The Songbook
Kodály-style folk melodies with notation and lyrics, intelligently organised by musical concept, pedagogy, and curriculum outcome.
e.g. "I need a 10-minute singing activity for Year 2 developing inner hearing"
Bow Wow Wow
Bow wow wow, Whose dog art thou? Little Tommy Tucker's dog, Bow wow wow!
do mi fa so la
One Two Three Johnny Caught a Flea
One, two, three, Johnny caught a flea, Put it in a teapot, made a cup of tea. The flea jumped out, the teapot broke, Johnny had to drink it, ha ha ha!
do, re, mi, la
Frog in the Meadow
Frog in the meadow, can't get him out. Take a stick and stir him about. Frog in the meadow, can't get him out. Take a stick and stir him about.
so, mi, la
Son Macaron
Son macaron, son macaron, Qui veut goûter mon macaron? Il est fait avec du beurre, Il est fait avec du lait. Son macaron, son macaron!
la, do, re, mi
Who's That Knocking at My Window?
Who's that knocking at my window? Who's that knocking at my door? Who's that knocking at my window? Who's that knocking at my door? Somebody's knocking, somebody's knocking, Somebody's knocking at my door. Somebody's knocking, somebody's knocking, Somebody's knocking at my door.
so, mi, la, do
Lil' Liza Jane
Oh, Lil' Liza, little Liza Jane. Oh, Lil' Liza, little Liza Jane. I've got a girl and her name is Liza, Little Liza Jane. I've got a girl and her name is Liza, Little Liza Jane. Oh, Lil' Liza, little Liza Jane. Oh, Lil' Liza, little Liza Jane.
do, mi, sol, la
Tideo
Tideo, Tideo, Jingle at the window, Tideo. Tideo, Tideo, Jingle at the window, Tideo. Pass one window, Tideo. Pass two windows, Tideo. Pass three windows, Tideo. Jingle at the window, Tideo.
do, mi, sol
My Paddle's Clean and Bright
My paddle's clean and bright, Flashing with silver, Swift as a wild goose flight, Dip, dip and swing.
la do re mi
Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory dickory dock, The mouse ran up the clock, The clock struck one, The mouse ran down, Hickory dickory dock.
do re mi sol
Bell Horses
Bell horses, bell horses, What's the time of day? One o'clock, two o'clock, Time to go away.
so mi
Hush Little Baby
Hush little baby, don't say a word, Papa's gonna buy you a mocking bird, And if that mocking bird don't sing, Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.
do re mi sol la
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes, Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes, And eyes and ears and mouth and nose, Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
do re mi sol
Bought Me a Cat
Bought me a cat and the cat pleased me, Fed my cat under yonder tree, Cat went fiddle-i-fee, cat went fiddle-i-fee.
do re mi sol la
Go Tell Aunt Rhody
Go tell Aunt Rhody, Go tell Aunt Rhody, Go tell Aunt Rhody, The old grey goose is dead.
la do mi
Bobby Shaftoe
Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea, Silver buckles on his knee, He'll come back and marry me, Bonny Bobby Shaftoe.
do re mi sol la
The Farmer in the Dell
The farmer in the dell, The farmer in the dell, Heigh ho the derry oh, The farmer in the dell.
do re mi sol
Queen, Queen Caroline
Queen, Queen Caroline, Washed her hair in turpentine; Turpentine to make it shine, Queen, Queen Caroline.
so mi
A Ram Sam Sam
A ram sam sam, a ram sam sam Guli guli guli guli guli ram sam sam A ram sam sam, a ram sam sam Guli guli guli guli guli ram sam sam A rafi, a rafi Guli guli guli guli guli ram sam sam A rafi, a rafi Guli guli guli guli guli ram sam sam
do re mi
The More We Are Together
The more we are together, together, together The more we are together, the happier we'll be For your friends are my friends And my friends are your friends The more we are together, the happier we'll be
do, re, mi, fa, so, la
Kookaburra Sits
Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree, laughing away at you and me.
so la ti do re
Old Blue
I had a dog and his name was Blue, You know, Blue, You know, Blue, I had a dog and his name was Blue, You're a good old dog, you are too.
do, re, mi, so, la
The Miller of the Dee
There dwelt a miller, hale and bold, Beside the river Dee, He worked and sang from morn till night, No lark more blithe than he.
