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http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/The_Chimpanzoo?file=TheChimpanzoo.jpg
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9eVfo4XBOo
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Richard Sherman tells the story of the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPcECuFJ6Is
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CHIMPANZOO
Words and Music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Song written for, but cut from, the movie MARY POPPINS
In Timbuktu, there’s a Chimpanzoo
That’s run by a chimpanzee.
It’s an oddish place where the human race
Is under lock and key.
And on their backs, they wear small plaques
For the animals to view.
Which specify the reasons why
They’re locked in the Chimpanzoo.
If you’re boisterous and bumptious,
you’re grist for the Chimpanzoo!
If you’re overly rambunctious,
You’re whisked to Timbukto.
Laughs, laughs, nothing but laughs
But you know who’s laughing at who?
It’s the animals there who giggle and stare
At you in the Chimpanzoo!
(Instrumental / Kazoo break)
You may never play the music halls
In all your wildest dreams.
But billow and blast in the Chimpanzoo
And the animals burst their seams.
It takes a lot of talent and time
To become a West End attraction.
But in this place, one rude grim-ace
Gets a marvelous reaction.
Laughs, laughs, nothing but laughs
But you know who’s laughing at who?
It’s the animals there who giggle and stare
Gate with glee incredulously
At the boisterous bumptious rowdy crew
At you in the Chimpanzoo.
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Info about the song in here:
http://www.dvdizzy.com/marypoppins.html
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Related Post
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SINGABLE PICTURE BOOK WISHES 1 (PICTURE BOOKS THAT NEED SONGS)
Like Pinocchio wished to become a real boy, I imagine that these books wish to become Singable.
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/singable-picture-book-wishes-books-that-wish-to-become-singable-and-songs-that-wish-to-be-illustrated/
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SINGABLE PICTURE BOOK WISHES 2 (SONGS THAT WISH TO BE ILLUSTRATED)
There songs are BEGGING to become Singable Picture Books
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/03/06/singable-picture-book-wishes-2-songs-that-wish-to-be-illustrated/
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SHERMAN BROTHERS
The Singable Picture Books of Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/singable-picture-books-of-richard-m-sherman-and-robert-b-sherman/
My friend Doug posted this article on his Facebook page:
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Why Harry Connick Jr. Couldn’t Sit Idle During ‘Idol’
http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/why-harry-connick-jr-couldnt-sit-idle-during-idol
It makes a great point that’s been on my mind ever since Idol started. I didn’t watch this year, so have no idea who is singing. What I’ve enjoyed so much in previous years is watching a bunch of young kids follow their hearts and dreams to do something they love and to participate in an artistic pursuit.
And it IS a vocal competition.
BUT…
I believe that true art comes from knowledge of the subject and Harry Connick Jr. is right to hold their feet to the fire in Songs from the Great American Songbook. It is important to me as a performer to feel worthy of being listened to…and not just vocally. The “worth” comes from knowing what I am singing, what I am singing about, the song history, the words, the music, the composer and lyricist. I want to know and understand why the song was written, when, and for what reason. And I want to know and understand my own reason for singing the song, what do I personally think it means, what is my vision and perspective. What am I trying to say. What experiences in my life come to play in the song. What does it remind me of and what experiences come along which change or contribute to my experience of the song. What do I have to share and contribute?
This whole blog is about exploring the REASON for singing, to support my effort in being worthy of singing these songs.
Someone said, “Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you SHOULD.”
There is so much more to the art of sharing songs than just standing up and sounding good.
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The Art of Crafting a Song for Performance
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The Art of Singing and Crafting a Song for Performance: Emily’s Song Craft Worksheet
This worksheet details my process for crafting a song for performance.
For Emily’s Song Craft Worksheet, click here:
Emily’s Song Craft Worksheet
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Related Posts
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GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK
Singable Picture Books of the Great American Songbook and Michael Feinstein’s Foundation for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/09/10/american-songbook-singable-picture-books-and-michael-feinsteins-foundation-for-the-preservation-of-the-great-american-songbook/
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INFO AND THINKING ABOUT SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/resources-for-inspiration-and-information/
Singable Picture Book-wise, it doesn’t get much better than this. BEETHOVEN’S WIG combines humor, delightful illustration and classical music. The text is saturated with robust vocabulary. We are introduced to one of the great characters and composers ever to have lived. We will all be enriched by spending some time traipsing around Beethoven’s wig…
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Beethoven’s Wig
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven (Symphony No. 5)
Words by Richard Perlmutter
Illustrated by Maria Rosetti
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Video for the song (matches the book exactly)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdRZl9g_5tw
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Beethoven Symphony Number 5 wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._5_(Beethoven)
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Website for the whole Beethoven’s Wig series:
http://www.beethovenswig.com/
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YouTube with full performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z4KK7RWjmk
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BEETHOVEN’S WIG
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven
Music based on Beethoven’s Sympony No. 5
Words by Richard Perlmutter
Beethoven’s Wig is very big.
