Favorite Children's Songs

When I first met Demetrios, he had a wonderful tape of children's songs he had bought in England. We loved listening to it, but one day he lent it to somebody and never got it back again.

It's been more than 20 years now that I've keenly regretted the loss of that tape, and of three songs on it in particular. I LOVE them! It's unfortunate I first encountered them when my own children were grown, but yesterday I actually FOUND THEM - so thrilling! - and I hope you and your children will love them, too, if you don't already. Please, please, take a few minutes to listen.

(Forget the lousy visuals, just listen.)


"The Adventures of Robin Hood" Themesong



Chorus
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen.
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with his band of men,
Feared by the bad, loved by the good,
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Robin Hood!

He called the greatest archers to a tavern on the green.
They vowed to help the people of the king.
They handled all the troubles on the English country scene
And still found plenty of time to sing:

Chorus

He came to Sherwood Forest with a feather in his cap,
A fighter never looking for a fight.
His bow was always ready, and he kept his arrows sharp.
He used them to fight for what was right.

Chorus


Morningtown Ride



Train whistle blowin', makes a sleepy noise.
Underneath their blankets go all the girls and boys,
Rockin', rollin', ridin', out along the bay,
All bound for Morningtown, many miles away.

Driver at the engine, Fireman rings the bell,
Sandman swings the lantern to show that all is well,
Rockin', rollin', ridin', out along the bay,
All bound for Morningtown, many miles away.

Maybe it is raining where our train will ride.
All the little travellers are warm and snug inside,
Rockin', rollin', ridin', out along the bay,
All bound for Morningtown, many miles away.

Somewhere there is sunshine, somewhere there is day,
Somewhere there is Morningtown, many miles away.
Rockin', rollin', ridin', out along the bay,
All bound for Morningtown, many miles away.

Rockin', rollin', ridin', out along the bay,
All bound for Morningtown, many miles away.


Nellie the Elephant



To Bombay
A travelling circus came.
They brought an intelligent elephant
and Nellie was her name.

One dark night,
she slipped her iron chain
And off she ran to Hindustan
And was never seen again.

Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
and said goodbye to the circus;
off she went with a trumpety-trump,
trump, trump, trump.

Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
and trundled back to the jungle;
off she went with a trumpety-trump,
trump, trump, trump.

Night by night,
she danced to the circus band.
When Nellie was leading the big parade.
she looked so proud and grand!

No more tricks
for Nellie to perform,
They taught her how to take a bow
and she took the crowd by storm.

Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
and said goodbye to the circus;
off she went with a trumpety-trump,
trump, trump, trump.

Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
and trundled back to the jungle;
off she went with a trumpety-trump,
trump, trump, trump.

The head of the herd was calling,
far far away.
They met one night in the silver light
on the road to Mandalay.

Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
and said goodbye to the circus;
off she went with a trumpety-trump,
trump, trump, trump.