do, re, mi, fa, so, la
Cape Cod Girls
Cape Cod girls ain't got no combs, Heave away, haul away, They comb their hair with codfish bones, And we're bound for Australia.
so, la, do, re, mi
The Keeper
The keeper would a-hunting go, To catch a doe both to and fro, With a hey down, ho down, derry derry down, Among the leaves so green-o.
do, re, mi, fa, so
A Frog He Would A-Wooing Go
A frog he would a-wooing go, Heigh ho, said Rowley, Whether his mother would let him or no, With a rowley-powley, gammon and spinach, Heigh ho, said Anthony Rowley.
do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti
The Fox
The fox went out on a chilly night, He prayed for the moon to give him light, For he'd many a mile to go that night, Before he reached the town-o, the town-o, the town-o, For he'd many a mile to go that night, Before he reached the town-o.
do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do'
A-Roving
In Amsterdam there lived a maid, Mark well what I do say, She was the mistress of her trade, And I'll go no more a-roving with you, fair maid.
do, re, mi, fa, so
Aiken Drum
There was a man lived in the moon, lived in the moon, lived in the moon, There was a man lived in the moon, And his name was Aiken Drum.
do, re, mi, so, la, ti
The Wraggle Taggle Gypsies
There were three gypsies a-come to my door, And downstairs ran this lady-o, She left her house and her silk-clad floor, To ride with the Wraggle Taggle Gypsies-o.
la, ti, do, re, mi
Who Killed Cock Robin?
Who killed Cock Robin? I, said the Sparrow, With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin.
do, mi, so, la
John Kanaka
I thought I heard the old man say, John Kanaka-naka, too-lai-ay, To-day is a holiday, John Kanaka-naka, too-lai-ay.
do, re, mi, fa, so
The North Wind
The north wind doth blow, And we shall have snow, And what will the robin do then, poor thing?
do, re, mi, fa, so
Oh Susanna
I came from Alabama with my banjo on my knee. I'm going to Louisiana my true love for to see. Oh Susanna, oh don't you cry for me. I've come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee.
do re mi so la
Circle Round the Village
Go round and round the village. Go round and round the village. Go round and round the village. As we have done before.
do mi so la
Alabama Gal
Alabama gal, come out tonight. Come out tonight, come out tonight. Alabama gal, come out tonight. And dancing in the moonlight.
do re mi so la
Galopede
Listen to the music and dance in a row. Hop and skip and jump until you go. Listen to the music and dance in a row. Come along and join the dance.
do re mi fa so la
The Noble Duke of York
Oh, the Noble Duke of York, he had ten thousand men. He marched them up to the top of the hill, and he marched them down again.
so la ti do re mi
Skip to My Lou
Lost my partner what'll I do? Lost my partner what'll I do? Lost my partner what'll I do? Skip to my Lou my darling. I'll get another one better than you. I'll get another one better than you. I'll get another one better than you. Skip to my Lou my darling.
do re mi fa so la
I's the B'y
I's the b'y that builds the boat, and I's the b'y that sails her. I's the b'y that catches the fish and takes them home to Liza.
do re mi so la
Chimes of Dunkirk
Turn to your partner and give a little bow. Join your hands together, let's dance right now. Spin your partner quickly, turn around again. Tap your feet together, show your best friend.
so la ti do re mi
Bow Belinda
Bow, bow, bow Belinda. Bow, bow, bow Belinda. Bow, bow, bow Belinda. Won't you be my darling?
do re mi so la
King of the Barbarees
I am the King of the Barbarees, and I have come to see your daughter. Daughter, daughter, daughter, will you let her come with me?
do re mi fa so la
Shoo Fly
Shoo fly don't bother me. Shoo fly don't bother me. Shoo fly don't bother me. For I belong to somebody.
do mi so la
Old Brass Wagon
Circle to the left, the old brass wagon. Circle to the left, the old brass wagon. Circle to the left, the old brass wagon. You're the one my darling.
so la do re mi
Amazing Grace
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.
do re mi so la
I've Been Working on the Railroad
I've been working on the railroad, all the live-long day. I've been working on the railroad, just to pass the time away. Don't you hear the whistle blowing, rise up so early in the morn. Don't you hear the captain shouting, Dinah blow your horn.