Beethoven’s wig is long and curly and it’s white.
Beethoven takes his wig off when he sleeps at night.
Because it’s big.
It’s very big.
Beethoven’s wig is big.
It’s really big.
Beethoven’s wig is heavy when he takes a walk.
His wig is even bigger than the wig of Bach.
It is tremendous.
It is stupendous.
It is gigantic and titanic.
Monumental and colossal.
And enormous and humongous.
Cause it’s big.
It’s really big.
It’s very big.
It’s mighty big.
Beethoven’s Wig is oh so wide
You’ll need a guide
To see each side.
It’s really big.
It’s grandiose.
Don’t get too close you’ll overdose
Because it’s big. Big!
Beethoven’s Wig is big!
It’s stylish and it’s handsome.
It costs a small king’s ransom -
Five hundred bucks and then some.
But the hair’s so long and flowing
That the wig seems like it’s growing.
And it keeps his face from showing.
Poor Beethoven’s wig needs mowing.
Cause Beethoven’s wig is big.
Beethoven’s wig is very big.
It’s oh so big
It’s filled with goo,
It’s such a problem to shampoo.
It’s really very, very big.
Beethoven’s wig is very big.
It’s awful big.
It’s such a mess it even has it’s own address.
Beethoven’s wig is such a mop.
He should stop at the barber shop.
It’s way too big.
His mother called.
She said he would look better bald.
Because it’s big.
It’s very big.
Beethoven’s wig!
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THE SONG IS FUNNY BUT THERE WASN’T REALLY A WIG
This song is a terrific opportunity to have some fun with classical music and introduce children to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5.
Though Beethoven was painted with, and is frequently depicted as having, a large mane of wild hair
(As in Karl Stieler’s famous 1820 portrait of Beethoven)…
…and though this song is all about Beethoven’s wig, my research has revealed that Beethoven never wore a wig. The notion of such makes for a funny song, but the kids should know the song’s wig is for humor (and maybe can be thought of as a tribute to his wild hair, or just as a joke in the picture book) and that the great composer didn’t wear one.
There’s the lyric, “His wig is ever bigger than the wig of Bach,” extra funny because Johann Sebastian Bach (another great German composer who lived 1685-1750), see in this 1746 portrait by Elias Haussmann, really DID wear a wig:
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Visuals are always helpful!
So, to help explain to the kids how Beethoven did not actually wear a wig, but Bach did, I put this together (the portraits above plus a short Beethoven bio),
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Beethoven’s Wig (Beethoven and Bach) Composers Poster and Beethoven Bio
To view or print this packet, click here:
beethoven’s wig poster
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1959 German Stamp depicting Liwig van Beethoven
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A little info on Beethoven, gathered mostly from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
1770 -1827
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. He remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His best known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 concertos for piano, 32 piano sonatas, and 16 string quartets. He also composed other chamber music, choral works, and songs.
Born in Bonn, Germany, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of the Holy Roman Empire, Beethoven displayed his musical talents at an early age. Beethoven moved to Vienna in 1792 and began studying with Haydn, quickly gaining a reputation as a virtuoso pianist. He lived in Vienna until his death. In about 1800 his hearing began to deteriorate, and by the last decade of his life he was almost totally deaf. He gave up conducting and performing in public but continued to compose; many of his most admired works come from this period.
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Related Posts
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EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
A list of SPBs with fun and sneakily educational content. The kids won’t even know they’re learning!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/singable-picture-books-with-sneaky-educational-content/
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Beethoven’s Wig, Musical Parodies of Symphonies and Piano Classics
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Ants Go Marching (Classic Books with Holes)
Traditional Words and Tune (sing to the tune of, When Johnny Comes Marching Home)
Illustrated by Dan Crisp
I’ve had this book for quite a long time and just let it sit there, honestly, thinking that this was a boring book for a boring song. HOW WRONG I WAS! Not sure what compelled me to finally pick it up, but I did pick up this delightful, oversized Classic Book with Holes and was so glad I did. the pictures are funny and when the song multiplies the ants, the ants multiply in the pictures. The multiplication equation depicted for each photo spread is printed in the corner so the kids can see what 4 X 4 (read “The ants go marching four by four”) ants looks like. This book is well layed out with holes die cute in each page to reveal some of the ants on the following pages. And, like ants in real life, these ants are all busy doing something with happy “whistle while you work,” or “just a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down” expressions on their faces.
