The Little House

Words by Josef Berger, melody by Nick Klonaris
Rise Up Singing chapter: Play, p.173
D - A - / / G D G D / G - A D

Theirs is a little house, theirs is
In a pear tree full of pearses
They're birds, you see, they live in a tree
Where they don't need ladders or stairses

They're happy and free from careses
They never have to run from bearses
And pears are free to birds you see
'Round the world or any other-whereses

Theirs is a little house, theirs is
With little bird beds and chairses
Did you ever hear of any house near
As nice a little house as theirs is?

Ruff, the Magic Dragon

By Peter Yarrow and Leonard Lipton
Rise Up Singing chapter: Play, p.175

Peter Paul and Mary do this well, don't they? My version isn't all nicely done up like theirs, and I mess up a couple of times too. It's one more step towards finishing this project, though, and recording all the songs in the Rise Up Singing songbook - even the well-known ones.
Enjoy.

Chords: G D (Bm) C G / C G A D / 1st / C GEm AD GD

Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee
Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff
And brought him strings and ceiling wax and other fancy stuff
Oh, Puff... (chorus is 1st two lines repeated twice. I only repeat them once because I forgot.)

Rubber Blubber Whale

No time for long details right now, but I'll elaborate in 15 hours or so!
Thanks Sierra :)

The Cruel War

Traditional
Rise Up Singing chapter: Peace, p.159
G Em Am Bm / Em C D7 (or GC) G ://

The cruel war is raging and Johnny has to fight
I want to be with him from morning 'til night
I want to be with him, it grieves my heart so
O, let me go with you: No, my love, no

I'll go to your captain, get down upon my knees
Ten thousand gold guineas I'll give for your release
Ten thousand gold guineas, it grieves my heart so
Won't you let me go with you: No, my love, no

Hymn For Nations

Words by Josephine Daskam Bacon (3rd verse by Don West)
Melody by Ludwig van Beethoven (9th Symphony, 1824)
Rise Up Singing chapter: Peace, p.159
C - - G / / / C - G C
G C G C / G E AmD G / C - - G / C - G C
(It's a good idea to capo these chords up a little for most people's vocal range)

Brother, sing your country's anthem
Shout your land's undying fame
Light the wondrous tale of nations
With your people's golden name
Tell your father's noble story
Raise on high your country's sign
Join then in the final glory
Brother, lift your flag with mine!

Hail the sun of peace, new rising
Hold the war clouds closer furled
Blend our banners, o my brother
In the rainbow of the world
Red as blood and blue as heaven
Wise as age and proud as youth
Melt our colours, wonder woven
In the great white light of Truth
(alt: In the great white shark of Truth)

Build the road of peace before us
Build it wide and deep and long
Speed the slow and check the eager
Help the weak and curb the strong
None shall push aside another
None shall let another fall
March beside me, o my brother
All for one and one for all

Arabella Miller, Twinkle Twinkle, The Alaphabet Song

To the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
Rise Up Singing chapter: Play, p.166
D - G D G D A D / D G D A (2x) / D - G D G D A D

Little Arabella Miller found a woolly caterpillar
First it crawled upon her mother, then upon her baby brother
All said, "Arabella Miller! Take away that caterpillar!"

Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are!

A B C D E F G H I J K LMNOP
Q R S T U V W X Y and Z
Now I know my A-B-Cs, next time won't you sing with me?

Deep Blue Sea

Rise Up Singing chapter: Seas and Sailors
These are the chords I use:
D G D - G - D - / D G D - G D A - / D G D - G - D - / D - - - G A D -

This is what R.U.S. has (almost the same)
D G D - G - D - / D G D - G D A - / D G D - G - D - / D - - - DG G A D -

Deep blue sea, baby, deep blue sea (3x)
It was Willy what got drownded in the deep blue sea.

The Fox

Adapted by Burl Ives
Rise Up Singing chapter: Play, p.168
D - / - A / D G / DA D / A D / G D / A D

The fox went out on a chilly night
Prayed for the moon to give him light
For he'd many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o
Town-o, town-o
He'd many a mile to go that night
Before he reached the town-o

He ran 'til he came to a great big pen
The ducks and the geese were kept therein
He said "A couple of you are gonna grease my chin
Before I leave this town-0
Town-o, town-o
A couple of you are gonna grease my chin
Before I leave this town-o"

He grabbed the grey goose by the neck
And slung the little one over his back
And he didn't mind the quack, quack, quack
Or the legs all dangling down-o...

Old mother pitter-patter jumped out of bed
Out of the window she cocked her head
Crying, "John, John, the great goose is gone
The fox is on the town-o!..."

John, he went to the top of the hill
Blew his horn both loud and shrill
The fox, he said, "I'd better flee with my kill
He'll soon be on my trail-o..."

