Lights and Sound: inflated "story songs"

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inflated "story songs"

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Lights and Sound
Forum Discription: Technical discussion
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3335
Printed Date: 6/08/25 at 2:09pm
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Topic: inflated "story songs"

Posted By: Nanette
Subject: inflated "story songs"
Date Posted: 8/06/08 at 9:20pm

I'm generating a list of "story songs" to use as pre/post-show music and would like some help, please. I have things like "Yellow Submarine", "The Unicorn Song", and "Puff the Magic Dragon". The songs need to tell very colorful, yet impossible, stories. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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In a world of margarine, be butter!

Replies:

Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 8/07/08 at 1:52am

I remember a song called "Autumn to May" that was on a Peter Paul and Mary album years ago.

http://www.peterpaulandmary.com/music/f-25.htm - Carry It On
2004

AUTUMN TO MAY
(Yarrow/Stookey)

Oh once I had a little dog, his color it was brown
I taught him for to whistle, to sing and dance and run
His legs they were fourteen yards long, his ears so very wide
Around the world in half a day, upon him I could ride.

Sing Tarry-O Day, Sing, Autumn to May.

Oh once I had a little frog, he wore a vest of red
He'd lean upon his silver cane, a top hat on his head
He'd speak of far off places, of things to see and do,
Of all the Kings and Queens he'd met while sailing in a shoe.

Sing Tarry-O Day, Sing, Autumn to May.

Oh once I had a flock of sheep, they grazed upon a feather
I'd keep them in a music box from wind or rainy weather
And every day the sun would shine, they'd fly all through the town
To bring me back some golden rings, candy by the pound.

Sing Tarry-O Day, Sing, Autumn to May.

Oh once I had a downey swan, she was so very frail
She sat upon an oyster shell and hatched me out a snail
The snail had changed into a bird, the bird to butterfly
And he who tells a bigger tale would have to tell a lie.

Sing Tarry-O Day, Sing, Autumn to May.

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 8/07/08 at 3:08am

Here is one I first heard at the World scout Jamboree at sutton coal Fields in the UK, back in the 60's.

Woad Ode: The National Anthem of the Ancient Britons
(To the tune of Men of Harlech)

What's the use of wearing braces ?
Vests and pants and boots with laces ?
Spats and hats you buy in places
Down the Brompton Road ?
What's the use of shirts of cotton ?
Studs that always get forgotten ?
These affairs are simply rotten,
Better far is woad.
Woad's the stuff to show men.
Woad to scare your foemen.
Boil it to a brilliant hue
And rub it on your back and your abdomen.
Ancient Briton ne'er did hit on
Anything as good as woad to fit on
Neck or knees or where you sit on.
Tailors you be blowed !!

Romans came across the channel
All dressed up in tin and flannel
Half a pint of woad per man'll
Dress us more than these.
Saxons you can waste your stitches
Building beds for bugs in britches
We have woad to clothe us which is
Not a nest for fleas
Romans keep your armours.
Saxons your pyjamas.
Hairy coats were made for goats,
Gorillas, yaks, retriever dogs and llamas
Tramp up Snowdon with your woad on,
Never mind if you get rained or blowed on
Never want a button sewed on.
Go it Ancient B's !!

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 8/07/08 at 1:47pm

"One-Eyer-One-Horned-Flying Purple People Eater". Well these might not be impossible, but I also thought of "Teeny Weenie Yellow Poka Dot Bikini" , "Red Rubber Ball". How about "Yellow Duckie"?

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KEB

Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 8/09/08 at 1:11am

How about Return to Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins, or The Rainbow Connection? Jelly Man Kelly by James Taylor

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 8/09/08 at 2:06am

For impossible ones how about. "When I was a little Wolf Cub?" sung by Cella Black. [At least most POHM's know a 'Wolf Cub' is a very young male in the Boy scouting movement & cella is defiantly female [ Not being privy to her gender, at least I believe she is?]

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 8/09/08 at 8:22am

"Meadow Lark" from The Baker's Wife.

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 8/09/08 at 9:55am

Day trip to Bagor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFacWGBJ_cs&feature=related - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFacWGBJ_cs&feature=related

We are using the music of 'Day Trip' for chase music in the "Big Idea' [Lazy Bee] our next production {Probably too British for you?}

Shaddupa you face

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMNrrLBdhuM - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMNrrLBdhuM

gillygillyossenfeffer katzennellonbogen by the sea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWjTmXT58nk - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWjTmXT58nk

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: ClintonHammond
Date Posted: 8/10/08 at 12:49pm

-The Errant Apprentice by Andy M Stewert
-The Bricklayers Song by The Corrs (I think) (Except that Mythbusters proved that the events in this song are completely possible)
-Barrettes Privateers by Stan Rogers
-Delirium Tremens by Christy Moore
-Dance To The Reel In the Flickering Light by Christy Moore
-Tonight's The Night by Lorne Elliott
-The Witch Of The Westmoreland by Archie Fisher

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Without actors, a techie is a person with a list of marketable skills.
Without techies, an actor is just a goof, emoting alone in the dark.

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 8/10/08 at 8:55pm

Ilke Moor B' Tat! {Yorkshire]

{Geordie - Northumbrian]

Lambton Worm

Blaydon Races

Cushy Butterfield

[Cockney]

Rat catchers Daughter

Any old Iron

Wot a mouth' & 'Little white Bull' [Tommy Steel]

Tie me kanga'roo down sport [Ocker - Aussie] Rolf Harris

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: whitebat
Date Posted: 8/28/08 at 11:09pm

"Down by the Bay"

(Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow...)

Each verse ends with a rhyme about some sort of unlikely animal antics

(Did you ever see a fly, wearing a tie, down by the bay?)

"The Animal Fair"

(I went to the animal fair, the birds and the beasts were there...)

"Froggy went a Courtin"

"Billy Boy" (not sure if that is story enough for you)

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 8/29/08 at 7:27am

Most of these are exactly for what I was searching. I've passed them along to my sound guy as you've posted and he has quite a selection now. Thanks!

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In a world of margarine, be butter!

Here is one I first heard at the World scout Jamboree at sutton coal Fields in the UK, back in the 60's.

Woad Ode: The National Anthem of the Ancient Britons(To the tune of Men of Harlech)

Woad Ode: The National Anthem of the Ancient Britons
(To the tune of Men of Harlech)