Friday, October 19, 2012

Songs... And being lyrically challenged

So it's no big secret that I'm lyrically challenged.  I'm just not musically inclined, in fact, I'm musically retarded.  I just don't understand music and couldn't play an instrument to save my life.  I've tried, it's not pretty...  But I do have a beautiful baby girl who loves music (she takes after her daddy that way).  And she loves it when I sing to her, it actually calms her down most of the time.  So I've been dusting off my children's song repertoire and it's slightly convoluted.  I have even taken the time to look up a songs proper words and attempt to commit it to memory.  But when the moment hits, the actual words flee from my brain like a scarecrow running from fire. 

So what is the end result?  Songs with my own words substituted.  Most of the time, they center around using Sarah's name in some way, just so she knows how special she is ;-).  Poor child may get a bit of a shock when she realizes the songs she knows don't match those of other kids.  But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it... Do you want to know some examples of my songs to Sarah?  Great!  Keep Reading!  (Whoa, did I totally just ask you all a question like a children's show?  Yes.  Yes I did... that just happened... Maybe playhouse Disney is on a little too much in the background... haha!)

Let start with her favorite... Ironically the tune I use for this is actually the "Clean Up" song which I know every word... but along the way it changed and she loves when I sing my version.  Her whole face lights up:

To the tune of Clean Up, Clean Up
Sarah, Sarah
I love you!
I love you!
Sarah, Sarah
I love you so much!


To the tune of Bingo:
There was a mommy who had a baby
And Sarah was her name-o
S-A-R-A-H
S-A-R-A-H
S-A-R-A-H
And Sarah was her name-o.
(And repeat through like the Bingo song)
(Hey, I'm teaching her spell her name.. It works...)

To the tune of Jesus Loves Me:
Sarah's hungry this I know
For her crying tells me so
She's so hungry yes indeed
Hurry with the food mommy
Yes, Sarah's hungry
Yes, Sarah's hungry
Yes, Sarah's hungry
Her crying tells me so...
(This is always, Always, ALWAYS followed with the real version.  Because by then she's eating and calm and I want her to know the proper words)

To the tune of the Aardvark Song:
I love my Sarah
My Sarah loves me
I feed my Sarah milk and honey
My little Sarah goes...
(click you tongue 3 times)(or insert any babble, noise, movement of the moment)
Continue on with other animals, adding the mix but always ending with Sarah.
(No, I don't feed Sarah honey.  I know infants should NOT eat honey, it just rhymes and goes with the other words)

Some songs I just substitute Sarah's name into the song...

Grin Again Gang
Grin Again Gang
Get Gung Ho and Jesus
Smile sweetly Sarah so you'll send Satin sadly away
Buck up brother Bill
Because a bunch of bigger boys
Became a bunch of better boys
Behind big big smiles
Grin again gang get gung ho about Jesus

Some songs get similar words and yet I know they aren't right:
The Farmer and the Dell
The Farmer and the Dell
The Farmer and the Dell
Hi Ho the Cherry-o
The Farmer and the Dell

The Farmer takes a wife
The wife takes a horse
The horse takes a cow
The cow gives the milk
The milk turns to cheeze
The cheese stands alone
(I know it starts with the farmer, then the wife, and ends with cheese standing alone, gotta get there somehow)

Or
Hush Little Baby
Hush little baby don't say a word
Papa's gonna buy you a mocking bird
And if that mocking bird won't sing
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring won't shine
Papa's gonna buy you a lemon or lime
And if that lemon or lime is sour
Papa's gonna buy you a big tall tower
And if that big tall tower falls over
Papa's gonna buy you a dog named rover
And if that dog named rover won't bark
Papa's gonna buy you a green grass park
And if that green grass park turns brown
You'll still be the cutest little baby in town.


Other songs that get regularly sung to Sarah:
Jesus Loves the Little Children
Old Mac Donald
Yankee Doodle
Twinkle Twinkle / ABC's
5 Little Speckled Frogs
Row Row Row your Boat
I Am A Promise
Anchors Aweigh


And of course I have my lullaby's I sing to her.  I always sing these in the same order and they are her falling asleep songs if she's having a tough time at naptime or nighttime.

Baby Mine
You Are My Sunshine
Twinkle Twinkle
Goodnight Sweetheart (3 Men and A Baby)

I sing each song 3 times through before moving on the the next.  Usually by Twinkle Twinkle she's asleep or close to it.

So, um, yeah.  This is just a random little blog about the songs and music that are a part of Sarah's world.  I will say that she still prefers music that have no lyrics or singing when she's listening to recordings.  Jazz is her favorite, but classical comes in a close second these days.

Are you lyrically challenged?  What songs do you sing to your little one?



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