Songs for Generations

MaMa, Carter and me - Summer 2008

As I've mentioned, I wanted to get down a few of my MaMa's songs and their lyrics so that our family can continue passing them down through the generations. My kids are the 3rd generation to be sung to by my grandmother, and many of her songs are so old that it's even hard to find the words online. As for the melodies, I'll have to refer to our homemade videos. I would post those, but she would be embarrassed. :)

Here are a few family favorites..

This first song, MaMa sang to Grace during Memorial Day Weekend, and I teared up listening to the lyrics. I've heard the song hundreds of times over the years, but the song has new meaning for me now.

"That Little Girl of Mine" (Can also be sung as "That Little Boy of Mine")

That tiny turned up nose
Two cheeks just like a rose
So sweet from head to toe
That little girl of mine

No one will ever know
What heaven has sent
She's all the world to me
To sit upon my knee
To me she'll always be
That little girl of mine

Two arms to hold me tight
Two lips to kiss goodnight
To me she'll always be
That little girl of mine

No one will ever know
What her coming has meant
She's all the world to me
She's what Heaven has sent
She's all the world to me
To sit upon my knee
To me she'll always be
That little girl of mine

"Little Redbird in the Tree"

Little redbird in the tree, in the tree, in the tree.

Little redbird in the tree, sing a song to me.

Sing about the birdies in the treetop tall.

Sing about the roses on the garden wall.

Little redbird in the tree, in the tree, in the tree.

Little redbird in the tree, sing a song to me.

Note for the next song...this is one I love to sing to Carter and Grace. It's one of their favorites. You can find the Shirley Temple clip on YouTube for the melody. I always start in on the 2nd stanza and just skip the first one.)

"The Good Ship Lollipop" (Sung by Shirley Temple in the 1934 film Bright Eyes)

I've thrown away my toys

Even my drum and train.

I wanna make some noise

With real live aeroplanes.

Some day I'm going to fly.

I'll be a pilot too.

And when I do, how would you

Like to be my crew...

On the good ship lollipop.

Its a sweet trip to a candy shop

Where bon-bons play

On the sunny beach of Peppermint Bay.

Lemonade stands everywhere.

Crackerjack bands fill the air.

And there you are

Happy landing on a chocolate bar.

See the sugar bowl do the tootsie roll

With the big bad devils food cake.

If you eat too much ooh ooh

You'll awake with a tummy ache.

On the good ship lollipop

Its a night trip into bed you hop

And dream away

On the good ship lollipop.