvisage]

Re: singing books at school

Everybody must remember this song,sung every Halloween:


~ HALLOWEEN ~
By Harry Behn

Tonight is the night
When dead leaves fly
Like witches on switches
Across the sky,
When elf and sprite
Flit through the night
On a moony sheen.

Tonight is the night
When leaves make a sound
Like a gnome in his home
Under the ground,
When spooks and trolls
Creep out of holes
Mossy and green.

Tonight is the night
When pumpkins stare
Through sheaves and leaves
Everywhere,
When ghouls and ghost
And goblin host
Dance round their queen.
It's Halloween.

I do recall,the last line of each verse,was sang twice.

[The Low Country]

Re: singing books at school

Are we talking 'Time & Tune' and 'Singing Together' if we are I have a few of these books from my primary school years they may be tattie but they're the real McCoy.

[moonvisage]

Re: singing books at school

Thank you so much The Low Country.I would dearly love to see them again.My wish,is to see that Halloween Poem page again.I absolutely loved the picture in the book i use to sing it from.

[The Low Country]

Re: singing books at school

You're welcome! Can't promise I can produce the one you particularly want to see but will take photo's of the ones I have. Any idea what year are we talking? I think mine are very early ones. I'll go and dig them out now & get clicking. Hopefully I'll be able to get the pics on here later :-)

Thank you so much The Low Country.I would dearly love to see them again.My wish,is to see that Halloween Poem page again.I absolutely loved the picture in the book i use to sing it from.

[The Low Country]

Re: singing books at school

Sorry moonvisage, no Halloween poem/song but I'll post the pictures anyway
Hope you enjoy. :-)

You're welcome! Can't promise I can produce the one you particularly want to see but will take photo's of the ones I have. Any idea what year are we talking? I think mine are very early ones. I'll go and dig them out now & get clicking. Hopefully I'll be able to get the pics on here later :-)

[moonvisage]

Re: singing books at school

Thank you The Low Country,i deeply appreciate all the time and effort you have taken to look through them for me.It is unfotunate the Halloween poem song is not amongst them.It is wonderful of you to take the photographs.

[The Low Country]

No probs. It's weird 'cos I only have Spring, Summer and Autumn ones and both Time & Tune and Singing Together Autumn ones have the Christmas Carols in so I can only assume there wasn't any Winter ones but sadly no Halloween poem/song. Thumbing through them I was surprised at how many of the songs I still knew off by heart. They must have really been drilled into us as kids me thinks!!!! :-)

[moonvisage]

Re: singing books at school

Thank you so much The Low Country!
They are incredible pictures,especially since they enable us to read the actual lyrics and follow the music.I had completely forgotten how many different pictures drawn there were in these books,and how different the position of the lyrics were in each song.I recall a beautiful song i love so much from one of these delightful books,but lyrics were altered slightly for the schools.Here are the later alternative lyrics to: If I Were a Blackbird: That were used in the song book.


If I Were a Blackbird


I am a young sailor, my story is sad,
For once I was carefree and a bold sailor lad;
I courted a lassie by night and by day,
But now she has left me and gone far away.

Oh, if I was a blackbird, could whistle and sing,
I'd follow the vessel my true love sails in;
And in the top rigging I would there build my nest,
And I'd flutter my wings o'er her lily-white breast.

Or if I was a scholar and could handle a pen,
One secret love letter to my true love I'd send;
And I'd tell of my sorrow, my grief and my pain,
Since she's gone and left me in yon flowery glen.

I sailed o'er the ocean, my fortune to seek,
Though I missed her caress and her kiss on my cheek;
I returned and I told her my love was still warm,
But she turned away lightly and great was her scorn.

Oh, if I was a blackbird, could whistle and sing,
I'd follow the vessel my true love sails in;
And in the top rigging I would there build my nest,
And I'd flutter my wings o'er her lily-white breast.

I offered to take her to Donnybrook Fair,
And to buy her fine ribbons to tie up her hair;
I offered to marry and to stay by her side,
But she said in the morning she sailed with the tide.

My parents they chide me, and will not agree,
Saying that me and my false love married should never be;
Ah but let them deprive me, or let them do what they will,
While there's breath in my body, she's the one that I love still.

Oh, if I was a blackbird, could whistle and sing,
I'd follow the vessel my true love sails in;
And in the top rigging I would there build my nest,
And I'd flutter my wings o'er her lily-white breast.


This was the version of the song used in the school song books.It was a later version,written for the Male Variant.It was written by: Andy M Stewart.

[moonvisage]

Re: singing books at school

The school song book,featuring If I Were a Blackbird,altered a few of the words,like: Vessel to Ship etc,and i also seem to recall the end line different aswell.I recall it as being: And i'll Pillow my head on her lily white breast.

[Trickyvee]

Re: singing books at school

Old Joe Clark, he had a house; fifteen stories high
Every story in that house was filled with chicken pie!

god we used to sing this too and this is the only bit I remember!