Lyrics and Activities

Pretend
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

Introduction
The songs in this recording are designed for pretending with movement. Children are encouraged to pretend and move in their own way.

When students are moving freely about the room, some structure is necessary in order to provide for their safety and security. Teachers can direct children to, "Move in an imaginary bubble of space that extends all around your body. Stay in your own space and don't get into anyone else's bubble." To signal when to start and stop moving simply instruct the participants to "Move when you hear the music an stop moving when the music stops.

In experimenting with children and observing their endurance and interest, thirty to sixty seconds seems to be the ideal length for each pretend. The endings of the songs are well defined so children know when it is time to stop both moving and pretending. During the pauses between songs, the teacher can set the scene for the next pretend.

Introducing Pretends
There are several ways you can introduce pretends to your class.
1. Short phrase or sentence – Examples:
    - Pretend you are a rag doll.
    - Pretend you are a big giant.
2. Longer description – Examples:
    - Imagine you are a doll filled with only cotton. You have no muscles or bones but     by some magical force you can loosely flop around.
    - Pretend you are getting bigger and bigger. You are getting taller, wider, and     heavier. Pretend you are a huge giant stomping around shaking buildings and     houses.
3. No Description – Example: Listen to the words of this song. As soon as you get a     feeling of what to pretend, begin moving.

Using The Instrumental Versions
The instrumental versions give the children a chance to create their own pretends. The teacher might say something like, “What does this music make you think of?” or “What could you pretend to be with this music?” It is best if the teacher does not tell the children what to do but works from their ideas. This way the activity has value not
only for pretending, but also for oral language development.

Using The Songs As Story Starters
After hearing a song the teacher can ask the children questions that might form the beginning of a story. Here are some examples:

Rushing – Why is the person rushing? What work does he/she have to do?
Does the person get to work on time? What will happen if he/she is late?

Motorcycle Racer – Where is the race taking place? What color is the motorcycle?
Does the motorcycle racer win the race?
Who comes in 2nd and 3rd? Do any of the riders fall over?

*Click Title for Lyrics:* 1. Rag Doll 2. Guitar Player 3. The Friendly Giant 4. Rushing 5. The Clown 6. Little Ants	7. Motorcycle Racer 8. Kite Song 9. Little Elf 10. Big Heavy Box 11. Jumping Frog 12. The Bullfight

1. Rag Doll
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

Bright colored rag clothes
Buttons for eyes and nose
That’s my Raggedy Rag Doll friend
Filled with just cotton
Look at it floppin’
That’s my Raggedy Rag Doll friend
You ask me “How is it movin’ without
some muscles and bones?”
I just give it some lovin’
It comes alive and I’m never alone
Bright colored rag clothes
Buttons for eyes and nose
That’s my Raggedy Rag Doll friend

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2. Guitar Player
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

If I played in the band
I’d be the Guitar Man
And if I played in the band
I’d be the Guitar Woman
We’d make our guitars twang and shriek
We’d make’em buzz and beep
Some folks would hold their ears and scream
But most would dig the scene
Guitar player – play our favorite songs
Guitar player – play’em all night long

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3. The Friendly Giant
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

Ho ho ho I’m the Friendly Giant
Ho ho ho I love to stomp around
I love to shake the houses and make the buildings tremble
I love to stamp my feet and see my footprints on the ground

When people see I’m different they scream and run away
Tho I try to tell them I only want to play
To me it’s just a joke to spend a Sunday blocking traffic
Or sit upon the building tops and watch the people panic
(Sounds of people screaming)

Ho ho ho I’m the Friendly Giant
Ho ho ho I’m taller than the trees
I look down on everything,
I’m not afraid of anything
I only wish I had a friend about the size of me

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4. Rushing
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

I can’t wait I’ve got to go
If I’m late the world will know
Got the got to hurry, got to worry blues
My heart is beating double time
My thoughts are freaking in my minds
Got the got to hurry, got to worry blues.

