ASIA CD LYRICS
Mr. I, Gary Q & the Rainbow Singers
Copyright – Hummingbird Music (2003)
ASIA ASIA ASIA
(Mr. I)
ASIA ASIA ASIA
LAND OF DRAGON THUNDER
ASIA ASIA ASIA
YOU FILL MY HEART WITH WONDER
COME WITH US TO ASIA
Mr I & Maureen Boudier
COME WITH US TO ASIA THE MYSTIC LAND OF THE EAST
WE’LL WALK THE WALL OF CHINA AND VISIT A BUDDHIST PRIEST
WE’LL SEE THE BAMBOO GROWING, IN THE FOREST GREEN
WE’LL LOOK FOR A GIANT PANDA HE’S SO RARELY SEEN.
COME WITH US TO ASIA, WE’LL HAVE LOTS OF FUN
WE’LL TAKE A TRIP TO —— JAPAN, THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN.
WE WILL SAY KONICHIWA, TO THE PEOPLE AT THE SUSHI BAR
WE’LL VISIT THE CITY OF TOKYO AND WATCH THE FAMOUS——SUMO
COME WITH US TO ASIA, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE YA
WE’LL SEE THE CITY OF SEOUL IN MOUNTAINOUS KOREA
WE’LL VISIT PULGAKSA TEMPLE, AND THE CHANGDOK PALACE
WE’LL BE EATING LOTS OF KIMCHI IN THE LAND OF HAPPINESS
COME WITH US TO ASIA THE MYSTIC LAND OF THE EAST
WE’LL GO UP NORTH TO RUSSIA AND HAVE A SLAVIC FEAST
WE’LL TRY THE FAMOUS CABBAGE ROLLS, AND HAVE A BOWL OF BORSCHT
WE’’LL SEE THE URAL MOUNTAINS AND THE BEAUTY OF THE NORTH
COME WITH US TO ASIA THE MYSTIC LAND OF THE EAST
WE’LL TRAVEL SOUTH TO INDIA TO BATHE IN THE GANGES
WE’LL HAVE TO BRING OUR RUPIES, TO BUY DARJEELING TEA
PAINT A BINDI BETWEEN OUR EYES AND WEAR A SILK SARI.
COME WITH US TO ASIA THE MYSTIC LAND OF THE EAST !
MOUNT EVEREST
Yurgen Ilaender (Mr. I)
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE TEST.
IT WILL BE A BIT TRICKY BUT DO YOUR BEST.
IT’S THE NAME OF A MOUNTAIN, SEE IF YOU CAN GUESS,
IT’S THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD,
IT’S CALLED MOUNT ____________?
(Let the audience guess it)
We had a lot of fun with this song during the recitals. The younger children would stand up and sing the song on their own. I introduced the song as a ‘test’ for the
parents. If anyone knew the answer they were to shout it out at the end of the song.
Great fun, gets the audience involved. Also teaches the name of Mt. Everest.
HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS
(Yurgen Ilaender, Mr. I)
Chorus: HIMA LA LA LA LA LA LA LAYA,
HIMA LA LA LA LA LA YA LA
HIMA LA LA LA LA LA LA LAYA
HIMA LA LA LA LA LA YA LA.
Verse 1: LET’S GO TO THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS
THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS IN THE WORLD
THE SNOW-CAPPED HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS
WHERE THE SONGS OF THE GODS CAN BE HEARD.
Chorus
Verse 2: WAY BACK 50 MILLION YEARS AGO
ALONG THE BORDER OF TIBET AND INDIA
TWO LAND MASSES COLLIDED
PUSHING ALL THE ROCKS UP HIGH, HIGH, HIGH.
Chorus
Mountain Names:
KANCHENJUNGA – The first man and woman were carved from the ice of this mountain.
MAKULA– A high mountain wilderness of unsurpassed beauty with an other-wordly presence.
AMA DABLAM– From the side it looks like a priest in robes holding both hands in a poetic blessing.
CHO-OYU – Padma Sambhava, Buddhism’s only saint, wrote messages to save the earth from this flat-topped mountain.
DAULAGIRI– This mountain stands beside the Kali Gandaki river, the deepest river in the world.