He ran 'til he came to his cozy den
And there were the little ones, eight, nine, ten
They said, "Daddy, daddy, better go back again
For it must be a mighty fine town-o..."

The the fox and his wife without any strife
Cut up the goose with fork and knife
And they never had such a supper in their life
And the little ones chewed on the bones-o...

Skip to my Lou

Rise Up Singing chapter: Play, p.177
D - / A7 - / D - / A7 D

Lost my partner, what'll I do? (3x)
Skip to my lou my darling

Skip, skip, skip to my lou (3x)
Skip to my lou my darlng

I'll get another one, prettier than you (3x) / Skip to...
Little red wagon, painted blue
Flies in the buttermilk, two by two
Flies in the sugar bowl, shoo fly, shoo
Going to Texas, two by two
Cat's in the cream jar, what'll I do?

Captain Kidd

Rise Up Singing chapter: Seas and Sailors, p.200
E - - B7 / E EA B7 - / E - A B7 / A - B7 E

I transpose to D:
D - - A7 / D DG A7 - / D - G A7 / G - A7 D

My name was Robert Kidd, as I sailed, as I sailed
My name was Robert Kidd, as I sailed
My name was Robert Kidd and God's laws I did forbid
And much wickedness I did, as I sailed, as I sailed

My father taught me well, as I sailed, as I sailed
My father taught me well, as I sailed
My father taught me well, to shun the gates of Hell
But yet I did rebel, as I sailed, as I sailed

He put a Bible in my hand, as I sailed, as I sailed
He put a Bible in my hand, as I sailed
He put a Bible in my hand and I sunk it in the sand
Before I left the strand, as I sailed, as I sailed

Then I murdered William Moore, as I sailed, as I sailed
I murdered William Moore, as I sailed
I murdered William Moore and I left him in his gore
Not many leagues from shore, as I sailed, as I sailed

And being crueler still, as I sailed, as I sailed
And being crueler still, as I sailed
And being crueler still, my gunner I did kill
And his precious blood did spill, as I sailed, as I sailed

And being nigh to death, as I sailed, as I sailed
And being nigh to death, as I sailed
And being nigh to death, I vowed with every breath
To walk in wisdom's way, as I sailed, as I sailed

My repentance lasted not, as I sailed, as I sailed
My repentance lasted not, as I sailed
My repentance lasted not, and my vows I soon forgot
Damnation was my lot, as I sailed, as I sailed

To Execution Dock, I must go, I must go
To Execution Dock, I must go
To Execution Dock, while thousands 'round me flock
To see me on the block, I must go, I must go

Drunken Sailor

A.K.A. What Shall we Do With a Drunken Sailor?
Rise Up Singing chapter: Seas and Sailors, p.201
Em - / D - / Em - / EmD Em ://

Note: For some reason, I chose not to do the "way-hey and up she rises" bits in here. I'm not sure why, since that's a pretty awesome part of the song, but it shouldn't really matter if you're trying to learn it, since the tune there is the same as the whole rest of the song.

Lyrics:
What shall we do with a drunken sailor? (3x)
Early in the morning

Way-hay and up she rises (3x)
Early in the morning

Put him in the longboat 'til he's sober (3x) / Early in the...
Pull out the plug and wet him all over
Put him in the bilge and make him drink it
Put him in a leaky boat and make him bale her
Tie him to the scuppers with the hose pipe on him
Shave his belly with a rusty razor
Tie him to the topmast while she's yardarm under
Heave him by the leg in a running bowline
Keelhaul him until he's sober
That's what we do with a drunken sailor!

Five Hundred Miles

By Hedy West
Rise Up Singing chapter: Traveling, p.232
RUS chords:
D Bm Em G / Em - A - / D Bm Em G / Em AG D -
My chords :
D Bm Em G / Em A D - / D Bm Em G / Em A D -

If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
A hundred miles (4x)
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

Walk in Jerusalem

A.K.A. "Walking in Jerusalem Just Like John"
Rise Up Singing chapter: Spirituals, p.212

R.U.S. chorus: D - - - / G - D - / A - Bm - / D - A D /
Different chorus: D - - - / G - D - / G - D Bm / D - A D /

I want to be ready (3x)
To walk in Jerusalem just like John

R.U.S. verse chords: D - G - / D - A D /
My verse chords : D - G D / D - A D /

John said the city was just four square / Walk in Jerusalem just like John
And he declared he'd meet me there / Walk in Jerusalem just like John

O John, o John, what do you say? / Walk...
That I'll be there on the coming day / Walk...

When Peter was preaching at Pentecost / Walk...
He was endowed with the Holy Ghost / Walk...

