The Queensbridge Songbook is a very special collection of songs that have been passed to us through our families and community. We are so excited to be able to share them here and to share and learn songs from each other. Every year, the children in Year 4 will be invited to share a song that is sung in their family. This could be in any language or style. Songs connect us to times and places, but are also universal in many ways. Even if you are not in Year 4, you can still contribute to the songbook!
Songbook Challenge: If you have a song to share...
What is the song called?
Can you record yourself (and/or someone in your family) singing it?
What are the words?
If the words are not in English, what language is it and what do the words mean?
Song #1: Já Jsem Muzikant Country of origin: Czech Republic Language: Czech Source: Traditional Shared by: Matej More information and lyrics: https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=6035 Here's Matej singing this lively song about being a musician. Can you tell which instrument he is pretending to play in the chorus?
Here's the same song as sung by the one and only Cilla Black (who was from Liverpool). I have chosen an old recording from the 1960s, and one from 2013. Which lyrics has she changed in the later recording? Why do you think that is?
And I love these versions as sung by folk singer Judy Collins and by The Spinners. Do you prefer it with or without accompaniment from an instrument?
Song #3: Los Pollitos Dicen Country of origin: Mexico and Equador (South America)
Source:Written by the band Imagine Dragons Shared by:Roni More information and lyrics: Roni has recommended this pop-rock song. She loves to sing it at home. You can hear her recording below, as well as a video of a live recording of the band performing the song. Can you imagine singing with that many people?
I'm waking up to ash and dust I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust I'm breathing in the chemicals I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on
the prison bus This is it, the apocalypse I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age (x2) Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm
radioactive, radioactive (x2)
I raise my flags, don my clothes It's a revolution, I suppose We'll paint it red to fit right in I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on
the prison bus This is it, the apocalypse I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age (x2) Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm
radioactive, radioactive (x2)
All systems go, the sun hasn't died Deep in my bones, straight from inside I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones Enough to make my systems blow Welcome to the new age, to the new age (x2) Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh, I'm
radioactive, radioactive (x2)
Song #6: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Country of origin:England
Language: English
Source: Lyrics from a 19th Century poem by Jane Taylor, to an 18th Century French melody. Shared by: Ettie More information and lyrics:Ettie wrote: "My mum used to sing twinkle twinkle to me when I was a baby, and her mum sang it to her. I recorded me singing it. It s a English lullaby taken from a poem written by Jane Taylor in 1806" You can find loads more information about this famous English lullaby here.
Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high Like a diamond in the sky Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are!
Song #7:You Are My Sunshine
Country of origin: America
Language:English
Source: Written by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell (disputed), published in 1939. Shared by: Harry More information and lyrics: Harry says "My song that is special to my family is You Are My Sunshine. This is because it's a special lullaby sung to me and my brother Tyler when we were babies. When I hear it, I always think of my lovely mummy singing it to us." There are many versions of this famous song listed on Wikipedia. Harry and his mum sent this link to the song sung by Jasmine Thompson. Lyrics are on the video!
The other night dear, as I lay sleeping I dreamed I held you in my arms But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken
So I hung my head and I cried.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You'll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
I'll always love you and make you happy
And nothing else could come between
But if you leave me to allow another
You'll have shattered all of my dreams
(Repeat chorus)
Song #8:My Queen is Albertina Sisulu
Country of origin:
Language:Instrumental only
Source: Sons of Kemet Shared by: Cassius More information and lyrics:
Song #9: Ach śpij kochanie
Country of origin: Poland
Language:Polish
Source:1938 polish love comedy "Paweł i Gaweł" Shared by: Leon More information and lyrics: Leon's mum says: Here is the most popular Polish lullaby, which is still the number one Polish song in our family. Every family in Poland has its own version of this lullaby. Sometimes only the chorus is being sung. There are multiple versions of it but the original is only one and available on YouTube thanks to our technology... It is very interesting to know that this lullaby is not very old (like some English ones that are from XVIII century) and has its beginning in a prewar 1938 polish love comedy "Paweł i Gaweł" (Paul and Gaweł). We asked Leon's babcia Grażyna (Grandma) to record it for us. Dziękujemy!
The song in the movie is sung by two friends to a 'pretend' daughter who doesn't want to go to sleep. The men come up with more and more verses of the song, persevering in trying to sing the girl to sleep but in the effect, they fall asleep themselves.
Here are the lyrics, with translation:
W gorze tyle gwiazd. (So many stars above)
W dole tyle miast. (So many cities below)
Gwiazdy miastu daja znac, (Stars let the cities know)
ze dzieci musza spac. (that children should sleep)
A wiec, spij kochanie, (So, sleep, my darling)
jesli gwiazdke z nieba chcesz, dostaniesz. (if you want a star from heaven, you'll get it)
Ja ci wszystko moge dac, (I can give you everything)
wiec dlaczego nie chcesz spac? (so why don't you want to sleep?)
