Sing Books with Emily, the Blog

Oh my darlin’ letter I…

Sing the words of the song for the letter I to the tune of “Clementine.”

Read, Sing, Play ABC Sing-Along
Words Adapted by Teddy Slater
Illustrated by Liisa Chauncy Guida

In an Igloo on an Island
(Lyrics by Teddy Slater, from book “ABC Sing-Along”)
IN an igloo on an island,
in a sea of icy water,
lived an inchworm named Ignatius
and his itsy-bitsy daughter.

She was smaller than an inkblot
and her name was Isabelle.
She didn’t need a cradle
’cause she slept in a seashell.

This instrumental track is perfect for singing “In an Igloo on an Island” twice through:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DTC082/ref=dm_dp_trk42?ie=UTF8&qid=1273516154&sr=301-1

Find a karaoke sing-along track for a longer version of original song here:
http://www.amazon.com/Darling-Clementine-Karaoke-version-Backgrounds/dp/B002P88XPO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1273515633&sr=1-1

Find a slower instrumental (in a lower key) here:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/american-heritage-music-set/id259436767

You can sing the original song with this Singable Picture Book,

Clementine
Traditional Words and Tune
Edited by Ann Owen
Illustrated by Sandra  D’Antonio

An interesting wiki article about the song’s origins:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_My_Darling,_Clementine
This article suggests many alternative verses for the song.

As it so often goes for traditional songs, there exist, and are sung, many versions of the lyrics and the original composer and author of the  music and lyrics are questionable. 

In terms of “additional lyrics” I love the last verse suggesting a moral, promoting the skill of “artificial respiration” so that the song becomes inspiration for Boy Scouts to learn the skills of CPR/Mouth to Mouth resuscitation.  Sounds to me like a good suggestion for everyone…not just Boy Scouts!

Clementine
In a cavern, In a canyon,
Excavating for a mine,
Dwelt a miner forty-niner,
And his daughter Clementine.

Chorus:
Oh my darling, Oh my darling,
Oh my darling Clementine,
You are lost and gone forever,
Dreadful sorry Clementine.

Repeat chorus

Light she was and like a fairy,
And her shoes were number nine;
Herring boxes, without topses,
Sandals were for Clementine.

Repeat chorus

Drove she ducklings to the water,
Every morning just at nine;
Hit her foot against a splinter,
Fell into the foaming brine.

Repeat chorus

Ruby lips above the water,
Blowing bubbles, soft and fine;
But Alas! I was no swimmer,
So I lost my Clementine.

Repeat chorus

When the miner forty-niner,
Soon began to peak and pine,
Thought he oughter ”jine” his daughter,
Now he’s with his clementine.

Repeat chorus

In a corner of the churchyard,
Where the myrtle boughs entwine,
Grow the roses in their poses,
Fertilized by Clementine.

Repeat chorus

In my dreams she still doth haunt me,
Robed in garments soaked in brine.
Though in life I used to hug her,
Now she’s dead, I’ll draw the line.

Repeat chorus

Now you Boy Scouts, there’s a moral
To this little tale of mine.
Artificial respiration,
Would have saved my Clementine.

Repeat chorus