I Love the Flowers

Rise Up Singing chapter: Rounds, p.189
D Bm Em A / / / /

1. I love the flowers, I love the daffodils
2. I love the mountains, I love the rolling hills
3. I love the fireside, when the light is low
4. Boom-ti-ada boom-ti-ada boom-ti-ada boom

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Words by Jack Norworth; melody, Albert von Tilzer
Rise Up Singing chapter: America, p.5
C G C G / Am Dm D7 G / C G C A / F FC FG C

I will give you a quarter if you can sing the whole song one syllable off on your first try.

Take me out to the ballgame, take me out to the crowd
Buy me some popcorn and Cracker Jack, I don't care if I never get back
So it's root, root root for the home team, if they don't win it's a shame
For it's one, two, three strikes you're out at the old ballgame!

I like to sing "buy me some PEANUTS and Cracker JackS"
But, no big deal.

It's Only a Wee Wee

By Peter Alsop (www.peteralsop.com)
Rise Up Singing chapter: Men, p.140
G C / D G ://

As soon as you're born grown-ups check where you pee
And then they decide just how you're gonna be
Girls pink and quiet, boys noisy and blue
Seems like a dumb way to choose what you'll do

It's only a wee-wee so what's the big deal?
It's only a wee-wee so why all the fuss?
It's only a wee-wee and everyone's got one
There are (There's) better things to discuss!

Now girls must use make-up, girls' names and girls' clothes
And boys must use sneakers but not panty hose
The grown-ups will teach you the rules to their dance
And if you get confused they'll say "Look in your pants!"

If I live to be nine, I won't understand
Why grown-ups are tot'ly obsessed with their glands
If I touch myself "Don't you do that!" I'm told
And they treat me like I might explode!

Grown-ups watch closely each move that we make
Boys must not cry and girls must bake cake
It's all very formal and I think it smells
Let's be abnormal and act like ourselves!

Big Yellow Taxi

By Joni Mitchell
Rise Up Singing chapter: Ecology, p.34
(In the key of G)
C - G - / C D G - / - - C FG / C D G -

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique and a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got til it's gone
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot

They took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum
And they charged all the people a dollar and a half just to see 'em

Hey farmer, farmer, put away that DDT now
Give me spots on my apples, but leave me the birds and the bees (please!)

Late last night, I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi took away my old man

Dear Lord and Father

(Song begins at 1:45)
Words by John G. Whittier, 1872; melody by Frederick C. Maker, 1887 ("Rest")
Rise Up Singing chapter: Faith, p.41
C - - D / FC Am G - / C - E7 F /
F DmD G C / F - C -

The prophet in the story at the end of the video is Elijah. He was fleeing through the desert from queen Jezebel and, overwhelmed, he asked God to let him die. Instead God sent an angel to give him food and water, and strength for the journey. That strength lasted him 40 days and 40 nights until he came to Horeb, still in despair over his predicament. An angel voice told him to go up on the mountain, and that's where it happened. The rest is in the video.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2019%20;&version=9;

Dear Lord and father of us all
(Dear Lord and father of mankind)
Forgive our foolish ways
Reclothe us in our rightful mind
In purer lives they service find
In deeper reverence, praise

In simple trust like those who heard
Beside the Syrian sea
The gracious calling of the Lord
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow thee

O Sabbath rest by Galilee
O calm of hills above
Where Jesus knelt to share with thee
The silence of eternity
Interpreted by Love

Drop thy still dews of quietness
Til all our strivings cease
Take from our souls the strain and stress
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of thy peace

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and thy balm
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire
Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire
O still, small voice of calm

Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye

(First my news about Bangkok Songkran festivities. Song begins at 1:53)
By Leonard Cohen
Rise Up Singing chapter: Love, p.124
C - - - / Am - - - / F - - - / C - - - / Am - - - / F - / G - - - C G - -

I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm
Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm
Yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new
In city and in forest they smiled like me and you
But now it's come to distances and both of us must try
Your eyes are soft with sorrow
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye

I'm not looking for another as I wander in my time
Walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme
You know my love goes with you as your love stays with me
It's just the way it changes, like the shoreline and the sea
But let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie
Your eyes are soft with sorrow
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye

I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm
Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm
Yes many loved before us, I know that we are not new
In city and in forest they smiled like me and you
But let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie
Your eyes are soft with sorrow
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye

Amazing Grace

First I talk about Songkran (Thai New Year's) and the state of emergency in Bangkok, then I play Amazing Grace. (Song begins at 2:37)

Words by John Newton (1725 - 1807); melody, traditional (appears in "Virginia Harmony")
Rise Up Singing chapter: Gospel, p.92
D - G D / - - A - / D D7 G D / Bm A G D
or the way I play it:
D - G D / - - A - / D D7 G D / D A G D

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
(That saved a soul like me)
I once was lost and now am found
Was blind but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace that's brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun

Allelujah (3x) Praise God (repeat)
(I didn't sing this verse)

Amazing grace has set me free
To touch, to taste, to feel
The wonders of accepting Love
Have made me whole and real

All I Really Need

State of emergency here in Bangkok, but I'm still going to keep the videos coming daily unless the internet goes down. Lots of love from Bangkok, sorry this video isn't top-quality performance material. Keep singing,
Matthew

By Raffi

Kumbaya

For authorship information, look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumbaya#Origins
Rise Up Singing chapter: Lullabies, p.133
C - F - C - - / Em - F G - - / C - F - C - F - / AmG C - -

Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya (3x)
Oh Lord, kumbaya

Someone's sleeping, Lord, kumbaya (3x) / Oh Lord...
Someone's dreaming, Lord, kumbaya (3x) / Oh Lord...
Someone's crying, Lord, kumbaya (3x) / Oh Lord...
Someone's laughing, Lord, kumbaya (3x) / Oh Lord...
Come by here, my Lord, come by here (3x) / Oh Lord, come by here

Dayenu

Happy Pesach!

A traditional Hebrew Passover song. English translation by Teddi Schwartz and Arthur Kevess
Rise Up Singing chapter: Faith, p.41
C - / - - / CG CG / CG C //: C G - C - G / - C ://
or:
C - / - - / CG CG / CG C //: C G7 - C - G7 / - C ://

Ilu hotsi, hotsi onu
Hotsi onu mi Mitsrayim (2x)
Dayenu
Da-dayenu (3x)
Dayenu (2x)

Ilu nosan, nosan lanu
Nosan lanu et hashabat (2x)
Dayenu
Da-dayenu (3x)
Dayenu (2x)

Ilu nosan, nosan lanu
Nosan lanu et hatorah (2x)
Dayenu
Da-dayenu (3x)
Dayenu (2x)

Had He led us out of Egypt / Only led us out of Egypt
Had He given us the Sabbath / Only given us the Sabbath
Had He given us the Torah / Only given us the Torah

Hush Little Baby (The Mockingbird Song)

Collected, adapted and arranged by John A. Lomax and Alan Lomax
Rise Up Singing chapter: Lullabies, p.133
D A / - D

Hush little baby, don't say a word
Mama's going to buy you a mockingbird
(But/and) If that mockingbird don't sing
Mama's going to buy you a diamond ring
If that diamond ring turns brass
Mama's going to buy you a looking glass
If that looking glass gets broke
Mama's going to buy you a billy goat
If that billy goat won't pull
Mama's going to buy you a cart and bull
If that cart and bull turn over
Mama's going to buy you a dog named Rover
If that dog, named Rover, won't bark
Mama's going to buy you a horse and cart
If that horse and cart fall down
You'll still be the sweetest baby in town

I Ride an Old Paint

Rise Up Singing chapter: Farm and Prairie, p.53
G - - - / D - G - / / // / /

I ride an old paint, I lead an old Dan
I'm going to Montan' for to throw the hoolihan
They feed in the coolies, they water in the draw
Their tails are all matted, their backs are all raw
Ride around little dogies, ride around them slow
For the fiery and snuffy are rarin' to go

I've worked in the town and I've worked on the farm
And all I got is this muscle in my arm
Got a blister on my foot and a callus in my hand
But I'll be a cowpuncher as long as I can
Ride around little dogies...

Old Bill Jones had two daughters and a song
One went to Denver and the other went wrong
His wife she died in a poolroom fight
And still he keeps singing from morning to night
...

Oh, when I die, take my saddle from the wall
Put it on my pony, lead him out of his stall
Tie my bones to his back, turn our faces to the west
And we'll ride the prairies that we love the best

South Australia

A.K.A. Bound for South Australia
Rise Up Singing chapter: Seas and Sailors, p.206

Chorus: C - / - G / C - / CG GC
Haul away you rolling kings
We'll heave away, haul away
Haul away, we're bound to sing
We're bound for South Australia

Verses: C - / - G / C GC / CG GC
In South Australia I was Born
Heave away, oh haul away!
In South Australia 'round Cape Horn
We're bound for South Australia

As I walked out one morning fair / Heave away, oh haul away!
'Twas there I met Miss Nancy Blair / We're bound for South Australia

There ain't one thing but grieves my mind / Heave...
To leave Miss Nancy Blair behind / We're bound...

Oh when we wallop 'round Cape Horn / Heave...
You'll wish to God you'd never been born / We're...

I wish I was in Australia's strand / Heave...
With a glass of whiskey in my hand / We're...

Port Adelaide's a grand old town / Heave...
There's plenty of girls* to go around / We're...

*(When sailors say "girls", I think they generally mean prostitutes. Eww.)