North America Lyrics

North America CD Lyrics – Facts & Fun

Mr. I, Gary Q & the Rainbow Singers
Copyright Hummingbird Music

 

 

HO HO WATANAY/ SPREADING MY LONG WING FEATHERS
Native songs from Canada & from the USA

HO HO WATANAY,  HO HO WATANAY

HO HO WATANAY

KI O KEE NA,  KI O KEE NA

HO HO WATANAY,  HO HO WATANAY

HO HO WATANAY

KI O KEE NA,  KI O KEE NA

SLEEP, SLEEP LITTLE ONE

SLEEP, SLEEP LITTLE ONE

SLEEP, SLEEP LITTLE ONE,

NOW GO TO SLEEP, NOW GO TO SLEEP

 

SPREADING MY LONG WING FEATHERS AS I FLY

SPREADING MY LONG WING FEATHERS AS I FLY

I CIRCLE AROUND, I CIRCLE AROUND

THE BOUNDARIES OF THE EARTH

THE BOUNDARIES OF THE EARTH

 

 

 

North American Countries
Gary Huntbatch (2004)

Chorus. Let’s get to know the countries of North America.

This vast and beautiful continent many people call their home.

From desserts to snowy mountain tops, lakes and rainforests.

It’s a place to live, a place to play. Sing along make learning fun.

The biggest of these countries is Canada.

Then we have the U.S.A.,  the land of Uncle Sam.

Greenland is the next in size, though it’s more white than green.

Most of it’s covered in ice and snow. Anytime you can make a snowman. YEA!

Now let’s go to Mexico, a place of happy music.

Then on to central America, to Belize and Guatemala,

Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua,

Costa Rica and at the bottom is Panama

Chorus

The island countries in the Caribbean, Antigua, Barbuda,

Bahamas, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Dominica.

St Kits Nevis, St Vincent, Grenadines, Haiti and Granada,

Trinidad Tobago and there’s one more and that would be Jamaica.

We hope that the people in all these countries

Take the time to have some fun

Can you see their laughing faces.

Chorus

 

 

THE FIVE GREAT LAKES

Yurgen Ilaender, Mr. I

THE FIVE GREAT LAKES, AT THE BOTTOM OF ONTARIO.

THE FIVE GREAT LAKES, LET’S NAME THEM ALL, HERE WE GO:

LAKE SUPERIOR IS THE BIGGEST OF THEM ALL.

LAKE MICHIGAN IS SO LONG AND SO TALL.

LAKE HURON IS NEXT,

WITH IT’S BEACHES AND BIRCH TREES.

DEEPER LAKE ONTARIO

AND SHALLOW LAKE ERIE.

THE FIVE GREAT LAKES AT THE BOTTOM OF ONTARIO.

THE FIVE GREAT LAKES, WE’VE NAMED THEM ALL,

THERE YOU GO !

 

 

COUREURS DU BOIS

Mr. I (Yurgen Ilaender) June 2004

 

Mr. I               SALUTE, SALUTE, FROM CANADA HALLOO,

I’D LIKE TO NOW INVITE YOU ALL TO COME IN MY CANOE

SALUTE, SALUTE, FROM CANADA HALLOO

Mr. I                SO RAINBOW SINGERS, ARE YOU READY TO ROCK

RS:      YA!

Mr. I                GARY, ARE YOU READY TO ROLL?

GARY:  YA!

Mr. I                ARE YOU READY TO PADDLE?

RS:      YA…. UH, PADDLE?

Mr. I                WE’LL GO ON AN ADVENTURE WITH A FAMOUS OLD EXPLORER

ETIENNE BRULE IS HIS NAME.

Etienne Brule:  ZAT’S ME !

Mr. I                WE’LL MEET THE FIRST FUR TRADER, THEN A LITTLE BIT LATER

WE’LL GO VISIT RADISSON AND GROSEILLIER.

