I wrote this many years ago when I was the director of a Child Development Center.
The tune is to “I’m a Little Teapot.” Happy singing!
I’m a little Christmas tree short and stout
see my branches sticking out
Decorate with tinsel and colored lights
my star on top is shining bright (speak: blink, blink, blink, blink)
See the presents under the tree
One is for you and one is for me
tear off the paper
pull off the bow
Santa’s been here, HO HO HO!
Lyrics by Carolyn Dennis-Willingham
Lyrics from one of my favorite songs.
Baby I know that we’ve got trouble in the fields
When the bankers swarm like locust out there turning away our yield
The trains roll by our silos, silver in the rain
They leave our pockets full of nothing
But our dreams and the golden grain
Have you seen the folks in line downtown at the station
They’re all buying their ticket out and talking the great depression
Our parents had their hard times fifty years ago
When they stood out in these empty fields in dust as deep as snow
[Chorus:]
And all this trouble in our fields
If this rain can fall, these wounds can heal
They’ll never take our native soil
But if we sell that new John Deere
And then we’ll work these crops with sweat and tears
You’ll be the mule I’ll be the plow
Come harvest time we’ll work it out
There’s still a lot of love, here in these troubled fields
There’s a book up on the shelf about the dust bowl days
And there’s a little bit of you and a little bit of me
In the photos on every page
Now our children live in the city and they rest upon our shoulders
They never want the rain to fall or the weather to get colder
[Chorus]
You’ll be the mule I’ll be the plow
Come harvest time we’ll work it out
There’s still a lot of love, here in these troubled fields
From Nanci Griffith’s CD: Dustbowl Symphony
Right before it’s time to go home, Mrs. Alexander starts to teach us a new song called Home on the Range. “Oh give me a home, where the antelope roam and the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day. How often at night, where the heavens are bright with the light of the Glittering stars, have I stood there amazed and asked as I gazed if their glory exceeds that of ours. Home, home on the range….”
I like those words. They make me feel almost as good as when I’m riding on ol’ Polo, free and easy like deer and antelope playing together without any bickering. I like that she tells us what the words mean, words like “discouraging.” She says that “discouraging” means that you don’t like something much, like something makes you feel uncomfortable, something that spoils your spirit. So now I can say, that “Home on the Range” is my new favorite song. I can also say that recess today sure was discouraging.
Excerpt from No Hill for a Stepper
photo credit
I wrote this a while back as a blues song. If only I could hear Taj Mahal bring it to life! Check his “Ain’t nobody’s business but my own.”
I met him once, had my picture taken with him. Wish I could find it for you! But, you know. I’ll find it when I ain’t lookin’.
I’m ain’t hungry ’cause I got my tunes
Ain’t thirsty, ’cause I’ve paid my dues
Hope you don’t mind me sayin’
But I sure like playin’ these blues, uh huh.
I sure like playing’ these blues.
I got the flow going, but my boat’s kinda slowin’
I’m just one paddle short of a row
You know
I’m just short one paddle for a row.
I ain’t weary ’cause I dreamed all day
Stayed up all night just to here myself play
I’m not sleep deprived
’cause I just arrived
I’m just little tired ’round the edges, but hey!
I got that sultry timing’, just ain’t so good at ryhmin’
I’m just two jiggers short of a lime
But I’m fine.
I’m just two nickels short of a dime.
So if you think you hear me comin’
hit the road and start a thumbin’
just float me down an oar a’fore you go
Cause I’m short one paddle for a row, you know.
I’m just short one paddle for a row.
But I sure like playin’ these blues, uh huh.
I sure like playing’ these blues.
Carolyn Dennis-Willingham 