Gransnet forums

Genealogy/memories

Best loved songs from your childhood???

(226 Posts)
boheminan Wed 07-Oct-15 18:57:37

I sing-a-lot at various venues (mostly) Music Hall songs, but lately I've been branching out into a slightly different direction.

I've rediscovered songs I remember from my childhood (50's/60's) that my mum used to sing to me, and Uncle Mac used to play on Saturday mornings. I'd gathered a few from memory, eg: Animal Crackers (Shirley Temple) Nellie the Elephant (Mandy Miller).

Of course, I could look up a variety on Google - but that feels like cheating! So, all you great Gransnetters, I ask you, what songs would/do you still sing from your childhood? It would be so helpful for me to have an idea what folk like to hear and join in with grin

Arian Wed 27-Jan-16 15:26:40

The song i really loved when i was a child was "I Was Born Under A Wandering Star" sung by Lee Marvin from the musical Paint Your Wagon. I was only about 3 or 4 when this was on the radio, I used to shout to my Mother to turn it up louder, I used to try and sing it in my deepest most gruff voice, that was when the TV had a radio in it and we used to listen to the radio because TV didn't start until watch with mother came on.

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 27-Jan-16 16:05:54

The British Grenadiers. Barbara Allen. The Minstrel boy (to the war has gone) Men of Harlech. And Greensleeves. All sung at the top of my voice from my bed. And from the songbook I stole from the Sunday School cupboard. smile

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 27-Jan-16 16:08:47

Oh, and that one with the chorus, "ump i dee i da.

The shades of night were falling fast......

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 27-Jan-16 16:10:50

"Excelsior!"

Loved that one. Although it was a bit spooky.

Elrel Wed 27-Jan-16 16:38:09

My granny used to sing Barbara Allen; Oh Dear, What can the Matter Be?; My Mother Said I Never Should; John, John, the Grey Goose is Gone; Daisy, Daisy. I liked all those.
I also liked Greensleeves and Scotland the Brave a lot.

LullyDully Wed 27-Jan-16 17:12:37

We sing :
There's a tiny house by a tiny stream.
Teddy bears picnic,
Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain.

Mr LD gets all the words wrong very annoying

wot Wed 27-Jan-16 19:48:22

I loved some of Danny Kay's songs. Very clever man. I did read somewhere that he didn't actually like children!

wot Wed 27-Jan-16 19:51:32

And I love "four legged freind" an old man used to come to the hospital and play children,s records every week . We loved him!

tinaf1 Wed 27-Jan-16 19:52:50

I'm a pink toothbrush

You are my sunshine

Ugly duckling Danny Kaye

Granjan44 Wed 27-Jan-16 20:53:42

The marvellous toy and Children are people by the wonderful Val Doonican
Also Delaney's donkey
I'm forever blowing bubbles
Dream Angus- I could go on and on and probably shed a few wistful tears for Auld Lang Syne

HannahLoisLuke Thu 28-Jan-16 16:33:14

My mum used to sing My old man said follow the van and don't dilly dally on the way......

I also liked The Black Hills of Dakota Doris Day
And a song about a 97 horse power omnibus, can't remember who sang it
The ying tong song by the Goons
Also loved The Gypsy Rover
When father papered the parlour, again, don't remember the singer.

Probably a few more that I can't recall at the moment.

HannahLoisLuke Thu 28-Jan-16 16:57:42

Just remembered a couple more

Goodnight Irene

I'll take you home again Kathleen

Don't remember the singers but loved the songs.

bellabrusco Sun 24-Apr-16 18:37:53

I do so love Puff The Magic Dragon.

What about
Lily The Pink?
My Old Man said Follow the Van.?
The ugly bug ball?

I think it all depends on your generation!

There is a lovely song book by Cerys Matthews full of wonderful sing along songs!
If only I could sing, it would be the super power I would wish for!

Eloethan Sun 24-Apr-16 18:53:57

I know an old lady (who swallowed a fly)
Nellie the elephant
Pink toothbrush/blue toothbrush
Oh My Papa (what I called my granddad)
Ugly duckling
Little white bull
The runaway train
Don't laugh at me (a Norman Wisdom fan)

I always think it's such a shame that children now (or even when my own children were young) don't really have their own special songs.

gettingonabit Sun 24-Apr-16 19:10:39

Magic Moments sung by Perry Como.
Wooden Heart.
Windmill in Old Amsterdam.
Linden Lea.
My Old Man's a Dustman.
Twist and Shout.
Help!
She Loves You.
These Boots are Made for Walkin'
Tears (Ken Dodd)
24 Hours from Tulsa
It's Not Unusual.
What's New, Pussycat?

(sniffs nostalgicallysad).

grannylyn65 Sun 24-Apr-16 19:10:52

Brahms lullaby

Eloethan Sun 24-Apr-16 19:26:03

I forgot about My old man's a dustman. I sing that with my grandson now - he loves it - complete with cockney accent.

BBbevan Sun 24-Apr-16 20:21:37

'Sparky and his magic piano, ' used to frighten me. I like that Hello, Mother, Hello Father song about a boy at camp. Can't remember who sang it though

gettingonabit Sun 24-Apr-16 20:49:02

Hello Mudder
Hello Fadder
Here we are in
Camp Grenada
Camp is very
Entertaining
We'd have lots of fun if it would not be raining.

Or something. Spike Jones. Aka Dance of the Hours from La Giaconda (Ponchielli).

pensionpat Sun 24-Apr-16 22:30:32

Second verse
Darling Father, darling Mother
How's my precious, baby brother
Let me come home
If he'll miss me
I will even let Aunt Bertha hug and kiss me

pensionpat Sun 24-Apr-16 22:45:43

Wait a minute, it's stopped raining
Guys are swimming guys are sailing
Playing baseball. Gee that's better
Mother, Father kindly disregard this letter

pensionpat Sun 24-Apr-16 22:54:03

Think it was Alan Sherman, American comic

rosesarered Sun 24-Apr-16 23:52:21

Yes, that was Alan Sherman, and a very funny song.

Eloethan Mon 25-Apr-16 00:07:08

I'd forgotten that Alan Sherman song. It's very funny. I think I still know all the words.

wot Mon 25-Apr-16 07:20:40

Four Legged Friend and I Love to go a Wandering. I still like ,em!