Life is a Broadway musical…a really bad one that folds the same night it opens.
For a family in which none of us can carry a tune, we do a lot of singing around here.
We sing songs that pertain to what we’re doing (”Changes” by David Bowie for diaper changes) or the message we’re trying to get across (”You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones for whining children).
We sing children’s songs that get stuck in our heads, even when we’re far away from our children. Four years ago, on particularly rough seas half a world away from Tacy, Kyle and I both broke into song: “The friendly pirate ship is rockin’ on the sea, rockin’ on the sea…” And just last week at Target – by myself, I might add – my cell phone rang and I murmured, “The phone, the phone is ring-ing…”
But we especially love to sing songs that give us an opportunity to show our talent (or lack thereof) as budding lyricists. It’s these made-up songs, while totally ridiculous, that are the signature numbers in our family musical – and that I fear will never be captured for posterity.
Some of them are just plain stupid – like inserting the girls’ names in songs where it doesn’t even make sense (”It’s the sport of kings…better than diamond rings…Mouse-ball!”), and some of them are blandly cute – like substituting their names in songs (”Young Miss Goosie had a farm, E-I-E-I-O…”).
Some are constantly repurposed – like the chorus of “Shake Your Booty”:
“Wash, wash, wash. Wash, wash, wash. Wash your ha-ands! Wash your ha-ands!”
“Eat, eat, eat. Eat, eat, eat. Eat your broccoli! Eat your broccoli!”
“Pee, pee, pee. Pee, pee, pee. Pee in the potty! Pee in the potty!”
But my personal fave is one that I made up myself more than six years ago, and that I sing frequently upon request:
“Zippity-doodah,
Zippity-yay!
Goosie-Goose punkin’s such a cutie today.
She’s my good girlie,
Love her so much.
Goosie-Goose punnnn-kinnnnnnn…
Goosie-Goose pie!”(Substitute Mouse for Goose when sung to CJ)
Yes, it’s silly and borderline eye roll-inducing, but it’s ours.
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What songs are at the top of your family’s hit list? If you’re not too embarrassed to share them (and really, after this post, how much worse can it get?), you can get in on this weekend’s PBN Blog Blast, sponsored by Bush’s Beans. And if you are too embarrassed? Maybe the prizes – two $500 gift certificates to Best Buy! – might convince you!
October 5th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
[...] Life Is a Broadway Musical…a Really Bad One That Folds the Same Night It Opens. [...]
October 5th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
We did this way before the kids arrived (weirdos, I know). For example:
Washin! Foldin! I did the laundry. (Living, Loving Maid by Led Zeppelin)
I shaved for you, for you! I shaved for you! (For You by Bruce Springsteen)
Now, I’m a big fan of…
Won’t you take me to…Boogie (Poopy) (Diaper) (Jammie) Town! (Funkytown by Lipps, Inc.)
And so, so many more.
October 5th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I do that all the time! We’ve got a whole lotta made-up tunes and new lyrics to existing songs. We’ve even started claiming Def Leppard songs as our own.
patoiss last blog post..Sunday Scribblings: Forbidden
October 5th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Loved your post…everything you wrote is so true! I wish I could have expressed it as eloquently in my post for PBN.
Kathleen W.s last blog post..Winner: Bamboula LTD Market Basket
October 5th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I’m glad I’m not the only one that randomly breaks into song.
Heathers last blog post..Something I’ve Been Wondering
October 5th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Today my almost 3 year old announced her need to poop by singing, to the tune of Farmer in the Dell:
I really have to poop.
I really have to poop.
Hi Ho the Derry Oh,
I really have to poop.
Good times…
traceys last blog post..Tears from the past… Part 1
October 5th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Jeff is teh awesome when it comes to made-up songs. Although lately Opie has been giving him a run for his money. Lately: “I wanna say hey/ But my parents say nooooooo.” Uh, OK?
mayberrys last blog post..Haiku Friday: Feeling my age
October 5th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
My animals have always had their own theme songs. Yeah, I’m weird.
Goldie’s has it’s own little tune, but the lyrics are:
She is a big dog (dog)
She has a big nose (nose)
And wherever her nose goes,
There Goldie goes.
October 5th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
We call my son Punky Do and sing to the Beatles’ “Love Me Do”, “Punk, punky do, you know I love you…” He loves it, even though he’s 6 now.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:50 am
Oh, how I love the Zippity DooDah! My Grandpa sang it to me all the time when I was little. I think I will add it to today’s rotation of sing-along tracks.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I am a mean mommy that never let my kids know what kid music is. But we sing all the time and make up our own songs from the lyrics. Then I forget that pieces are made up and find myself singing their version in an elevator or in line at Target.
Issas last blog post..Two plus one = Issa will never be on time again.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I don’t really have any songs that I can think of, but I really like your last one.
zandors last blog post..Voting and Politics
October 7th, 2008 at 6:30 am
I sang this to both of my girls (to the tune of London Bridges):
Whose got boogers in her nose,
In her nose, in her nose?
Whose got boogers in her nose?
My little baby!
Whose got lint between her toes,
‘Tween her toes, ‘tween her toes?
Whose got lint between her toes?
My little baby!
Hey Jules! I miss you!