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Phillis Gershator



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This Is the Day!
Storysongs and Singalongs

lyrics & info

***
Contents

Who's Awake
Listen, Listen
This Is the Day

Summer Is Summer
Kallaloo
Moon Rooster
Bread Is for Eating
Greetings, Sun
Rata-pata-fata-scata
Tukama's Song

When it Starts to Snow

Come Back, Come Back
Life Is a Dream
Sleep Song
Moon Song

Hush, Little Bird
Where Did the Baby Go?
The Mourning Dove

(Click book image for more information about the book that inspired the song, or vice versa!)

Who's Awake?

Words and music: David Gershator                              
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Yonah Gershator and Dave Hall

****
Who's Awake
Who’s asleep? 
Not I, not I.
Who’s asleep?
Not I. 
Who’s asleep? Who’s asleep?
Not I, not I, not I.

Who’s asleep down in the sea?
Not I, not I, not I.
Who’s asleep in a leafy tree?
Not I, not I, not I.

Who’s asleep?
Not I, not I.
Who’s asleep?
Not I. 
Who’s asleep? Who’s asleep?
Not I, not I, not I.

Who’s asleep on a mountain high?
Not I, not I, not I.
Who’s asleep up in the sky?
Not I, not I, not I.

Who’s asleep?
Not I, not I.
Who’s asleep?
Not I. 
Who’s asleep? Who’s asleep?
Not I, not I, not I.

Who’s awake? Who’s awake?
Not I, not I, not I.
So who’s singing? Do you know?
Not I, not I, not I. 

Who’s awake?
Not I, not I.
Who’s awake?
Not I. 
Who’s awake? Who’s awake?
Not I, not I, not I.
Who's Awake?
by Phillis Gershator
and Mim Green
illustrated by Emilie Chollat
Holt  2010



Listen, Listen

Words: Phillis and David Gershator
Music: David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Yonah Gershator                                

****
Listen, listen
Listen, listen...what’s that sound?
Summer singing all around.

Listen, listen...summer's gone.       
Goodbye, insects, autumn's come.

Listen, listen...autumn's gone.
Snowflakes whisper, “Winter's come.”

Listen, listen...winter's gone.
Bluebirds whistle, “Here's the sun!”

Listen, listen...spring is gone.
Another season has begun.

In the air and on the ground,
insects singing all around.

(2x)
Listen, listen all year long.
Listen, listen, what’s that song?
Listen, Listen
by Phillis Gershator
illustrated by Alison Jay
Barefoot Books  2007


This Is the Day

Words: Phillis Gershator, adapting a traditional song
Music: traditional, adapted by Yonah Gershator
Arranged by Yonah Gershator and Dave Hall
Sung by Yonah Gershator


****
This is the day
Lyics follow the text of This Is the Day:
"This is the day we give babies away
with a half a pound of tea...."

This Is the Day!
 by Phillis Gershator
illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
Houghton Mifflin  2007



Summer Is Summer

Words: Phillis and David Gershator
Music: David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall 
Sung by Yonah Gershator


****                                                          
Summer is summer
Lyrics follow the text of Summer is Summer:
"A rose is a rose and everything grows
when summer is summer is summer...."

Summer Is Summer
by Phillis and David Gershator
illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Holt  2006



Kallaloo

Words: David and Phillis Gershator
Music: David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Yonah Gershator
Backing vocals: Dave Hall & Yonah

****
Kallaloo
If you feel hungry-hungry, belly talk to you.
Don’t worry at all. Granny knows what to do:
mix fish and onions, ham and spinach, too,
crab and okra in Granny’s Kallaloo.

Clap your hands, stamp your feet
if you’re ready for an island treat.
Hullabaloo, what a hullabaloo!
Hullabaloo for kallaloo!

If you feel hungry-hungry, add a scoop or two
of yellow cornmeal fungi in your bowl of stew.
Your belly will be happy and say for true
thank you, thank you, thank you for a lovely kallaloo.

Clap your hands, stamp your feet
if you’re ready for an island treat.
Hullabaloo, what a hullabaloo!
Hullabaloo for kallaloo!

If you feel hungry-hungry, if you’re feeling blue,
don’t worry at all now, you know what to do.
Call your friends and neighbors
to come and eat with you
and cook them up a big pot of hearty kallaloo.

Clap your hands, stamp your feet
if you’re ready for an island treat.
Hullabaloo, what a hullabaloo!
Hullabaloo for kallaloo!
Kallaloo!
by David and Phillis Gershator
illustrated by Diane Greenseid
Little Bell Caribbean, 2015



Moon Rooster

Words and music: David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Dave Hall
Animals: Dave & Yonah

****
Moon Rooster
Song as it appears in Moon Rooster.
(See Moon Rooster page.)
Moon Rooster
by David and Phillis Gershator
illustrated by Angel Velazco

Little Bell Caribbean, 2015



Bread Is for Eating

Words and music: David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by David Gershator
with Yonah Gershator

****
Bread is for eating
Song as it appears in Bread is for Eating:
"El pan es para comer...."
Bread Is for Eating
by David and Phillis Gershator
illustrated by Emma Shaw-Smith
Holt  1995



Greetings, Sun

Words and music: David Gershator                  
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Yonah Gershator


****
Greetings, sun
Greetings, sun, and how are you?
I am fine today.
I’m glad you shine on and on,
lighting up my way.

Light my way, light my way,
lighting up my way.
Light my way. Shine on and on
lighting up my way.