Etienne Brule:  LOOK OUT, MR. I. HERE COME ZE DANGEROUS RAPIDS.

(Slide through the rapids)

E.B.                  Watch out for that beaver dam.

R.S.                  What is that?

R.S.:                 IT’S A monster?

E.B.                  NO. It’s a moose standing in the water.

Mr. I               SALUTE, SALUTE, FROM CANADA HALLOO

ETIENNE BRULE CAN YOU TEACH US HOW TO LIVE LIKE YOU?

SALUTE, SALUTE, PLEASE, TELL US WHAT TO DO..

Talk, Mr. I: (Etienne Brule grunts and responds inbetween)

THE YEAR IS 1620. YOU’VE LEARNED HOW TO LIVE IN THE WOODS LIKE THE HURONS AND THE ALGONQUINS. TEN YEARS AGO SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN SENT YOU OFF IN TO THE WOODS TO BECOME CANADA’S FIRST COUREUR DU BOIS. TEACH US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW TO BECOME A RUNNER OF THE WOODS LIKE YOU.

 

  1. Brule: OKAY, WELL, YOU MUST LEARN TO …

WALK THROUGH THE WOODS         AS QUIET AS A CAT                                      WEAR A BUCKSKIN COAT                 AND A FURRY BEAVER HAT                           YOU MUST HUNT YOUR OWN FOOD            BUILD A BIRCH BARK CANOE                                    WORK THE FUR TRADE           WEAR MOCCASINS FOR SHOES              YOU MUST KEEP YOUR KNIFE SHARP       LEARN TO SHOOT A BOW AND ARROW

BUILD A TALL WIGWAM                               AND SING LIKE A SPARROW            Gary            Uh, Sing like a sparrow?

 

Talk Mr. I        AU REVOIR MONSIEUR BRULE, MERCI.  WE’LL GO NORTH NOW TO FIND THE FAMOUS COUREURS DU BOIS, RADISSON AND GROSEILLIER. THANKS FOR TEACHING US ALL THAT STUFF. OH OH, HERE COME THE RAPIDS. HANG ON TIGHT GOOGOLS.       (screaming… )

Mr. I                Look out for those big rocks.

GGL:                There’s a skunk, ooh! PLUG YOUR NOSE.

RS:                  And here comes a flock of BIG BLACK crows,

Mr. I:               Those aren’t crows, those are the infamous Black Flies from Ontario and they  bite really hard.  Cover your heads boys !  (Buzzing sounds)

Mr. I: (Buzzing sounds as flies buzz around heads of Googols. They bite occasionally and a googol screeches, ‘OUCH !’.

THE YEAR IS 1670, THESE TWO MEN STARTED A COMPANY

WE KNOW IT NOW AS THE HUDSON’S BAY

WHEN WE TALK OF FUR TRADERS, WELL, NO ONE COULD BE GREATER

THAN  RADISSON AND GROSEILLIER

Talk Mr.I         LOOK, THERE THEY ARE, PULLING WHAT LOOKS LIKE A HUNDRED CANOES FULL OF FURS !  SALUTE,  MONSIEUR RADISSON, MONSIEUR GROSEILLIER.

Pierre Radisson:           ALLO MR. I, SALUTE GOOGOLS.

Medard de Groseillier  ARE YOU RUNNERS OF THE WOODS LIKE US?

Mr. I:               ACTUALLY, YES,    WE KNOW HOW TO…..

WALK THROUGH THE WOODS         AS QUIET AS A CAT                                      WE’RE WEARING BUCKSKIN  CLOTHES       GGL:    AND FUNNY BEAVER HATS

Mr. I:   WE’VE LEARNED TO  HUNT OUR OWN FOOD             WE BUILT THIS BIRCH BARK CANOE              WE’VE COME TO WORK THE FUR TRADE

WE WEAR MOCCASINS FOR SHOES            WE KEEP OUR KNIVES SHARP

WE CAN SHOOT A BOW AND ARROW                     BUILD A TALL WIGWAM

GGL:     AND WE CAN SING LIKE A SPARROW

Radisson & Groseillier:             SING LIKE A SPARROW?

