Children's Records 3
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Teddy Bears' Picnic

This is perhaps the best known of all children's records. It seems to work well for all generations.

I have used the search title "teddy bears picnic" to find to whole range of useful children's and adults' CDs.

Various Teddy Bears' Picnic CDs from Amazon UK

Various Teddy Bears' Picnic CDs from Amazon USA

TEDDY

Teddy Bear's Picnic

The best selling Henry Hall record and all-time children's favouite, charms us as much via Val Rosing;s twee vocal as by its skilful Henry Hall - Burton Gillis arrangement. The tune of the song by American composer and actorv John W Bratton (1867 - 1947), dates from 1907, while the words were added in 1932 by Omagh-born librettist Jimmy Kennedy (1902 - 1984).

Try this for a useful midi file or this or for a very powerful and jazzy midi try this.

If you go down to the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go down to the woods today
You'd better go in disguise!

For ev'ry bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain,
Because today's the day the
Teddy Bears have their picnic.

Picnic time for Teddy Bears
The little Teddy Bears are having
A lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.

See them gaily gad about.
They love to play and shout,
They never have any care;
At six o'clock their Mommies and Daddies
Will take them home to bed,
Because they're tired little Teddy Bears
.
Ev'ry Teddy Bear who's been good
Is sure of a treat today.
There's lots of marvelous things to eat
And wonderful games to play.

Beneath the trees where nobody sees
They'll hide and seek as long as they please
'Cause that's the way the
Teddy Bears have their picnic.

Picnic time for Teddy Bears
The little Teddy Bears are having
A lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them frolic on their holiday.		See them gaily gad about
They love to play and shout,
They never have any care;
At six o'clock their Mommies and Daddies
Will take them home to bed,
Because they're tired little Teddy Bears.

If you go down to the woods today,
You'd better not go alone!
It's lovely down in the woods today,
But safer to stay at home!

For ev'ry bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the
Teddy Bears have their picnic.

Picnic time for Teddy Bears
The little Teddy Bears are having
A lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them frolic on their holiday.

See them gaily gad about
They love to play and shout,
They never have any care;
At six o'clock their Mommies and Daddies
Will take them home to bed,
Because they're tired little Teddy Bears.

Grandfather's Clock

Lyrics to "My Grandfather's Clock"Another strong children's favourite. Older boys learn the rude version.

The songwritter Henry Clay Work, born in Connecticut (1932), began life as an apprentice composer in a local printing shop. Picking type of a case, just one letter at a time was boring, so he made up ditties and lyrics for songs to suit the clicking sound of placing the type.. He devised his own method of writing music.

During a visit to Britain, he stayed at the 17th century George Hotel by the Dere Street, an old Roman road at Piercebridge, near Darlington, on the Durham side of the River Tees.

When he enquired about the longcase clock at the hotel, he was told about the story of how the clock had stopped upon the death of a previous occupant. It stopped at 11.05. The full story is published in the Summer 2000 copy of Evergreen.

The self-taught composer and lyricist Henry Clay Work (1832 - 1884) who became one of America's best loved songwriters. He visited England in 1874 and stayed one night at the George Hotel, Piercebridge. While there, he got the inspiration for his most popular song - "My Grandfather's Clock" which sold a millions copies of sheet music alone and soon became a favourite on the halls. Henry died in the USA, aged 51.

Here are the Amazon UK listings for this tune.

My collection includes the song by Harold Williams & BBC Dance Orchestra, and another by the Radio Revellers.

Try this site about Henry Clay Work which includes midis. Also try this midi.

Henry Clay Work

Google has an extesive listing for Henry Clay Work here

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