MOUNT EVEREST, IS THE HIGHEST
SAGARMATHA, CHOMOLUNGMA. (Other names for Mt. Everest)
Himala la la la la la laya,,……………….. (Repeat first verse)
CHILDREN OF NEPAL
(Yurgen Ilaender, Mr. I)
THEY LIVE HIGH IN THE HILLS,
WHERE THE ICY WATERS FALL
THEY WORK HARD, EVERYDAY,
AS THE WINDS OF CHANGES CALL
SEE THEM TREKKING DOWN TO THE MARKET
BENEATH THE MOUNTAINS TALL
BRINGING BACK FOOD IN THEIR DOKKO BASKETS
THEY’RE THE CHILDREN OF NEPAL
THEY LIVE HIGH IN THE HILLS
WHERE THE GOATS AND SHEEP DO GRAZE
PLANTING RICE, CRUSHING MILLET
LEARNING ALL THE ANCIENT WAYS
PICKING FLOWERS TO PROUDLY OFFER
TO THE BUDDHA STATUES TALL.
HANGING COLOURFUL CLOTHES TO PRAY
THEY’RE THE CHILDREN OF NEPAL
FROM THE TOP OF MOUNT EVEREST,
DOWN TO THE CITY OF KATMANDU
IN THE SMALLEST VILLAGES
AND IN THE BOUDANATH (BOWdanath) TEMPLE TOO
THE NEPALISE CHILDREN LAUGH AND PLAY
BY THE ANAPURNA MOUNTAIN RANGE
THIS IS THE LAND WHERE BUDDHA WAS BORN
A LAND THAT IS SLOW TO CHANGE.
THEY LIVE HIGH, IN THE HILLS AMONGST THE FLOWERED TERRACED FIELDS
THEY WILL SMILE, EVEN STILL, WITH WHATEVER THE HARVEST YIELDS
BURNING WOOD IN STOVES OF STONE, THEY BOIL THEY’RE DAILY DAHL
THEY USE THEY’RE FINGERS TO EAT THEIR FOOD
THEY’RE THE CHILDREN OF NEPAL
THEY’RE THE CHILDREN OF NEPAL
MY NAME IS PANDA
Yurgen Ilaender (Mr. I)
MY NAME IS PANDA, HOW DO YOU DO?
I LIVE IN CHINA, I EAT BAMBOO
I EAT THE HONEY, UP IN THE TREES
IT DOESN’T HURT ME , TO SWALLOW BEES
I LIVE IN CHINA, BOTH DAY AND NIGHT
I HAVE NO COLOUR, I’M BLACK AND WHITE,
I AM QUITE FUZZY, AS YOU CAN SEE,
I’M NOT A MONKEY, WHAT CAN I BE?
I’M NOT A DRAGON, I’M NOT A PIG,
I MIGHT BE SMALL, I MIGHT BE BIG
SO DO YOU KNOW ME, OR DO YOU CARE?
I’M NOT A RACCOON, I AM A BEAR
MY NAME IS PANDA, HOW DO YOU DO?
I LIVE IN CHINA, I EAT BAMBOO.
CHINESE NEW YEAR
Yurgen Ilaender (Mr. I)
Chorus: GUNG HAY FAT CHOY, GUNG HAY FAT CHOY
GUNG HAY FAT CHOY, IT’S CHINESE NEW YEAR.
Verse 1: COME A LITTLE CLOSER AND SIT RIGHT HERE
I’D LIKE TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT CHINESE NEW YEAR
IT BEGINS EACH YEAR WHEN THE MOON IS NEW
PLEASE LISTEN CLOSE I HAVE A LOT TO TELL YOU.
FIRST THE WHOLE HOUSE WE NEED TO CLEAN
PUT UP DECORATIONS SO THEY CAN BE SEEN
BUY SOME PRESENTS AND BUY SOME NEW CLOTHES
PAINT THE DOOR RED SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS ,
Chorus:
Verse 2: ON NEW YEAR’S EVE WE ARE WITH OUR FAMILY
WE TALK AND PLAY GAMES OR WE MIGHT WATCH TV
THROUGH THE WHOLE NIGHT WE KEEP THE LIGHTS ON
THE FIREWORKS AT MIDNIGHT FILL THE SKY WITH SONG
AT MORNING OUR PARENTS WE POLITELY GREET
THEY GIVE US EACH MONEY IN RED PAPER WRAPPED NEAT
WE VISIT WITH OUR NEIGHBOURS WE VISIT WITH OUR FRIENDS
ANY GRUDGES THAT WE HAD WILL NOW COME TO AN END.