Mr. I:   UH, NOT REALLY, BUT IT LOOKS GOOD ON THE RESUME. HEH HEH.

R & G:              WELL, BON CHANCE!

Mr.I:    SALUTE, SALUTE, FROM CANADA HALLOO

WE HAD A GREAT ADVENTURE AND WE HOPE THAT YOU DID TOO.

SALUTE, SALUTE, FROM CANADA , HALLOO.

GGL:    HEY, MR. I. LISTEN TO THIS.  (weird whistling)

Mr. I:   CAN YOU PLEASE NOT DO THAT WHEN I’M AROUND

GGL:    ETIENNE BRULE SAID WE MUST LEARN TO SING LIKE A SPARROW. LISTEN (whistle)

Mr. I:   I THINK HE WAS JUST JOKING.

(whistle)

YOU’RE DRIVING ME CRAZY, WILL YOU PLEASE STOP THAT.

(whiste fades)

 

 

USA STATES – (Gary Huntbatch)

 

Let’s sing a song of the USA and some important dates

Of their confederation and to add more and more states

We will name those states of America through a very historic time

Do you know how many from 1787 to 1959

I’ll tell you what we’ll do…… so we won’t miss one out

I’ll name them one by one … so there will be no doubt

Delaware Pennsylvania New Jersey and Georgia……

Connecticut… Massachusetts Maryland South Carolina

Count them up one two three four.. five six seven then eight

Now we’ll name some more cause you are doing’ fine

 

New Hampshire Virginia New York North Carolina

Rhode Island Vermont Kentucky and Tennessee

Add them up I think you’ll find that there’s another eight

Plus eight already is sixteen.. and that’s so fine it’s great?

 

Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi

Illinois, Alabama, Maine and Missouri

Arkansas, Michigan…that’s ten,.. my goodness your quick

Sixteen plus ten……equals twenty six

We’re naming the States of the USA through a very historic time

Do you know how many from 1787 to 1959

Florida, Texas, Iowa and Wisconsin

California, Minnesota and beautiful Oregon

Kansas West Virginia makes another nine

Nine plus twenty six is thirty five.. that’s FINE

 

Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado North Dakota

South Dakota, Montana, and green Washington

Idaho..You dunno? I said I DA HO

Eight plus thirty five is Forty three…Mmm Hmmm, I know

We’re naming the States of the USA through a very historic time

Do you know how many from 1787 to 1959

Wyoming, Utah, Oklahoma, New Mexico

Arizona, and Alaska….now we’re nearly done

Hawaii in 1959… was the very last one

Add seven more to fourty three… FIFTY that was fun

 

This brings us to the end and so I bid you all good day

We named the states of America that’s the USA

We named them all in order through a very historic time

Did you know there are fifty from 1787 to 1959

That’s right.. fifty! from 1787 to 1959

 

 

MEXICO

Mr. I (2004)

HASTA LUEGO, I’LL SEE YOU ALL IN MEXICO

ADIOS, AMIGOS, I’LL SEE YOU IN THE HOT SUN

I’LL BE WEARING MY SOMBERO, EATING A TASTY TACO

FILLED WITH PEPPERS AND AVACADO,

ON THE BEACH AT ACULPOCO

Chorus

I’LL THEN HAVE A SIESTA, TO PREPARE FOR THE FIESTA

WITH A BLACK-HAIRED GIRL SO PRETTY

SHE COME FROM MEXICO CITY

WE’LL BE DANCING IN THE PLAZA,

BENEATH THE FIREWORKS THAT DAZZLE

THEN BACK HOME TO Mi CASA

WITH A VIEW OF  ORIZABA

Talking partMexico is situated between the United states in the north and the countries of Beliz and Guatemala to the south. Over 100 million people live in Mexica with about

20 million people right in  Mexico city, The official language is Spanish. Many Native languages, such as Mayan, Toltec, and Mixtec are spoken as well. Mexico gained its independence from Spanish rule in 1810 and now has a rich cultural heritage.

