Variations on a theme of Row, Row, Row Your Boat

I have often contemplated the well known song, "Row, Row, Row, Your Boat." Even though it is a round, those who perform this song invariably become bored with its simple lyrics. I thought it would be well to expand the lyrics to become more interesting. Then you could sing 15 verses without boredom (at least the first time through.)

Have you ever considered as you sing this as a round, just assigning one group the same phrase (like "Row, row, row, your boat" or "gently down the stream" or "merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily" or "life is but a dream") over and over again. I haven't tried this, but my belief is that it would have the same effect as singing the entire verse in a round. Plus, it would be even more boring than the original way to sing the round.

Oh the wonderful things that pop into my head at 10:30 at night. Anyway, here are the 15 variations:


Variations on a Theme of Row-Row-Row- your Boat

Row, Row, Row your boat, gently down the stream
1. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream

2. If you don't put sunblock on, you'll burn from a sunbem

3. Why we rowin' this stupid boat, I'd rather eat ice cream

4. It's so fun to play in mud, where you're not very clean

5. I think that you should be nice, instead of bein' mean

6. Burritos wouldn't taste so good, without a single bean

7. My dad thinks his belly's cool because it isn't lean

8. Sister sometimes gets her way when she's a drama queen

9. If you could play upon my side, then we would be a team

10. My brother thinks he's such hot stuff, 'cause now he is a teen

11. I'm not here and I'm not there, I'm somewhere in between

12. I'm not gonna lose this game, I gonna try to ween!

13. It gets spooky when it's dark, the night of Halloween

14. You don't have to float on top, if you're a submarine

15. If we don't soon end this song, I think I'm gonna scream!

John Adams

Just finished reading "John Adams" by David McCullough. Brilliant Book. I have a new hero. I am greatly impressed with the integrity of the man. He is a genuine hero and example to follow. I highly recommend the book. Now the only question is what to read next. I have lately been hooked on biographies. I recently read Ghandi's autobiography. Though it was very interesting, it isn't nearly as impressive as the book on Adams. McCullough says that there are well over 1,000 letters between John and Abigail. Too bad they couldn't twitter or email or something.

Riders on This Planet

Ok, So here's my entry in the Ogden Nature Center song writing contest for earth day. Mark Randall and I will be performing this sometime between 11:00 and 12:30 on Saturday, April 16th at the center on 12th Street in Ogden. You can hear some old guy sing the song by clicking on the link under "MP3 Audio Files" to the right.


Riders on This Planet

As children we did ever want to spend our time in play
The things around us we did use to bring us joy each day
The world was ours and all its wealth provided for our ease
The animals and plants were there for all our wants to please
(CHORUS)

But as we grew and learned about the resources we had
The planet became kin to us, just like a mom or dad
And all the life around us was responsive to our care
Through tenderness and love the earth would all its blessings share
(CHORUS)

So humankind now fill the world, and everywhere are found
And now it is required of us to nourish well the ground
To nurture and to beautify and care for all we see
The destiny of life is our responsibility
(CHORUS)

CHORUS:
We are riders on this planet, on this beautiful green earth
God has blessed us with our lives here, we have lived here since our birth
Precious water, land and air here, clean and pure through nature's strife
May we labor to preserve them and the quality of life

The Jungle King

A lion did walk through the jungle lush
He was takin' his time, wasn't in a rush
He was thinkin' he was special, he was quite the thing
He was mean and he was fierce, he was the Jungle King

He came to a monkey swingin' there in the trees
And he snagged his tail and began to squeeze
Then the monkey was scared, knew not what to do
And he wondered if the lion on his face would chew

Then the lion roared out, and made a huge request
"Of the beasts in the jungle just who is the best?"
Then the monkey called out and his voice did sing
“It's you mighty lion, you're the jungle king!”

So the lion left the monkey and he went on his way
Then he came to a fox he thought to make his prey
And he chased the fox to a great big tree
Where he couldn't get away and he couldn't get free

Then the lion roared out, very loud and long
“Of the beasts in the jungle who's the very most strong?”
Then the fox barked out and his voice did ring
“It's you mighty lion, you're the jungle king!”

So the lion left the fox, he was feelin' pretty fine
When he saw a big bear on which he thought to dine
He leapt out front where the bear did walk
And confronted him there with ferocious talk

Then the lion roared out, he was all out riled
“Of the beasts in the jungle, who's most fierce and wild?”
Then the big bear bellowed and the air did sting
“It's you mighty lion, you're the jungle king!”

Then the lion walked on and was feelin' mighty tough
When an elephant came out struttin' his stuff
And he blocked the path where the lion strode
Then the lion got mad and his anger showed

Then the lion roared out to the elephant there
“Of the beasts in the jungle, who's the biggest scare?”
But the big gray beast didn't say a thing
'Bout the mighty lion or the jungle king

But instead reached out with his mighty long trunk
And he batted the lion like he was a punk
Then again and again the lion he did swat
Then his great big feet on the lion did trot

Then the lion roared out, he was hurtin' really bad
“Why'd ya go and do that, you don't have to get all mad
Just 'Cause ya don't know the answer to the question I did bring
'Bout the mighty lion and the jungle king.”

illiterate?

I think that it's quite inconsiderate
That my kids think that I am illiterate.
All my mail they berate,
Saying I'm out of date,
Because I won't Facebook or Twitter it.

Sharing an Egg

I came upon a small white egg
Quite common not so rare
It's all I have to eat today
But with you I will share

You look so hungry sitting there
I'm sure you'd like a bite
Now tell me how to cook the egg
The yellow and the white

Do you like scrambled or face up
Or easy-over flipped
Perhaps you like it sunny-side
Or boiled, hot-water dipped

I'll cook the egg as you desire
So it will suit your taste
We'll split it after it's been cooked
And none of it we'll waste

So now the egg is ready here
I've cooked it very well
Enjoy the part you designate
What now, you want the shell?

Marco Polo

Today I learned that Marco Polo spent 24 years traveling in the Orient, including Mongolia and various parts of China. He started when he was 17. He brought back an exhaustive knowledge of the cultures of the East. He traveled with his father, Nicolo, and his uncle, Maffeo. 24 years is a significant chunk of time. I have been in the workforce in education 35 years. I wonder if anyone wants to know about my travels. Likely not. Marco didn't write his own book, but a close friend wrote it all down. Anyway, some worthwhile things take a long time.