What ties it all together though, is the well produced, delightfully arranged music CD which comes with the book. The CD has a vocal track for singing along, but (yipee!) the instrumental is also included, so you can sing along by yourself!
To my surprise, this book went from what I thought to be something boring to one of the most requested Singable Picture Books in the Sing Books Repertoire.
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I haven’t tried these yet, they might be wonderful and I imagine one could use the recording above to sing these as well:
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Ants Go Marching (Traditional Songs from Picture Window Books)
Traditional Words and Tune (sing to the tune of, When Johnny Comes Marching Home)
Edited by Ann Own
Illustrated by Sandra D’Antonio
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Ants Go Marching (Sing and Read Storybook)
Traditional Words and Tune (sing to the tune of, When Johnny Comes Marching Home)
Illustrated by Jeffrey Scherer
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Two for the AUNTS:
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The Aunts Come Marching
Traditional Words and Tune (sing to the tune of, When Johnny Comes Marching Home)
Words Adapted by Bill Richardson
Illustrated by Cynthia Nugent
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The Aunts Go Marching
Traditional Words and Tune (sing to the tune of, When Johnny Comes Marching Home)
Words Adapted by Maurie J. Manning
Illustrated by Maurie J. Manning
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For the Animals Who Went in the Ark
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Animals Went in Two by Two
Traditional Words and Tune (sing to the tune of, When Johnny Comes Marching Home)
Illustrated by Wendy Straw
This book seems to be currently available only in Australia.
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Animals Went in Two by Two (a Noah’s Ark Pop-Up Book)
Traditional Words and Tune (sing to the tune of, When Johnny Comes Marching Home)
Illustrated by Jan Pienkowski
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuQjR2lsYl0
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Related Posts
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WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME, A SINGABLE PICTURE BOOK
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/when-johnny-comes-marching-home-a-singable-picture-book/
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CLASSIC BOOKS WITH HOLES
The Singable Picture Books of Classic Books with Holes
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/the-singable-picture-books-of-classic-books-with-holes/
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COUNTING
Counting (and math) in Singable Picture Books
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/counting-and-math-in-singable-picture-books/
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EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
A list of SPBs with fun and sneakily educational content. The kids won’t even know they’re learning!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/singable-picture-books-with-sneaky-educational-content/
There Was an Old Man with a Beard, Limerick by Edward Lear, Illustration by Kelly Oechsli
Posted on: May 3, 2013
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There Was an Old Man with a Beard
Limerick by Edward Lear
Traditional Tune
Illustrated by Kelly Oechsli
Sing the limerick tune with Emily, here:
http://soundcloud.com/singbookswithemily/limerick-tune-there-was-an-old
To view or print this song sheet, click here:
there was an old man w a beard lear oechsli
This songs sheet is for home or classroom use only.
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Full post about this limerick, here:
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A BEARD A FUN SINGABLE LIMERICK BY EDWARD LEAR
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/there-was-an-old-man-with-a-beard-a-fun-singable-limerick-by-edward-lear/
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Related Posts
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PINTEREST
SING WITH ME SONGBOOK FOR SINGBOOKS WITH EMILY (ON PINTEREST)
http://pinterest.com/singbooksemily/sing-with-me-songbook-sing-books-with-emily/
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POETRY SINGABLE POETRY IN COMPILATIONS
An list of singable poems from compilations of poetry for children
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/singable-poetry-a-list-of-poems-that-can-be-sung-from-illustrated-compilations-of-poetry-and-singable-picture-books/
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POETRY, SINGABLE POETRY IN INDIVIDUALLY ILLUSTRATED SINGABLE PICTURE BOOKS
A list of individually illustrated poems that have been set to music and can be sung
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/poems-individually-illustrated-spb/
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LITTLE SONGS, A NOTEBOOK OF SWEET LITTLE SONGS (MOSTLY SINGABLE POETRY) FOR TO SING WHEN YOUR BRAIN FEELS FUZZY
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/little-songs-a-notebook-of-sweet-little-songs-mostly-singable-poetry-for-to-sing-when-your-brain-feels-fuzzy/
- In: Art of Singing a Song | Book Review by ELEG | Cabaret | Case for Singable Books | Heartfelt Musings | Lyrics | Out of the Mouths of Babes | Power of Music | Quotes of Note | SBWE in Person | Sing Along Tracks | Singable Book Title | Singable Picture Book Video | Song History | Vocal Tracks
- Leave a Comment
This song takes me home, alright. Like the other John Denver songs in the Singable Picture Book repertoire, I grew up listening this song and today love the memories it brings back.