Mexico is the most popular tourist destination on the planet.

In Aztec legend the people were told to build their new city on the exact spot where they saw an eagle sitting on a cactus, eating a snake.

Chorus at end.

Talking Part:

Mexico is situated between the United states in the north and the countries of Beliz and Guatemala to the south. Over 100 million people live in Mexica with about

20 million people right in  Mexico city, The official language is Spanish. Many Native languages, such as Mayan, Toltec, and Mixtec are spoken as well. Mexico gained its independence from Spanish rule in 1810 and now has a rich cultural heritage.

Mexico is the most popular tourist destination on the planet.

In Aztec legend the people were told to build their new city on the exact spot where they saw an eagle sitting on a cactus, eating a snake.

 

 

 

 

Famous North Americans
Gary Huntbatch

This North American continent has many famous people.

I am going to tell you now about a few of them.

Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity

By flying a kite into a thunder cloud.

He held a brass key on the end of the string

When he got a shock I bet he shouted out loud

Thomas Edison made our first electric light

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.

Nickola Tesla invented the radio

Bringing entertainment to your home

This North American continent .. Has many famous people

I am going to tell you now .. About some more of them

Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery .

Thomas Jefferson wrote the US constitution.

John A Macdonald Canada’s first Prime Minister

Pierre Trudeau brought home their constitution.

Sitting Bull a famous Lakota indian Chief

Settlers tried to mine for gold on Lakota land

They fought a famous battle of the little big horn river

With General Custer the battle was Custer’s last stand

 

BRIDGE.. Some people had inventions to make life easier

Others spoke out against injustices

They all had their dreams of a better way to live

They all had their gifts to give

Yes many more people have made a contribution

To make a better life here for you and me

Some we will remember some we will forget

But they’re all written down in our history.

This North American continent Has a history of famous people

So take some time to find out .. About some more of them

Yes take some time to find out .. About some more of them

 

 

RIDING ON A HORSE
Mr. I (2003)

I’M RIDING ON A HORSE, ON A HORSE, ON A HORSE

I’M RIDING ON A HORSE TODAY

I’M CANTERING ALONG, SINGING A HAPPY SONG

AND I’M FEELING OH SO VERY TALL

I’M RIDING ON A HORSE, ON A HORSE, ON A HORSE

I’M RIDING ON A HORSE TODAY

 

 

 

OLD CHISHOLM TRAIL

(Traditional Cowboy Song)

 

Here’s a western song that no western tunesmith’s, like the COWPIE gang

should be without.  “The old Chisholm Trail” is believed to have had

at least 143 verses sung at one time or another.  Micheal Martin

Murphey’s “Cowboy Songs” includes a few more, but I only know 11.

So grab yer slicker and cinch yer saddle and let’s go—! (Andrew)

 

 

1.Well, come along, friends, and listen to my tale;

I’ll tell you ’bout my troubles on the old Chisholm Trail.   (Chorus)

 

2 I woke up one mornin’ on the old Chisholm trail

With a rope in my hand and a cow by the tail  (chorus)

 

3.On a ten-dollar horse and a forty-dollar saddle,

I’m a ridin’ and a punchin’ them Texas cattle.

(chorus)

Com a ti yi yippy, yippy yay, yippy yay,

Come a  ti yi   yippy, yippy   yay.

 

 

  1. I’m up in the morning before daylight;

and Before I sleep the moon shines bright.

 

  1. Oh, it’s bacon and beans most every day;

I’d as  soon be eating that prairie hay.

 

  1. Oh, it’s cloudy in the west and a’lookin’ like rain

But I left my slickers in the wagon again.

 

  1. I went to the boss to draw my roll,

he had me figured out nine dollars in the hole.

