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Host Garrison Keillor answers your questions about life, love, writing, authors, and of course, A Prairie Home Companion.
Kids Songs
May 20, 2008 | 2 Comments
Dear Mr. Keillor,
Part of my nighttime routine with my three-year old daughter is singing, and I'm starting to run out of songs. I've worked my way through most of the hymns I can remember, and in my search for lyrics I've discovered that you can sing the words for "Will the Circle be Unbroken" to the tune of "Children of the Heavenly Father". The down side to all this is that my daughter will only sing along with me when I sing "Amazing Grace" to the tune of the Gilligan's Island theme song. Can you help by suggesting some classic songs that I can learn and sing at bedtime?
Glenn B.
Cottonwood Heights, UT
Your next step, Glenn, is to make up songs, and rhyme the lines on the spot, with references to her, things she did that day, her bedroom, family members, etc. For that I recommend an old campfire song "Angels Watching Over Me" —
Night has come turn out the lights.
Angels watching over me, my Lord.
In Salt Lake City and Cottonwood Heights,
Angels watching over me.
The refrain gives you a few seconds to come up with the second line. And when you're stumped, you just toss in the chorus.
All night, all day, Angels watching over me, my Lord.
All night, all day. Angels watching over me.
This will really impress your daughter for awhile. And when your daughter turns ten, you can switch over to the blues.
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Mary Grace Dembeck | June 2, 2008 8:10 PM
Josh, when my two children were very young, I wrote a simple little lullabye for them called "Lord of All", and I would sing it with them before they fell asleep. You are welcome to the words.
(You will have to make the tune up yourself ... but I don't think it will be hard to do.)
Lord of all I bow my head
Just before I go to bed,
Fall upon my knees and say
Thank you for another day.
Thank you for the food I eat,
For the bed on which I sleep,
For those I love who love me too,
Lord of all, goodnight, thank you.
Mary :)
Olan Hogan | June 10, 2008 7:51 AM
Garrison, Thanks for the awesome shows you do and the love and dedication from your cast members.As a Kansan living in Georgia the show reminds me of my midwestern roots and the earthiness of its people. I will never fail to listen and enjoy the show. When are you coming anywhere near Georgia?
God Bless