Friday 30 December 2016

The Nursery Rhyme Project

The Nursery Rhyme Project:


After years of writing and producing children's music - much of it drawing on the rich aural tradition of 'hand me down' songs - it is with excitement that I finally embark on an ambitious project to publish a comprehensive compendium of singable Nursery Rhymes! 

For more info, click on the "About The Nursery Rhyme Project" tab above...

Tuesday 13 December 2016

The Wheels on the Bus


The Wheels on the Bus


The origin of this relatively recent addition to Nursery Rhyme literature is disputed - with some sources citing Verna Hills as the author, others Lou Stallman and Joe Shapiro, and others suggesting it's 'traditional' (evolved without formal composition).

There is a clear link to the traditional "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush" - both lyrically, melodically and structurally - so it could probably be argued that this song has multiple authors - each inspired to bring modern relevance to a historical rhyme.



Our version of "The Wheels on the Bus" 


Click for our complete Nursery Rhymes playlist.


Five Little Ducks


Five Little Ducks


Not strictly a 'nursery rhyme', this is just one of many songs that are collectively known as 'counting songs' - fun songs that can help young children practise their counting skills.  Many of these songs share the same format with different animals/objects and many are interrelated (e.g. Five Little Ducks and Six Little Ducks).

Few songs like this have any attributable origin or historical meaning - they do "exactly as they say on the tin"



Our version of "Five Little Ducks" 


Click for our complete Nursery Rhymes playlist.


Monday 12 December 2016

Old MacDonald Had a Farm


Old MacDonald Had a Farm


"The Ohio Farmer" header may seem an odd picture to use at the top of a post about "Old MacDonald" - until you learn how this now famous nursery rhyme developed.

Arguably the earliest published version of this song was in "Tommy's Tunes" in 1917 - a book of songs by F. T. Nettleingham - with the following lyrics:

Old McDougal had a farm
In Ohio - i - o 
And on that farm he had some dogs
In Ohio - i - o

There are other similar songs (e.g. Old Missouri had a mule, he-hi-he-hi-ho") that probably merged to become the standard song we know today.

Our version of "Old MacDonald" 


Click for our complete Nursery Rhymes playlist.


Sunday 11 December 2016

Five Little Monkeys

Five Little Monkeys


Another counting song - similar to Five Little Ducks - that has no attributable author and has clearly evolved and merged from various historical pathways.

There is large amount of disturbing evidence that points to racist origins of this song - with the original lyrics being racist beyond doubt and the view held by many that the use of 'monkey' in this song remains a racist slur.   The racist origins are beyond doubt - but as to whether the revised lyrics should still be used with children is a matter on which there is widespread disagreement.

Your views are welcome.  Should this song, and others with similar origins, be removed from The Nursery Rhyme project? 


Our version of "Five Little Monkeys" 


Click for our complete Nursery Rhymes playlist.


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Tuesday 6 December 2016

The Teapot Song


The Teapot Song


Commonly known as "I'm a Little Teapot" rather than by its original title, "The Teapot Song",  it was written and published in 1939 by George Harold Sanders and Clarence Z. Kelley.  Kelley ran a dance school for children and Sanders a pianist with what would appear to be some connections in the industry - how else would a song written as an aid for children to learn specific dance moves have become such a permanent American staple?   

Recorded in 1941 by Ronnie Kemper (see picture above) there is a verse that strangely makes reference to Napoleon!

The song is still in copyright.  


Our version of "The Teapot Song"


Click for our complete Nursery Rhymes here.

One, Two, Three, Four, Five...


One, Two, Three, Four, Five...


A classic 'counting song' derived from many earlier versions of songs that emerged to help young children learn to count.  As such, there is no recognised writer/composer - many people and generations playing a part in the evolution of this song.    The version popular now was first published in "Mother Goose's Melody" around 1865 - but it was a Hare, not a fish, that was caught alive and subsequently let go.

If you sing the song counting fingers from left to right with palms facing down, number 10 becomes the little finger on your right hand - the finger bitten by the irritated fish!

The melody works well as a 2 or 4 part 'round'.

Many adaptions have been made - from religious 'tract' style songs for Sunday Schools to derogatory playground racial taunts.


Our version of "One, Tow, Three, Four, Five..."


Click for our complete Nursery Rhymes here.


Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row, Row, Row Your Boat


Dating from before the 1850's in aural tradition and originating in the USA, the words were first printed in 1852 with a different melody to the one most commonly known today.  The melody used today was first recorded in 1881.  Both the lyricist and composer are unknown - as is any deeper meaning behind the lyrics.

The melody used today works extremely well as a 4 part 'round'.

The original lyrics contained only the first verse (very similar to how we know it).  All mention of crocodiles, screaming etc. are subsequent additions.


Our version of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"


Click for our complete Nursery Rhymes here.