WITH WISHES OF HAPPINESS, LONGEVITY, GOOD MARRIAGES, AND PROSPERITY.
Verse 3: FOR 15 DAYS EVERYONE CELEBRATES,
WE HANG UP LANTERNS IN THE WINDOWS ON THE GATES
WE EAT YUMMY DUMPLINGS MADE OF FLOUR AND RICE
THEY ARE BOILED IN WATER AND THEY TASTE VERY NICE.
SO THAT IS THE END OF OUR CHINESE NEW YEAR
THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING AND SITTING RIGHT HERE
WISHING YOU PROSPERITY AND HAPPINESS TO ALL
PLEASE STAY AND ENJOY OUR LANTERN FESTIVAL
LANTERNS AGLOW, EVERYWHERE YOU GO, LANTERNS AGLOW (3 times)
THIS IS THE END OF OUR CHINESE NEW YEAR.
COUNTING IN CHINESE / GOODJOORATEE
Tune of Frere Jacques
COUNTING IN CHINESE (to the tune of Frere Jacques)
YI (ee) , ER (uhr), SAN (sahn) , SI (seh) – Echo
WU (woo), LIO (lyo), QI (chee) – Echo
BA ( bah), JIU (jo) , SHI (shee), – Echo
COUNTING IN CHINESE – Echo
_____________________________________________________________
COUNTING IN GOODJOORATEE (Indian dialect)
EHK, BAY, TROEN, CHAR (Echo)
PANCH, CHE, SAT, (Echo)
AHT, NEVE, DASS, (Echo)
COUNT IN GOODJOORATEE (Echo)
MOLI HUA / JASMINE FLOWER
Traditional Chinese
HOW YEE DOH MAYLEE DEE, MO LEE HUA
HOW YEE DOH MAYLEE DEE, MO LEE HUA
FEN FUNG, MAYLEE MUN CHEE YAH
YO SHIUNG YO, BAHEE REN REN QUA.
BEAUTIFUL PETALS ON THE JASMINE FLOWER
BEAUTIFUL PETALS ON THE JASMINE FLOWER
SEND YOUR FRAGRANCE THROUGH THE AIR.
NO OTHER FLOWER CAN COMPARE.
RANG WUO LAI
BANI ZAI SIA
SHANG GEI BEI REN JIE
MOLI HUA,
MOLI HUA.
JAPAN SONG
Gary Huntbatch
JAPAN IS KNOWN AS NIPPON, THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN
FOUR ISLANDS NAMED KYUSHU
HOKKAIDO, HONSHU AND SHIKOKU
A LAND OF MANY VOLCANOES, EARTHQUAKES, MONSOONS AND TIDAL WAVES,
WITH MOUNTAINOUS FORESTS LEADING DOWN TO THE SEA,
AND THE PLAINS WHERE THE PEOPLE LIVE HAPPILY.
SO MANY FESTIVALS TO CELEBRATE
ONE FOR TIMES GONE BY THAT MADE THEM GREAT
CALLED, ‘FESTIVAL OF AGES’ , THEN THE ‘FESTIVAL OF LANTERNS’
BRINGING HONOUR TO THE ANCIENT ONES.
A CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATION ON TH E FIFTH OF MAY
THE ‘FESTIVAL TANABATA’ HONOURS THE STARS ON THIS DAY
EATING LOTS OF FISH FRESH EVERY DAY.
WITH BEANS, RICE AND NOODLES, DELICIOUS, I SAY
AND WHAT BETTER TO DRINK, MOST WOULD AGREE
JAPANESE PEOPLE DRINK A LOT OF TEA
JAPAN IS KNOWN AS NIPPON, THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN
FOUR ISLANDS KNOWN AS KYUSHU
HOKKAIDO, HONSHU AND SHIKOKU
And over a thousand more tiny islands.
