Songs for Car Rides, Campouts, and Bedtimes — Group 3: A Mother’s Love

7 min readJan 16, 2024

Photo 1: Older brother standing next to Mom holding preschool LeighAnn in front of rose bushes at home. Photo 2: Mom and 7-year-old LeighAnn in front of Christmas tree. Photo 3: Mom, brothers, Mooma, and 9th-grade LeighAnn in front of Ford Grenada at home.

I hadn’t realized how many of my favorite songs came from my mom until I started listing them together. Mom taught most of the songs at home, usually while sitting together or else singing while working around the house. Learning these songs are among my happiest memories with Mom (second only to baking together).

I have been wondering why I was so attracted to learning songs throughout my childhood. I must have experienced the peace of presence while singing. Songs brought me joy, and sitting with joy does not include ruminating past experiences or anticipating future interactions. Singing gives children the respite of Now.

Please enjoy the stories and lyrics for:
Rock-A-My Soul
Grandfather’s Clock
Wedding Bells
Workin’ on the Railroad
Hallelu-
This is the Day
Animal Fair
Green Alligators
Oats, Peas, Beans

Rock-A-My Soul

Easily my favorite song, Mom taught us Rock-A-My Soul when we lived in Somerford Square apartments. I specifically remember being in the living room and singing it over and over until I memorized it. I learned who Abraham was (a very nice man from the Bible is what I understood) and that, in the case of a caring man, the chest area can be called a bosom just like for a woman. The comforting visual that the lyrics created in my seven- and eight-year-old mind was as important to me as the lyrics and the melody itself.

Oh, rock-a-my soul in the bosom of Abraham
Rock-a-my soul in the bosom of Abraham
Rock-a-my soul in the bosom of Abraham
Oh, rock-a-my soul

God’s love is so high you can’t get over it
So low you can’t get under it
So wide you can’t get around it
Oh, rock-a-my soul

Rock-a-my soul in the bosom of Abraham
Rock-a-my soul in the bosom of Abraham
Rock-a-my soul in the bosom of Abraham
Oh, rock-a-my soul

Grandfather’s Clock

This is another of my favorite songs that I learned from Mom. We lived in the apartment at Somerford Square, and my younger brother, who was three or four at the time, had a little toy grandfather-type clock that played this tune. It was a sad song that I loved. It made me begin to ponder the mystery of death and the mysterious connections between death and life.

Oh, my grandfather’s clock was too tall for the shelf
So it stood ninety years on the floor
It was taller by half than the old man himself
But it weighed not a penny-weight more

It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born
And was always his joy and his pride
But it stopped, short, never to go again
When the old man died

Ninety years without stumbling
Tick-tock tick-tock
His life, seconds numbering
Tick-tock tick-tock

But it stopped, short, never to go again
When the old man died

Photo 1: 6-year-old LeighAnn, Mooma, Mom, younger brother and dog Andy. Photo 2: Mooma at LeighAnn’s high school graduation. Photo 3: Mom, brothers, Mooma, and 9th-grade LeighAnn in front of Ford Grenada at home.

Wedding Bells

In Somerford Square in the mid ‘70’s I remember watching Mom and Mooma sit in the living room and sing this one together in beautiful harmony. Realizing that they must have spent a lot of time throughout their lives singing with each other to be able to harmonize so well made a big impression on me. It taught me the value of working together for the sole purpose of enjoying an activity with each other.

I also remember Mom and Mooma speaking “Pig Latin” when they didn’t want us kids to understand what they were saying. They spoke it so fast that, try as I might, I did not have a clue what they were talking about, and it amazed me that they could actually understand each other! My brothers and I also learned Pig Latin, but I was never able to speak or comprehend it with speed. Ile-smay 😁

Wedding bells
Will ring so merrily
Every tear
Will be a memory

So wait and pray
Each night for me
Till we meet again

Workin’ on the Railroad

I really don’t remember when I first learned this one, but I know we sang it in both families. My mom’s dad, who was our Poopa, did himself work on the railroad.❤️ I always loved the tune and the lyrics, and I was happy to memorize them.

I’ve been workin’ on the railroad
All the live long day
I’ve been workin’ on the railroad
Just to pass the time away

Can’t you hear the whistle blowin’
Rise up so early in the morn
Can’t you hear the captain shoutin’
Dina blow your horn

Dina won’t you blow
Dina won’t you blow
Dina won’t you blow your horn

Someone’s in the kitchen with Dinah
Someone’s in the kitchen I know
Someone’s in the kitchen with Dinah
Strummin’ on the old banjo
A-singin’ fe fi fiddly-i-o
Fe fi fiddly-i-o
Fe fi fiddly-i-o
Strummin’ on the old banjo

1970’s — Photo 1: Older brother and LeighAnn on the “Witch’s Hat,” very fun playground equipment that was removed due to danger. Photo 2: LeighAnn and brothers at Mills Memorial UMC. Photo 3: Brothers sitting on living room floor in Lancaster, Ohio.

Hallelu-

Easily one of my favorite songs and all because I remember seeing my older brother sing it from the boys’ side during youth church at Mills Memorial United Methodist Church. We divided into boys and girls to sing this one, and the boys definitely took the “see which side can sing loudest” dictum very seriously. I enjoyed watching my brother sing with such enthusiasm.

This is not a repeat-after-me song, but a parts song. After singing it through once, each side switches parts and sings it through again. Everyone sings the last “Praise ye the Lord” altogether.

Hallelu- hallelu- hallelu- hallelujah!
— — Praise ye the Lord

Praise ye the Lord
— — Hallelujah!

Praise ye the Lord!

This is the Day (Psalm 118:24)

My older brother and I also learned this repeat-after-me song during children’s church at Mills Memorial in Lancaster, Ohio. I also sang it with my Catholic friends, and I have heard it sung in Quaker Meetings as well. It is a beautiful way to start the day.

This is the day
— — This is the day

That the Lord has made
— — That the Lord has made

We will rejoice
— — We will rejoice

And be glad in it
— — And be glad in it

[Together]
This is the day that the Lord has made
We will rejoice and be glad in it

This is the day
— — This is the day

[Together]
That the Lord has made

Animal Fair

I remember Mom singing this to us when we lived in Somerford Square in the mid to late ‘70’s. I learned what color auburn is from this song, and I always did wonder what became of the monk….

I went to the animal fair
The birds and the bees were there
The old raccoon
By the light of the moon
Was combing his auburn hair

The monkey he got drunk
And sat on the elephant’s trunk
The elephant sneezed
And fell on his knees
But what became of the monk
The monk, the monk?

Green Alligators

Mom taught this one at home , but as with all songs, we sang it on our various trips. It was a good way to learn that unicorns aren’t real, even if it did make me sad.

There were green alligators
And long-necked geese
Humpy back camels
And chimpanzees
Rats and cats and elephants
But as sure as you’re born
You ain’t gonna see no unicorn

Oats, Peas, Beans

This is another one I remember Mom singing to us in the apartment at Somerford Square. It’s a nice tune, and I fondly remember the feeling of togetherness with Mom. 🙂

Oats, peas, beans and barley grow
Oats, peas, beans and barley grow
Do you or I or anyone know
How oats, peas, beans and barley grow