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Take Me Home, Country Roads
Words and Music by John Denver, Taffy Nivert and Bill Danoff
Words Adapted by Christopher Canyon
Illustrated by Christopher Canyon
ISBN 978-1584690726
This is a wonderfully detailed, joyful and loving book. I pulled it out in a Kindergarten class and one of the children said “Wow, those are some detailed pictures!” What a great comment, and true. Fabulous detail are found in each picture of this book, paintings made to look give the feeling of a lovingly made quilt. This book is a great work of illustration and a fitting, loving tribute to the wonderful music and big heart of John Denver.
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TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS
Words and Music by John Denver, Taffy Nivert and Bill Danoff
Almost heaven West Virginia
Blue ridge mountains, Shenandoah river
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze
Country roads take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home country roads
All my memories, they gather ’round her
Miner’s lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrops in my eyes
Country roads take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home country roads
I hear her voice in the mornin’ hour she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And drivin’ down the road I get a feelin’
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday
Country roads take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home country roads
Country roads take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home country roads
Take me home country roads
Take me home down country roads
Take me home down country roads
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All the songwriters sing the song together:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukUL_I14GPw
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YouTube with Lyrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i5nDWUX9Ks
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YouTube of recording sung by the great Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiCkiyTGM6E
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Take Me Home Country Roads wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Me_Home,_Country_Roads
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Publisher’s webpage for TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS which includes images of beautiful two page illustration spreads,
http://www.dawnpub.com/our-books/take-me-home-country-roads/
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The destination of the singer is somewhere in West Virginia, but clearly the singer is coming by way of Virginia travelling from East to West, going through the Blue Ridge Mountains and over the Shenandoah River, both of which reside in the western parts of the state of Virginia. You can see West Virginia, Virginia, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River all marked on this map. I keep this map with the book and point these things out before we sing the song. A little geography, a little singing…It’s all go to know!
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/printpage/valarge.htm
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Related Post
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JOHN DENVER
The Singable Picture Books of John Denver
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/the-singable-picture-books-of-john-denver/
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EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
A list of SPBs with fun and sneakily educational content. The kids won’t even know they’re learning!
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/singable-picture-books-with-sneaky-educational-content/
SIMON SMITH AND HIS AMAZING DANCING BEAR…if only is were…a Singable Picture Book
Posted on: May 1, 2013
I have for the LONGEST time wanted to sing SIMON SMITH AND HIS AMAZING DANCING BEAR (words and music by Randy Newman).
Just found an illustration (made in 2009) by Bella Sabbagh.
http://bellasabbagh.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/if-legendary/
If only there were a book.
I keep on dreaming!
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I first heard SIMON SMITH AND HIS AMAZING DANCING BEAR, on THE MUPPET SHOW record:
Info about The Muppet Show album, here:
http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/The_Muppet_Show_(album)
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Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear
Words and Music by Randy Newman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GND0R8Q8Qgg
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“Simon Smith” as sung by Alan Price
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8zI5xjwKYw
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“Simon Smith” sung by songwriter Randy Newman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8hc9XjUe6s
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“Simon Smith” wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Smith_and_the_Amazing_Dancing_Bear
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SIMON SMITH AND HIS AMAZING DANCING BEAR
Words and Music by Randy Newman
I may go out tomorrow,
If I can borrow my coat to wear
Oh I’d step out in style
With my sincere smile and my dancing bear
Outrageous, alarming
Courageous, charming
Oh who will think a boy and bear
Could be well accepted everywhere
It’s just amazing how fair people can be
Seen at the nicest places
Where well fed faces all stop to stare
Making the grandest entrances
Simon Smith and his dancing bear
They love us, won’t they
They feed us, don’t they
Oh who will think a boy and bear
Could be well accepted everywhere
It’s just amazing how fair people can be
Oh who needs money, When you’re funny
A great attraction everywhere
With the Simon Smith and his dancing bear
It’s Simon Smith and the amazing dancing bear
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Related Posts
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SINGABLE PICTURE BOOK WISHES 2 (SONGS THAT WISH TO BE ILLUSTRATED)
There songs are BEGGING to become Singable Picture Books
http://singbookswithemily.wordpress.com/2011/03/06/singable-picture-book-wishes-2-songs-that-wish-to-be-illustrated/