And they travel on a very fast train called ‘THE BULLET’
SAKURA
Traditional Japanese Folk Song
SAKURA, SAKURA, NOYAMAMO SATOMO
MIWATASU KAGIRI
KASUMIKA KUMOKA
ASAHINI NIOU
SAKURA SAKURA HA-NA ZAKARI
SAKURA, SAKURA, YA YO I NO, SO RA WA
MI WA TA SU, KA GI RI, KA SU MI KA KU MO KA
NI O I ZO, I ZU TU, I ZA YA, I ZA YA,
MI- NI RU— KAN
CHERRY BLOOMS, CHERRY BLOOMS,
PALE AGAINST THE BRIGHT SPRING SKY
REACH AS FAR AS WE CAN SEE
MISTY BLOSSOM IN A CLOUD
SMELL THE PERFUME ON THE AIR
COME WITH ME , COME WITH ME
COME AND SEE, COME AND SEE
SAKURA, SAKURA
KA E RU NO U TA (Song of the Frog)
Traditional Japanese Folksong
KA E RU NO U TA GA, KI KO E TAY KU DU YO, GUA GUA GUA GUA
KERO KERO KERO KERO GUA GUA GUA
HARUGA KITA
Traditiional Japanese Folk Song
Chorus: HARUGA KITA, HARUGA KITA,
DO KO NI, KITA
YA MA NI KITA, SA TO NI KITA
NO NI MO, KITA.
Verse 1 SPRING TIME HAS COME NOW,
SPRING TIME HAS COME NOW,
WHERE HAS SPRINGTIME COME?
UP ON THE MOUNTAIN, DOWN IN THE VALLEY,
AND HERE IN OUR HOME.
Chorus
Verse 2 FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING,
FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING,
WHERE DO FLOWERS BLOOM?
UP ON THE MOUNTAIN, DOWN IN THE VALLEY,
AND HERE IN OUR HOME.
Chorus
Verse 3 SPRING BIRDS ARE SINGING,
SPRING BIRDS ARE SINGING,
WHERE DO SPRING BIRDS SING?
UP ON THE MOUNTAIN, DOWN IN THE VALLEY,
AND HERE IN OUR HOME.
Chorus
A wonderful Springtime song. I use it every year with my students.
TWINKLE IN KOREAN
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Korean Language
PUNTJA, PUNTJA, CHAGOON PEOLE
AH RUM TAPKAY, PEACHEENAY
SO JOK HANOOL ES SO DO
DONG JOK HANOOL ES SO DO
PUNTJA , PUNTJA, CHAGOON PEOLE
Taught this one to the older students, Grades one to grade three. It seemed as if everyone knew of a Korean student whom they could impress with this one
BANDAL
Traditional Korean Folk Song
HIGH ABOVE IN THE DEEP BLUE SKY
DOWN THE MILKY WAY
RIDES A SHIP THERE WITHOUT ANY SAIL
WITH NO OARS THEY SAY
SHIP OF WHITE, IT’S ONLY CREW
IS A RABBIT WHITE
WESTWARD IT FLOATS ALONG,
SILENTLY THROUGH THE NIGHT.
PU REUN HA NEUL EUN HA SU
HA YAN JJOK BAE AE
BAE SU NA MU HAN NA MU
TO KKI HAN MA RI
DOT DAE DO A NI DAL GO
SAT DAE DO UP SI
GA GI DO JAL DO GAN DA
SEO JJOK NA RA RO
This beautiful song is a riddle. Can you guess what it is about?
MAY THERE ALWAYS BE SUNSHINE
Russian Folk Song
Words: Lev Oshaunin Music: Arkadi Orstovsky
Chorus originally written by Russian schoolchild.
Chorus: MAY THERE ALWAYS BE SUNSHINE,
MAY THERE ALWAYS BE BLUE SKIES
MAY THERE ALWAYS BE MAMA
MAY THERE ALWAYS BE ME.