Ach spij, bo noca, (Oh sleep, 'cause in the night)
kiedy gwiazdy sie na niebie zloca (when the stars are sparkling in the sky)
wszystkie dzieci, nawet zle, (all the children, even the bad ones)
pograzone sa we snie, (are in a deep sleep)
a ty jedna tylko nie. (but not you)
A-a-a, a-a-a (Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah)
byly sobie kotki dwa. (there were two kittens)
A-a-a, kotki dwa (Ah-ah-ah, two kittens)
szaro-bure, szaro-bure obydwa (gray'n'dun, gray'n'dun both)
Ach spij, bo wlasnie (Oh sleep, because)
ksiezyc ziewa i za chwile zasnie. (the moon has started yawning and will fall asleep soon)
A gdy rano przyjdzie swit, (And when in the morning the dawn will come)
ksiezycowi bedzie wstyd, (he will be embarrased)
ze on zasnal a nie ty. (that he had fallen asleep, but not you)
Song #10: Yine yol göründü gurbete
Country of origin: Turkey
Language: Turkish
Source:Barış Manço
Shared by: Bektas
More information and lyrics: This pop song was released in 1975 by Turkish rock star and singer-songwriter Barış Manço (1943-1999), who remains a popular figure in Turkey today. Bektas says: "It's from a Turkish Movie. We listen to it fun and love."
[1. Bölüm] Yine yol göründü gurbete, güz geldi yapraklar döküldü Martılar göç etti, turnalar süzüldü, yine yol göründü gurbete Köyüme kara kış çökse de, aşıklar boynunu bükse de Desen ki: "Nazlı yar insafa gelse de", yine yol göründü gurbete
[Nakarat](x2) Acı keder hep bana kardeş, bacı, ana, baba Benim olsa bütün dünya yetmez ki
[2. Bölüm] Derdimi kimlere söyleyim? Ben garip Barış'ım, neyleyim? Anadan, babadan, yuvadan uzakta, yine yol göründü gurbete
[Nakarat](x3) Acı keder hep bana kardeş, bacı, ana, baba Benim olsa bütün dünya yetmez ki
Song #11: ወንድሜ ያቆብ Wendime Yakob
Country of origin: Ethiopia/France
Language: Amharic
Source: Traditional Shared by: Macbel and Edna More information and lyrics: Rahel (Macbel and Edna's mum) says "This song is an Amharic song (its translated to english aswell). Its a 'wake up calling song' and its a very popular song in Ethiopia among children. I even used to sing it when i was younger. You may recognise it as it shares a tune and meaning with the French song Frère Jacques. There is also an English translation in the YouTube clip below. I love how the melody and accompaniment has changed so the Ethiopian version sounds quite different to how I know it. THe earliest version of the melody was printed circa 1780. A long time ago!
Song #12: Something Just Like This Country of origin: United Kingdom
Language: English
Source: Written by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay band members Shared by: Muhibur More information and lyrics: This piece in the dance/electronic genre is one of Muhibur's favourite songs. He says: "This song motivates and inspires me to do better and be better." What a great message.
I've been reading books of old
The legends and the myths
Achilles and his gold
Hercules and his gifts
Spider-Man's control
And Batman with his fists
And clearly I don't see myself upon that list
But she said, where'd you wanna go?
How much you wanna risk?
I'm not lookin' for somebody
With some superhuman gifts
Some superhero
Some fairy-tale bliss
Just something I can turn to
Somebody I can kiss
I want something just like this
Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
Oh, I want something just like this
Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
Oh, I want something just like this
I want something just like this
I've been reading books of old
The legends and the myths
The testaments they told
The moon and its eclipse
And Superman unrolls
A suit before he lifts
But I'm not the kind of person that it fits
She said, where'd you wanna go?
How much you wanna risk?
I'm not lookin' for somebody
With some superhuman gifts
Some superhero
Some fairy-tale bliss
Just something I can turn to
Somebody I can miss
I want something just like this (x3)
(Doo chorus)
Where'd you wanna go?
How much you wanna risk?
I'm not lookin' for somebody
With some superhuman gifts
Some superhero
Some fairy-tale bliss
Just something I can turn to
Somebody I can kiss
I want something just like this
Oh, I want something just like this (x 3)
Song #13: Yellow Country of origin: UK Language: English Source: Coldplay Shared by: Dexter More information and lyrics: This is a very famous song by the band Coldplay. Here's Dexter's introduction as to why he has chosen it for the songbook:
Look at the stars Look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah, they were all yellow
I came along
I wrote a song for you
And all the things you do
And it was called Yellow
So, then I took my turn
What a thing to've done
And it was all yellow
Your skin
Oh yeah, your skin and bones
Turn in to something beautiful
Do you know
You know I love you so
You know I love you so
I swam across
I jumped across for you
What a thing to do
'Cause you were all yellow
I drew a line
I drew a line for you
What a thing to do
And it was all yellow
And your skin
Oh yeah, your skin and bones
Turn in to something beautiful
Do you know
For you, I'd bleed myself dry
For you, I'd bleed myself dry
It's true
Look how they shine for you...
Song #14: Hlina/ሕልና Country of origin: Eritrea Language: Eritrean Source: Abraham Afewerki Shared by: Lulana More information and lyrics: "I like this song because it's calming. He is singing about his childhood and his friends who he hasn't seen for a long time. I like to listen to it with my mum, while we are having dinner."
good
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