do re mi fa so la
Clementine
In a cavern, in a canyon, excavating for a mine, Dwelt a miner, forty-niner, and his daughter Clementine.
do re mi fa so la
Go Down Moses
When Israel was in Egypt's land, let my people go. Oppressed so hard they could not stand, let my people go. Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt's land, tell old Pharaoh, let my people go.
la, do re mi so
Pick a Bale of Cotton
You jump down, turn around, pick a bale of cotton. You jump down, turn around, pick a bale a day. Oh lordy, pick a bale of cotton. Oh lordy, pick a bale a day.
do re mi so la
Shenandoah
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you. Away, you rolling river. Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you. Away, I'm bound away, 'cross the wide Missouri.
do re mi fa so la
Follow the Drinking Gourd
Follow the drinking gourd, follow the drinking gourd. For the old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom, If you follow the drinking gourd.
la, do re mi so
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home. Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home. I looked over Jordan, and what did I see, coming for to carry me home. A band of angels coming after me, coming for to carry me home.
do re mi fa so la
Deep River
Deep river, my home is over Jordan. Deep river, lord, I want to cross over into campground. Oh, don't you want to go to that gospel feast? That promised land where all is peace.
do re mi fa so la
Michael Row the Boat Ashore
Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Michael row the boat ashore, hallelujah. Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah. Sister help to trim the sail, hallelujah.
do re mi fa so
Oh, Freedom
Oh, freedom, oh, freedom, oh, freedom over me. And before I'd be a slave, I'll be buried in my grave, And go home to my lord and be free.
do re mi so la
Heave Away
Heave away, haul away. We're bound for the Rio Grande. Heave away, haul away. We're bound for the Rio Grande.
do re mi fa so la
John Henry
John Henry was a little baby, sitting on his daddy's knee. He picked up a hammer and a little piece of steel, saying hammer's gonna be the death of me, lord, lord, hammer's gonna be the death of me.
la, do re mi
One Two Buckle My Shoe
One, two, buckle my shoe, Three, four, open the door, Five, six, pick up sticks, Seven, eight, lay them straight.
do, mi, so, la
Drop the Handkerchief
I drop, I drop, I drop the handkerchief, I drop, I drop, I drop the handkerchief. It fell behind you, pick it up, It fell behind you, pick it up.
do, mi, so, la
Who's That Tapping at the Window
Who's that tapping at the window? Who's that knocking at the door? Who's that tapping at the window? Who's that knocking at the door?
do, re, mi, fa, so, la
Bee Bee Bumble Bee
Bee bee bumble bee, Stung a man upon his knee, Stung a pig upon his snout, I declare you are out!
mi, so, la
Willie Wallie
Willie Wallie, wash your feet, Keep them clean and very sweet. Willie Wallie, wash your feet, Clean them for the party.
so, la, do, re, mi
Bluebells Cockleshells
Bluebells, cockleshells, Evy, ivy, over.
re, mi, so, la
Great Big House in New Orleans
Great big house in New Orleans, forty stories high, every room that I go in, catches on fire.
do, re, mi, so, la
Hey Lolly Lolly
Hey lolly lolly lolly, hey lolly lolly lo, hey lolly lolly lolly, hey lolly lolly lo.
do, re, mi, fa, so
Shosholoza
Shosholoza, kulezontaba, stimela siphum' eSouth Africa, wen' uyabaleka, kulezontaba, stimela siphum' eSouth Africa.
do, re, mi, so, la
Banuwa
Ba-nu-wa, yo-di-ya-ni, ba-nu-wa, yo-di-ya-ni.
la, so, mi, re, do
Che Che Kule
Che che ku-le, che che ko-fi-sa, ku-li-man-ja, ku-li-man-ja, a-san-de-wa, a-san-de-wa.
do, re, mi, so, la
Siyahamba
Siyahamba ekukhanyen' kwenkhos', siyahamba ekukhanyen' kwenkhos', siyahamba ekukhanyen' kwenkhos', siyahamba ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'.
do, re, mi, so, la
Obwisana
Obwisana sa nana, Obwisana sa nana, Obwisana sa nana, Obwisana.
do, re, mi, so
Jubilee
Jubilee, live on, Jubilee, live on, Jubilee, live on, all my troubles over.
do, re, mi, so, la
Stodola Pumpa
Stodola pumpa, stodola pumpa, stodola pumpa, pam pam pam.
