[amyjared]

Hey all,
Thought I'd as you for some help. I play solo acoustic guitar for my elementary classes every Friday, usually 2-3 songs and I look for songs that they can sing along with. I'm not a fan of traditional kids music, so I play them what I like. The problem is, I'm running out of songs. The tunes that they've liked the best so far: Werewolves of London, Wild Thing, Knocking on Heaven's Door, Aiko, GDTRFB and Should I Stay or Should I go. My criteria is that it needs to be acceptable for school kids aged 6-13, should be catchy and easy enough to play and sing. Any suggestions would be VERY helpful! Thanks

PS. I've already exhausted Garcia's Not Just For Kids and Rise Up Singing.

[strumminsix]

Not4Kids was my first thought! How old are they???

Hmm, what about IKYR, Around & Around, Big R&R, Hey Pockey, JBG?

[mikeohiostate]

TURN ON YOUR LOVELIGHT, Pigpen style

No I'm just kidding...

Maybe try a simple version of Tennessee Jed, BIODTL, Jack-A-Roe, Louis Collins, any other JG+DG or JG+JK stuff should be safe.

[mikeohiostate]

I wonder if you would get fired for playing "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" to a bunch of elementry schoolers.

[mutant_dan]

Take me to the river...

[jck_strw]

Me & My Uncle. Kids like "story" songs, less "poetry" songs, I think.

[ebick]

yeah, Big Iron, Mama Tried

[Shaggy]

How about Freight Train, Red River Valley, There's A Hole In The Bucket?

[tigerstrat]

two words: MURDER BALLAD!!!

[Billbbill]

OK this may be panned here at rukind but as a kid I really liked Puff the Magic Dragon. It still, sniff, sniff, brings a tear to my eye. Not exactly a knee slapper but a nice tune.

How about Monkey and the Engineer? Or The Race is On? - Dire wolf - Ripple.

[spilly]

monkey and the engineer.

[qiuniu]

Candyman!

Althea

Sampson & Deliah

Wharf Rat

Morning Dew

I Know You Rider

She Belongs to Me

Don't Let Go

Harder They Come

Slow Train

Standing on the Moon

Liberty

Dark Hollow

They Love Each Other

Loser


Don't know how acceptable they'll be, but Werewolves is about a mass murderer. Just don't let on that the candy in Candyman is not really candy!

[dmass1977]

To be honest, I've found that writing your own is the simplest. Typically the music can be stand 3 chord fair, and the lyrics simple rhymes that you can then control for content and fun. You can also get their interest by throwing in content pertinent to your classroom, or a popular fad you see in many of their worlds.
Otherwise. . . i've always liked dreadful wind and rain, try explaining that he's making a fiddle out of a drowned sisters body.
Good luck
ps. anyone have tablature / chords for i'll be with thee?

[hesgone95]

How bout FOTD? I teach as well, and I played that a couple of times for different groups. Hope no one suggested that already.

[Two Djinn]

I like the dreadful wind and rain idea. for some reason the beatles "two of us" jumped into my head. Maybe "rosalee mcfall". As for story songs, New Riders' "henry" would be good (if you want the kids to grow up to be drug peddlers!) Maybe "let the good times roll", just leave out brents obsceneties! That's just a fun song to play anytime.