 

 

  1. So, I sold my horse, and hung up my saddle,

And I bid farewell to them  Longhorn cattle.

 

 

 

NORTH AMERICAN ANIMALS AND CREATURES

Gary Huntbatch

Animals animals animals and creatures In the air and in the sea

They’re on the land they’re everywhere, In north America

There are many sharks in the sea

Turtles, whales and dolphins

Otters sea lions and porpoises

And when it’s hot you might see me

Eagles flying in the air

Flamingos’ gees and hawks

Loons and ducks..owls and bats

I’ve no wings so I won’t be there

Animals animals animals and creatures In the air and in the sea

They’re on the land they’re everywhere, In north America

Creatures of the land are the bears

With beaver deer coyotes and snakes

Wolves, squirrels and porcupines

Chipmunks frogs and alligators

There’s mountain lions and ity bitty mink

Badgers toads and buffalo

Great big moose and a little ground hog

A skunk time to go don’t you think

I like to watch the animals Do you like to watch the animals

It’s fun to watch the animals and creatures In their natural habitat

(But don’t go playin’ with those bears and alligators will you

You might end up as dinner)

Animals animals animals and creatures In the air and in the sea

They’re on the land they’re everywhere, In north America

In north Ameri……America America North America

In North America

 

 

BEAR FACTS
Story by Gary Huntbatch

I’M A LITTLE BEAR. CAN YOU SEE ME?

PEOPLE SAY I’M CUTE. DO YOU AGREE?

EVERYTHING ABOUT ME MAKES ME A BEAR.

FROM MY SWEET BEAR BREATH TO MY FUZZY WUZZY HAIR.

 

I’VE GOT A BIG BEAR NOSE AND A BIG BEAR MOUTH.

I’VE GOT BEAR EARS AND SHINY BEAR TEETH.

YOU CAN SEE MY BEAR ARMS, BEAR HANDS AND CHEST.

MY BIG BEAR BELLY CAUSE I DON’T’ WEAR A VEST.

 

SEE MY STRONG BEAR THIGHS, MY KNEES AND FEET.

I COULD DANCE TO SOME MUSIC, OH, I’M SO SWEET.

YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I’M ONE OF A KIND.

OH, DID I SHOW YOU MY BEAR BEHIND?

 

 

POLAR BEAR (Mr. I)

 

POLAR BEAR, POLAR BEAR

WALKING HERE, WALKING THERE

HOW I WONDER WHERE YOU GO

AS YOU WANDER THROUGH THE ARCTIC SNOW

 

 

ARCTIC HABITAT
Mr. I 2004

POLAR BEARS AND WALRUSES

BELUGA WHALES AND SEALS

ARCTIC FOXES, ARCTIC WOLVES

SNOW WHITE HARES AND GEESE

ARCTIC TERNS AND SNOWY OWLS

MUSK OXEN AND SHEEP

THE HARD COLD TUNDRA IS THEIR HOME

IT’S WHERE THEY LIVE AND SLEEP

THIS IS THE ARCTIC HABITAT

WHERE YOU CAN HEAR THE CARIBOU RUN

A WINDY, COLD AND BARREN PLACE

THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN

 

THE BOY AND THE WHALE (Mr. I)

THERE WAS A LITTLE BOY

AND A WHALE, AND A WHALE, AND A WHALE,

THE WHALE TAUGHT TH E BOY HOW TO

CATCH A FISH (3X)

THE BOY TAUGHT THE WHALE

HOW TO PLAY (3X)

AND THEY PLAYED ALL DAY,

AND CAUGHT LOTS OF FISH FOR DINNER

THEY BECAME GOOD FRIENDS

AND STAYED THAT WAY, FOREVER

WHEN THE  BOY GREW TO

BE A MAN (3X)

 

HE CARVED A GIANT

TOTEM POLE (3X)

 

A CARVING OF THE WHALE WAS

ON THE TOP (3X)

 

YES, THEY PLAYED ALL DAY

AND CAUGHT LOTS OF FISH FOR DINNER

THEY BECAME GOOD FRIENDS

AND  STAYED THAT WAY, FOREVER

 

THERE WAS A LITTLE BOY

AND A WHALE, AND A WHALE, AND A WHALE.