do, re, mi, so
Charlie Over the Ocean
Charlie over the ocean, Charlie over the sea, Charlie caught a blackbird, but he can't catch me.
do, re, mi, so, la
Sakura Sakura
Sakura, sakura, yayoi no sora wa, mi-watasu kagiri, kasumi ka kumo ka, nioizo izuru, izaya, izaya, mini yukan.
la, do, re, mi, so
I'se the B'y
I'se the b'y that builds the boat, and I'se the b'y that sails her, and I'se the b'y that catches the fish and takes them home to Liza.
do, re, mi, so, la
Clap Your Hands
Clap your hands, clap your hands, Clap your hands together. Clap your hands, clap your hands, Clap them all together.
do re mi fa so la
Paw Paw Patch
Where oh where is sweet little Mary? Where oh where is sweet little Mary? Where oh where is sweet little Mary? Way down yonder in the paw paw patch.
do re mi so
Star Light Star Bright
Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight.
do re mi so
Pass the Shoe
Pass the shoe from hand to hand, To the music of the band.
so la ti do
A-Tisket A-Tasket
A-tisket, a-tasket, A green and yellow basket, I wrote a letter to my love, And on the way I dropped it.
do re mi fa so la
See-Saw
See-saw, Margery Daw, Sold her bed and lay upon straw.
so mi
Brown Bear
Brown bear, brown bear, turn around, Brown bear, brown bear, touch the ground.
do re mi so
Spring Time Is Here
Spring time is here, the birds sing along, Spring time is here, a beautiful song.
do, re, mi, fa
Autumn Leaves
Autumn leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down. Autumn leaves are falling down, all over the ground.
do, re, mi, fa, so, la
Click Go the Shears
Down on the barcoo where the galahs all fly, and the land is as dry as a bone. There the shearer is whistling his tune for the day, as he works by the light of the sun.
so la ti do re mi
Early One Morning
Early one morning, just as the sun was rising, I heard a maid sing in the valley below. Oh, don't you remember the vows you made to me, you vowed to be constant and true.
do re mi fa so la
Canoe Song
My paddle's keen and bright, flashing like silver. Follow the wild goose flight, dip, dip, and swing.
do re mi fa so
Summer Is A-Coming In
Summer is a-coming in, loudly sing, cuckoo! Groweth seed and bloweth mead, and springeth the wood anew, sing, cuckoo!
so la do re
Kookaburra
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, Merry merry king of the bush is he. Laugh, kookaburra, laugh, kookaburra, Gay your life must be.
do re mi so la
The Ash Grove
The ash grove, how graceful, how plainly 'tis speaking, the harp through it playing has language for me. Whenever the light through its branches is breaking, a host of kind faces is gazing on me.
so la ti do re mi fa
Rose, Rose
Rose, rose, rose, rose, shall I ever see thee wed? I will marry at thy will, sire, at thy will.
do re mi fa so la
Hey Ho, Nobody Home
Hey ho, nobody home, meat nor drink nor money have I none, yet will I be merry.
la do re mi so
Little Tommy Tinker
Little Tommy Tinker sat on a clinker, and he began to cry, Ma! Poor little Tommy Tinker, poor little Tommy Tinker, poor little Tommy Tinker, Ma!
do re mi fa so la
Sweetly Sings the Donkey
Sweetly sings the donkey at the break of day, if you do not feed him, this is what he'll say: Hee-haw, hee-haw, hee-haw, hee-haw, hee-haw.
do re mi fa so la do
White Coral Bells
White coral bells upon a slender stalk, lilies of the valley deck my garden walk. Oh, don't you wish that you could hear them ring, that will happen only when the fairies sing.
do re mi fa so la ti do
Dona Nobis Pacem
Dona nobis pacem, pacem, dona nobis pacem.
do re mi fa so la ti do
White Sand and Grey Sand
White sand and grey sand, who'll buy my white sand? Who'll buy my grey sand?
do re mi fa so
Ah, Poor Bird
Ah, poor bird, take your flight, above the sorrows of this sad night.
la do re mi so
Firefly
Firefly, firefly, bright in the night, Flying about with your beautiful light.
do re mi so la
The Cuckoo
Cuckoo, cuckoo, calling in the spring, Cuckoo, cuckoo, hear the song you sing.
do mi so