In Russian (spelled phonetically) POOST VSEG DA POOD JAY SOHN SA
POOST VSEG DA POOD JAY NYA BA
POOST VSEG DA POOD JAY MAMA
POOST VSEG DA POO DOO YA
Verses:
BRIGHT BLUE THE SKY, SUN UP ON HIGH
THAT WAS THE LITTLE BOY’S PICTURE
HE DREW FOR YOU, WROTE FOR YOU TOO
JUST TO MAKE CLEAR WHAT HE DREW
Chorus
MY LITTLE FRIEND, LISTEN MY FRIEND
PEACE IS THE DREAM OF THE PEOPLE
HEARTS OLD AND YOUNG NEVER HAVE DONE
SINGING THE SONG YOU HAVE SUNG
Chorus
SOLDIER LAD STAY, HEAR WHAT WE SAY
WAR WOULD MAKE ALL OF US LOSERS
PEACE IS OUR PRIZE, MILLIONS OF EYES
ANXIOUSLY GAZE AT THE SKIES
Chorus
DOWN WITH ALL WAR, WE WANT NO MORE
PEOPLE STAND UP FOR YOUR CHILDREN
SING EVERYONE, PEACE MUST BE ONE
DARK CLOUDS MUST NOT HIDE THE SUN
Chorus
TAJ MAHAL
Anise Abdulla
DOWN IN THE CONTINENT OF INDIA
LIVED A FAMOUS RULER WE KNOW
SHAH JAHAN WAS HIS NAME
BUILT THE TAJ MAHAL FOR HIS WIFE
TAJ MAHAL, TAJ MAHAL,
SEE THE PINK AND WHITE MARBLE TOMB
TAJ MAHAL, TAJ MAHAL
TOOK TWENTY YEARS TO BUILD,
TOOK TWENTY YEARS TO BUILD.
SA RE GA
James Hamilton
EVERYONE CAN SING A TUNE, EVEN BIRDS AND ANIMALS
SA RE GA MA PA DHA NI, NI DHA PA MA GA RE SA
SA – THE PEACOCK SINGS
RE – THE MOTHER COW
GA – THE BILLY GOAT
MA – THE HERON BLUE
PA – THE NIGHTINGALE
DHA – THE NEIGHING HORSE
NI – THE ELEPHANT
SA – THE PEACOCK SINGS
James Hamilton is the Sitar teacher at the arts centre where I teach. He wrote this song especially for this CD. James lived in India for ten years as a scholar. Traditionally the pitches of the scale refer to animals and birds. Thank you James for your wonderful song. ( An Asian ‘DO A DEER’)
BY THE RIVER GANGES
Anise Abdulla
Chorus
LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE , LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE BY THE RIVER GANGES
LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, BY THE RIVER GANGES
SAW A MAN WEAR A TURBAN, SAW A MAN WEAR A TURBAN
SAW A MAN WEAR A TURBAN, BY THE RIVER GANGES
SAW A WOMAN IN A SARI, SAW A WOMAN IN A SARI
SAW A WOMAN IN A SARI, BY THE RIVER GANGES.
Chorus
SAW A MAN PLAY A SITAR, ………….
SAW A WOMAN CARRY WATER………
Chorus
SAW A MAN PLAY THE TABLAS…………
SAW A STORY TELLER…………..
Chorus
SAW SOME COWS BY THE GANGES…………
SAW A SNAKE CHARMER……………..
Chorus
We had a great time with this song. Lots of verses so children were given parts to act out as the group sang the verses and choruses.
Please note that you can make these verse plural as well in order to have more children acting out each part.
BURUNG KAKA TUA
Indonesian Folk Song
BURUNG KAKA TUA, HING GAP DI JENDALA
NENEK SUDAH TUA, GI GI NYA, TINGAL DUA
Chorus: LE TRUM, LE TRUM LE TRUM OO LA LA
LE TRUM LE TRUM LE TRUM OO LA LA
D7
LE TRUM LE TRUM LE TRUM OO LA LA….
BURUNG KAKA TUA.
THERE ARE TWO COCKATOOS,
PERCHED ON THE WINDOW LEDGE
GREAT GRANDMA SHE IS SO OLD,
SHE ONLY HAS TWO TEETH LEFT
Repeat chorus.