Where’s my toast and where’s my coffee?
Hurry honey I’m losin' money
I can’t miss the morning bus
Oh how I hate this nervous rush
My hands are shaking, my legs are itching
My pits are sweating, my nose is twitching
Got the got to hurry, got to worry blues

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5. The Clown
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

If I joined the circus I would be a clown
I would – if I could
I would jump and juggle and tumble around
I would – if I could

Oooh-eeee makin’ funny faces
People leave their places strainin’ to see
Oooh-eeee everyone would love me
Though my clothes were baggy and my hair was messy

If I joined the circus I would be a clown
I would – if I could and I could – if I would

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6. Little Ants
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

We are little ants, we are all in a line
Hunting for some food and that’s what we’ll find
You can squish us and spray – you can wash us away
We’ll be back again, it will never end

We’ll be in your garbage, your dishes, your cakes and your pans
Your cupboards, your catsup, your carton and cans
Your sugar, your syrup, your leftover stew
Anything you can eat we can eat too

We are little ants, we are all in a line
It will never end, why not be our friend?
We’ll be back again

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7. Motorcycle Racer
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

Motorcycle racer streakin’ down the dirt track
Got to stay out in front of the pack
Roundin’ the corner and into a slide
There goes somebody slippin’ over the side
Motorcycle Racer
Motorcycle Racer

Hopin’ your bike won’t break down on the hill
The winner must have good fortune and skill
Over the jump and for a moment you fly
Engine is roarin’ and the tension is high
Motorcycle Racer
Motorcycle Racer

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8. Kite Song
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

Flying, flying high – sailing in the sky
High above the hills and the city
Moving higher in harmony
With the gentle wind that lifts me

Floating in the breeze high above the trees
Sailing with the string that holds me
High above the city sounds
I fly until the wind dies down
Or the string just pulls me to the ground

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9. Little Elf
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

I’m a happy little elf
I am always smiling
I can dance and sing and play
Even when I’m working

I am always happy even when I’m sad,
And that’s a very good trick
I’m so happy that I make some people sick
That’s their trip not mine ha-ha-ha-

I’m a happy little elf
I am always smiling
La la la - la la la -
la la la la - la -
la la la la la - la - la-

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10. Big Heavy Box
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

This big box must weigh at least one thousand pounds
I can’t wait until I can put the thing down
I don’t want to drop it but the pain is too great
Oh well, so what if it breaks

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11. Jumping Frog
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

See the little frog jump from the rock and log
Looking for a fly
Long strong hind legs, short little front legs
Built for jumping high
Ribet Ribet croak croak – don’t you choke
On that luscious fly, bzzz… thp mmm…
Those big bulging eyes really recognize
When it’s safe to stay
And when to jump in the water and swim away

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12. The Bullfight
Words and Music: Hap Palmer

The Bullfighter moves with his red cape in hand
Like a dancer he faces the bull
He’s applauded by thousands of excited fans
Who will boo if they find the fight dull

Dust flies, the bull’s eyes are flashing with anger
He’s snorting and stomping the ground
He is caught in a game that he just cannot win
It won’t end until they bring him down
La la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la

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Credits:
Engineer, Co-producer: Tom Perry
Drums, Percussion: John Raines
Bass, Electric Guitar on "Guitar Player": Bill Perry
Piano, Clavinette, Clavietta, Synthesizer, Clarinet: Jim Gordon
Clarinet, Flute: Dennis Drieth
Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Electric Guitar, Recorder, Co-Producer: Hap Palmer
Cover illustration: Lianna Kelly
Consultant: Maurice Rapkin, Ph.D.

CD released ©1998 EAProdux, Ltd
Educational Activities, Inc.
PO Box 87 • Baldwin, NY 11510
800-797-3223
www.edact.com

All songs published by Hap-Pal Music. ©Hap-Pal Music all rights reserved. No part of these lyrics or activities may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher.

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