Songs I Would Sing to Help My Children Fall Asleep
Carrying my kids I would sing to them while walking around the dining room table.
The Big question is - Who would fall asleep first?
I have three kids that did not always fall asleep as easy as one two three. I was also a stay at home dad for about six years. So trust me I know what its like to go to bed late and wake up early. If someone says you have no idea what moms go through they are some what correct. Yet in this case bonding with the wife was easy. Not to mention she also had to listen to the same songs over and over and over and over again. While I was working on this sit my middle child wondered what I was doing. He did not recognize the songs listed below until I started to sing them. He then followed up with an I recognize that song and please stop singing it.
Touch of the Masters Hand.
I have sung this song not just to the kids but more than one in public.
I tend to sing a cappella. That way there is no one else to blame if I mess up.
Over tired kids are nothing to worry about but the folks in public are another story.
This one is even more special as the daughter used the poem of this in a school competition.
She did not take first place with the poem, but her art work did.
Proud dad in the audience.
Touch of the Master's Hand by Wayne Watson - Lyrics
Well it was battered and scared,
And the auctioneer felt it was hardly worth his while,
To waste much time on the old violin but he held it up with a smile,
Well it sure aint much but its all we got left I guess we aught to sell it to,
Oh, now who'll start the bid on this old violin?
Just one more and well be through.
And then he cried one give me one dollar,
Who'll make it two only two dollars who'll make it three,
Three dollars twice now that's a good price,
Now whos gonna bid for me?
Raise up your hand now don't wait any longer the auctions about to end,
Whos got four Just one dollar more to bid on this old violin?
Well the air was hot and the people stood around as the sun was setting low,
From the back of the crowd a gray haired man,
Came forward and picked up the bow,
He wiped the dust from the old violin then he tightened up the strings,
Then he played out a melody pure and sweet, sweeter than the Angels sing,
And then the music stopped and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low he said now what am I bid,
For this old violin and he held it up with a bow.
And then he cried out one give me one thousand,
Who'll make it two only two thousand who'll make it three,
Three thousand twice you know that's a good price,
Common whos gonna to bid for me?
And the people cried out what made the change we don't understand,
Then the auctioneer stopped and he said with a smile,
It was the touch of the Masters hand.
You know threes many a man with his life out of tune,
Battered and scared with sin and hes auctioned cheap,
To a thankless world much like that old violin,
Oh, but then the Master comes,
And that old foolish crowd they never understand,
Touch of the Master's Hand - Second song finally posted
Touch of the Masters Hand
The orriginal poem
‘Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
“What am I bid, good folk?” he cried.
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar … now two … only two …
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
“Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three” … but no!
From the room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow.
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”
As he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars … and who’ll make it two?
Two…two thousand, and who’ll make it three?
Three thousand once and three thousand twice …
Three thousand and gone!” said he.
The people cheered, but some exclaimed
“We do not quite understand …
What changed it’s worth?” and the answer came:
” ‘Twas the touch of the master’s hand.”
And many a man with soul out of tune
And battered and scarred by sin
Is auctioned cheap by the thoughtless crowd
Just like the old violin.
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul, and the change that is wrought
By the touch of the master’s hand.
O Master! I am the tuneless one
Lay, lay Thy hand on me,
Transform me now, put a song in my heart
Of melody, Lord, to Thee!
- – - written by Myra Brooks Welch
Christmas in the Trenches
This was one of those songs that I was glad I was not on the road the first time I heard it.
Yes the tears started to flow.
Thanks Seamus Kennedy.
This song was not just for the kids.
I sang this one at our church for a Christmas show.
Christmas in the Trenches - Lyrics
My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.
I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht." "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
"There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night
Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men
Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore
My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same
January 1, 2016 Update
My daughter and I were watching the History Channel when there was a story about a old football. In this case football = soccer. They actually told the story about the football and it was the same as the same story that is told in this song. Once again its amazing that something you did many years ago is still remembered by and can be shared with your children.
Christmas in the Trenches
Waltzing With Bears
At the time most of the music we listened to was Irish music.
(Seamus Kennedy strikes again.)
Our first child - daughter now 20 and driving - eeekkkk - knew the words to a few of the songs.
And this was one of them.
This song was also sung at a work Christmas party.
I sang and ran back to work as I had to run back-ups.
Believe it or not I got some good comments the next day.
Walzting With Bears - Lyrics
Verse 1
I went upstairs in the middle of the night,
I tiptoed in and I turned on the light,
And to my surprise, there was no one in sight,
My Uncle Walter goes waltzing at night!
Chorus
He goes wa-wa-wa-wa, wa-waltzing with bears,
Raggy bears, shaggy bears, baggy bears too.
There's nothing on earth Uncle Walter won't do,
So he can go waltzing, wa-wa-wa-waltzing,
So he can go waltzing, waltzing with bears!
Verse 2
I gave Uncle Walter a new coat to wear,
When he came home he was covered with hair,
And lately I've noticed several new tears,
I'm sure Uncle Walter goes waltzing with bears!
[Repeat Chorus]
Verse 3
We told Uncle Walter that he should be good,
And do all the things that we said he should,
But I know that he'd rather be out in the wood,
I'm afraid we might lose Uncle Walter for good!
[Repeat Chorus]
Verse 4
We begged and we pleaded, ?Oh please won't you stay!"
We managed to keep him at home for a day,
But the bears all barged in, and they took him away!
Now he's waltzing with pandas, and he can't understand us,
And the bears all demand at least one dance a day!
[Repeat Chorus]
Waltzing With Bears - Keith Comer
Fields of Athenry
Seamus Kennedy strikes again.
Its not like this sites designed to promote him.
Hmm that maybe a site in the making.
But I digress.
This is another song that I did at a company Christmas party.
This one I had prepared for a bit more.
How did you prepare you ask?
It was another one that I would sing to the kids.
Just like every song on this site.
Fields of Athenry - Lyrics
By a lonely prison wall,
I heard a young girl calling
Michael they have taken you away,
For you stole Trevelyan's corn
So the young might see the morn,
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay
CHORUS
Low lie, The Fields of Athenry
where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
we had dreams and songs to sing,
It's so lonely round the Fields of Athenry
By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling
'Nothing matters Mary, when you're free'
Against the famine and the crown,
I rebelled, they cut me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity
CHORUS
By a lonely harbour wall
She watched the last star falling
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
For she lived in hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely round the Fields Of Athenry
Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/the-dubliners-lyrics...
LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community
The Fields Of Athenry - Me on YouTube
So which is your favorite?
You got to read them - You got to listem to them.
Now is your chanve to aquire them.