 

 

SALMON SONG Mr. I

 

Chorus: SEE THE SALMON SWIM OUT TO THE SEA

SEE THE SALMON SWIM BACK FROM THE SEA

Verse1) HI CHINOOK,      HELLO COHO,      BONJOUR PINK

G’DAY SOCKEYE,    HOW’S IT GOIN’ ?

GOOD TO SEE YOU CHUM!

Chorus:

Verse 2)

I WILL CATCH YOU,   BUILD A FIRE,   WITH LOTS OF SMOKE

WITH THE SMOKE, I WILL COOK YOU

SMOKED SALMON TASTES GOOD TO ME.

Chorus (softer and softer)   end with   SPLASH (softly)

 

 

 

HAIDA, SALISH
(Anise Abdulla)

HERE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

LIVE SOME INTERESTING TRIBES  WE KNOW

HAIDA, KAWKIUTL, SALISH ARE THEIR NAMES

BUILT LONG HOUSES FOR THEIR HOMES

HAIDA, SALISH,

HOLD A POTLATCH,  GIVE AWAY GIFTS

HAIDA , KAWKIUTL,

RAISE A TOTEM AND SEE,  RAISE A TOTEM AND SEE.

 

TOTEM POLE POEM
Popular children’s poem with new arrangement by Anise Abdulla.

 

TOTEM POLE, TOTEM POLE WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE A BEAR STARING AT ME.

 

BEAR, BEAR WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE A RAVEN LOOKING AT ME

 

RAVEN, RAVEN WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE AN EAGLE CHASING ME.

 

EAGLE, EAGLE WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE SALMON IN THE SEA

 

SALMON, SALMON WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE A KILLER WHALE CHASING ME.

 

KILLER WHALE, KILLER WHALE WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE A CANOE FOLLOWING ME

 

CANOE, CANOE, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE DINNER FOR MY FAMILY.

 

HOLE IN MY BUCKET
Folk song adapted by Gary Huntbatch

THERE’S A HOLE IN MY BUCKET DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA,

THERE’S A HOLE IN MY BUCKET, DEAR LIZA, A HOLE.

 

THEN FIX IT DEAR WILLY,DEAR WILLY, DEAR WILLY,

THEN FIX IT DEAR WILLY, DEAR WILLY, FIX IT.

 

WITH WHAT SHALL I FIX IT? DEAR LIZA….

WITH STRAW, DEAR WILLY….

BUT THE STRAW IS TOO LONG, DEAR LIZA,….

THEN CUT IT DEAR WILLY, …..

WITH WHAT SHALL I CUT IT, DEAR LIZA…

WITH A KNIFE, DEAR WILLY,….

BUT THE KNIFE IS TOO DULL, DEAR LIZA,,….

THEN SHARPEN IT, DEAR WILLY, ….

WITH WHAT SHALL I SHARPEN IT, DEAR LIZA..

WITH A STONE, DEAR WILLY, …

BUT THE STONE IS TOO DRY, DEAR LIZA.

THEN WET IT DEAR WILLY,,..

WITH WHAT SHALL I WET IT DEAR LIZA….

WITH WATER DEAR WILLY, DEAR WILLY,..

WITH WHAT SHALL I GET IT DEAR LIZA..

WITH THE BUCKET DEAR WILLY,

BUT, THERE’S A HOLE IN THE BUCKET,

DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA,

THERE’S A HOLE IN THE BUCKET, DEAR LIZA A HOLE!

 

Originally from the German folksong, LIEBE HEINRICH, but has become an American folk standard over the years. Have fun with it. Create a play, use different names!

Thank you! Have a Happy Day Day!