A silly song comparing Great Grandma sleeping on the couch with her mouth open with two white cockatoos perched on the window ledge.
I did teach this one to the older students (grades one to three). I always enjoy teaching different languages. And this language rolls off the tongue so beautifully
RASA SAYANG EH
Malaysian Folk Song (English words by Thio Nga & Mr. I)
Chorus: RASA SAYANG HEY, RASA SAYANG, SAYANG HEY,
HEY, LI HAT NO NA JAUH (lee hut no nah jah oo)
RASA SAYANG SAYANG HEY. (Repeat)
Verse 1: I DON’T’ PLANT PINEAPPLE OR PAPAYA
WITH THE FLOWERS OR WITH THE RICE
I DON’T NOT LOOK FOR GOLD OR MONEY
I LOOK FOR KINDNESS AND MANNERS NICE.
Chorus Twice
Verse 2: I LOVE MY DAD, I LOVE MY MOM
I LOVE PEACHES AND SUGAR PLUMS
ROSES RED, VIOLETS BLUE
WHAT I’M SAYING IS I LOVE YOU.
Verse 3:
JACK BE NIMBLE, JACK BE QUICK , JACK JUMP OVER THE CANDLESTICK
YOU MUST BE QUICK, OR YOU’LL GET BURNED,
I TRIED IT ONCE, THAT’S HOW I LEARNED (ouch!)
Chorus Twice
Verse 4
IF YOU LIKE THIS SONG, DON’T BE SHY
JOIN IN THE FUN, GIVE IT A TRY
JUST RAISE YOUR VOICE AND SING ALONG
YOU WILL LEARN IT BY AND BY.
Chorus Twice
This song is kind of like our song ‘HEY LIE LEE, LIE LEE O’ where we can make up our own verses as we go. The chorus is mostly nonsense syllables that encourage us to let loose, be happy and sing along. I was able to uncover about six verses in the Indonesian language. I had two people translate them and each one was a bit different. The basic idea is my summation in the first verse. Thank you Thio.
SAMPUNG MGA DALIRI
Philippine Folk Song
SAMPUNG MGA DALIRI (I have two hands)
KAMAY AT PAA (A Left and a right)
DALAWANG TAINGA (I hold them up high)
DALAWANG MATA (So clean, so bright)
ILONG NA MAGANDA ( I Clap them softly)
MALILINIS NA NGIPIN (One, two, three)
MASARAP KUMAIN ( Two little hands)
DILANG MAGALING MAGSASABI (Are good to see)
HUWAG KANG SINUNGALING
Sung to me by several people. Eventually recorded Joy Nga singing it on the CD. I love the way these words roll off the tongue. It is worth learning. The English translation is a general meaning of the poem. I have made it rhyme so that you can use this in English as well. Could possibly use ‘FOR ALL TO SEE’ at the end as well.
SING YOUR WAY HOME
Folk Song from Singapore
SING YOUR WAY HOME, AT THE CLOSE OF THE DAY
SING YOUR WAY HOME, DRIVE THE SHADOWS AWAY
SMILE EVERY MILE, FOR WHEREVER YOU ROAM
IT WILL BRIGHTEN YOUR ROAD,
IT WILL LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
IF YOU SING YOUR WAY HOME.
The official language now in Singapore is English. They are quite a musical
nation. This was one of the first songs I found in compiling material for this CD. Thank you Thio Nga, and also Teng McKay for your help in research on this simple
masterpiece.
All songs copyright Hummingbird Music 2003
These songs may be used for educational purposes. However, to record or publish these songs please contact mrimusic@hotmail.com for permission. Thank you! Home
SAMPUNG MGA DALIRI (10 fingers)
Philippine Folk Song
SAMPUNG MGA DALIRI (I have 10fingers )
KAMAY AT PAA (Feet and hands)
DALAWANG TAINGA (2 ears)
DALAWANG MATA (2 eyes)
ILONG NA MAGANDA (the nose is pretty)
MALILINIS NA NGIPIN (clean teeth)
MASARAP KUMAIN (it’s good to eat)
DILANG MAGALING MAGSASABI (the tongue is good for speaking)
HUWAG KANG SINUNGALING (don’t lie)