Greetings, sun, high in the sky.
Can you hear me say
I’m glad you shine on and on,
lighting up my way.

Light my way, light my way,
lighting up my way.
Light my way. Shine on and on,
lighting up my way.


Greetings, Sun
by Phillis and David Gershator
illustrated by Synthia Saint James
DK Ink, 1998




Rata-pata-scata-fata

Words and music: David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Dave Hall
Backing vocals: Dave Hall & Yonah


****
Rata-pata
Some say this and some say that.
Some say hold on to your hat.
But there’s one thing I can say.
It’s my message for today:

[refrain]
Rata pata scata fata.
Rata pata scata fata.
Rata pata scata fata.
Rata pata scata fata.

Some say yes and some say no.
Hurry up and take it slow.
But there’s one thing I can say.
It’s my message for today:

refrain

Some say worse and some say better.
It depends upon the weather.
But there’s one thing I can say.
It’s my message for today:

refrain

Some say high and some say low.
Some say that’s the way to go.
But there’s one thing I can say.
It’s my message for today:

refrain

All good wishes will come true.
Yes, indeed, I hope they do.
And there’s one thing I can say
to make good wishes come your way:

refrain

Rata-pata-scata-fata
by Phillis Gershator
illustrated by Holly Meade
Star Bright, 2005



Tukama's Song

Words: David and Phillis Gershator              
after traditional children's chants
Music by David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by David Gershator
Backing vocals: Dave Hall & Yonah

****
Tukama
Tanto tanto tanto. (x2)
Oh, Tukama play the flute.
Play the flute Tukama.

Tanto tanto taya.
Tamarind, papaya.
Mama lama cuma lama.
Mama lama laya.

Tanto tanto tanto. (x2)
Oh, the woman merry
sipping quavaberry.

Tanto tanto tango.
Fig banana, mango.
Mama lama cuma lama.
Papa lama jango.

Tanto tanto tanto. (x2)
Oh, the woman merry
sipping quavaberry.

Tanto tanto taya.
Tamarind, papaya.
Mama lama cuma lama.
Mama lama laya.

Tanto tanto tanto. (x2)
Oh, Tukama play the flute.
Play the flute Tukama.
Tukama Tootles the Flute
retold by Phillis Gershator
illustrated by Synthia Saint James
Orchard, 1994





When It Starts to Snow

Words: Phillis and David Gershator
Music: David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Yonah Gershator and Dave Hall

****
Snow
What if it starts to snow?
What do you do?
Where do you go?

“I creep into the house,” says the mouse.
Cold winds blow when it starts to snow.

“I keep watch,” says the shiny black crow.
Caw caw caw when it starts to snow.

Snow, snow, snow,
when it starts to snow.

“I run to a place where the grasses grow,”
says the deer when it starts to snow.

“We fly south,” say the geese all in a row.
Honk honk honk when it starts to snow.

Snow, snow, snow,
when it starts to snow.

The turtle says “Into the mud I go.”
Frog says “Me too” when it starts to snow.

The otter says “I go with the flow.”
Slip slip slide when it starts to snow.

Snow, snow, snow,
when it starts to snow.

What if it starts to snow?
What do you do?
Where do you go?

“Look!” says the bear. “The snow is deep.
Deep, deep, deep. It’s time to sleep.”

When It Starts to Snow
by Phillis Gershator
illustrated by Martin Matje
Holt, 1998



Come Back, Come Back

Words and music: David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Dave Hall
Backing vocals: Yonah

****
Catch the flash of a hummingbird
on a nectar hunting spree.
Come back, come back to this garden
in the middle of the sea.

Tell your tales to the islands.
Secret treasures fill the sea.
Watch the sailboats in the harbor
wave to Charlotte Amalie.

refrain (2x)
Come back, come back to this garden
in the middle of the sea.

Watch out for the tamarind.
There’s a jumbi in that tree.
If you pass by in the moonlight
it will never set you free.

Go out for a midnight ride
and the moon will be your guide,
gliding on a shining ocean,
mermaids dancing by your side.

refrain (2x)

Let hibiscus be your flower.
It lasts only for a day,
gives its heart to the hummingbirds.
They come and go and fly away.

refrain (2x)




Life Is a Dream

Words and Music: David Gershator,

with thanks to Calderón!

Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by David Gershator
Backing vocals: Dave Hall & Yonah

****
(2x)
Si toda la vida es sueño
y nada mas que sueño.  

If what’s seeming only seems
and if dreaming’s only dreams
then we’ll dream and sing along,
singing a dreamtime song.

(2x)
Si toda la vida es sueño
y nada mas que sueño.

(2x)
Todo todito es sueño.
Todo todito todo.

Todo todito todo. (4x)

If what’s seeming only seems
and if dreaming’s only dreams
then we’ll dream and sing along,
singing a dreamtime song,

singing a dreamtime song.




Sleep Song

Words: Phillis and David Gershator
Music: David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Yonah Gershator and Dave Hall

****

Snuggle up quick.
Let’s close our eyes
before the sun begins to rise.

Night goes fast, fast as day.
A summer’s night is on the way.
Snails lie low, tree frogs peep:

[2x]
Goodnight, goodnight.
Sleep, sleep, sleep.

Night goes fast, fast as day.
An autumn night is on the way.
Birds fly south, leaves in a heap.

[2x]
Chilly winds sigh
sleep, sleep, sleep.

Night goes fast, fast as day.
A winter night is on the way.
Snow so cold, so white, so deep--

[2x]
snowflakes whisper
sleep, sleep, sleep.

Night goes fast, fast as day.
A springtime night is on the way.
Birds fly north. Cheep, cheep, cheep.

[2x]
Garden crickets chirp
sleep, sleep, sleep.

Night goes fast, fast as day.
Snuggle up and dream away.
Kittens, puppies, ponies, sheep--

[2x]
we all go to
sleep, sleep, sleep.




Moon Song

Words: Phillis and David Gershator
Music: David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Yonah Gershator and Dave Hall

****

Stars low, moon high,
I will sing you a lullaby.

Flute and drum,
harp and horn,
moon shining bright
till early morn.
Close your eyes, my little one.
Mama’s here, sweet dreams will come.

Stars low, moon high,
I will sing you a lullaby.

Flute and drum,
whistle and bell,
every star has
a story to tell.
High in the sky, old moon and new,
Mama sings moon songs to you.

Stars low, moon high,
I will sing you a lullaby.

Flute and drum,
rattle and rhyme,
Mama loves you
all the time.
Daytime, nighttime, rain or shine,
I am yours and you are mine.

I am yours and you are mine.



Hush, Little Bird

Words: Phillis Gershator,
after traditional lullabies
Music: David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Yonah Gershator 
Backing vocals: Dave Hall & Yonah                        
                
****

Babysitter sings
Hush, little bird.
I’ll sing you a song.
Do you want to know
where Papa’s gone?

Papa’s gone fishing
for fish in the sea
to bring home a fish
for Baby and me.

Hush, little bird.
I’ll sing you a song.
Do you want to know
where Mama’s gone?

Mama’s gone to market,
to market to buy
bean cakes for Baby
so Baby won’t cry.

Hush, little bird.
Fold up your wings.
Close your sleepy eyes
when the singer sings.

Mama’s coming home.
Papa won’t be long.
Hush, little bird.
I’ll sing you one more song.

Hush, little bird.
I’ll sing you one more song.


The Babysitter Sings
by Phillis Gershator
illustrated by Mélisande Potter
Holt, 2004



Where Did the Baby Go?

Words: David & Phillis Gershator
Music: David Gershator
Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Yonah Gershator
Backing vocals: Dave Hall & Yonah

****
where did the baby
                                                go
                         
Where did the baby go this morning?
Where did the baby go
Did the baby go a-sailing?
Does anybody know? 

Where did the sailboats go this morning?
Where did the sailboats go? 
Did they head for the horizon
where treasure lies below? 

Where did the tradewinds blow this morning?
Where did the tradewinds blow?
The sailors ‘round the harbor say
“We’ll tell you what we know: 

“The tradewinds blow from east to west. 
That’s how the tradewinds blow, 
all the way from Africa.
That’s how the currents flow.

“The wind will blow the sailboats home,
their white sails all aglow.
The sailboats will come home again,
with a little boat in tow.”

Where did the baby go this morning?
Where did the baby go?
Out to sea and back again,
rocking to and fro,
over the horizon
wherever tradewinds blow.



The Mourning Dove

Words and music: David Gershator

Arranged by Dave Hall
Sung by Yonah Gershator

****

Good morning, morning.
Good morning, mourning dove.
Who are you calling?
Are you calling your true love?

Coo coo coo.
The mourning dove calls you.
Coo coo coo.
The mourning dove calls you.

Buenos, buenos días,
paloma, palomita.
¿A quién estás llamando
mi linda palomita?

Cu cu ru.
Te llama la paloma.
Cu cu ru.
Te llama la paloma.

Good morning, morning.
Good morning, mourning dove.
Who are you calling?
Are you calling your true love?



All songs © 2008 by David & Phillis Gershator (ASCAP)

Where Did the Baby Go?
by David & Phillis Gershator 
pictures by Phillis Gershator
Little Bell Caribbean, 2015