[HANASHIR:2265] Re: "The Tree Song"

[Joshua Miller <jcsc...>]

Hello All,

In the world of email copy-write concern, I guess if anyone is going to 
post lyrics to "The Tree Song" its gonna have to be me :) You have my 
permission to sing, teach, and over-sing and reproduce this song to you 
heart's delight :)

THE TREE SONG (My official title, feel free to rename it as you wish :)
by, me

Well I've gotta friend who comforts me.
I'm a kid and he's a tree!

   We grow, we grow, we grow
   Tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu tu,
      Tu tu tu tu tu tu B'shevat!
   Tree, tree, tree, tree, tree, Tu B'shevat!

On my birthday, we eat a lot
On her birthday, it's Tu B'shevat!

   We grow...


Here's how the song works:

The verses are call and response:

You: "Well I've gotta friend"
Them: "Well I've gotta a friend"
You: "Who comforts me!"
Them: "Who comforts..." etc through 'til the chorus.

The chorus has three parts:

During the "We Grow" part I have kids make themselves first into seeds 
(by rolling up into a ball close to the ground) then into saplings 
(squatting with hands half-way up in the air) and then big tall trees 
(standing up straight, hands aka branches all the way up). I usually 
practice those different parts with the kids a few times before singin' 
it...

The second part, the "Tu tu tu tu..." part I make them squat and shake 
their hands low at first, and then higher and higher as the notes go 
higher and higher until they are way up high and the kids are yelling Tu 
B'shevat at the top of their lungs.

For the third part, the "Tree!" part, every time they yell "tree" they have 
to make themsleves into the wierdest shaped tree they can think of, sort 
of "vogue-ing" like a tree if you will. Its pretty cool to watch them 
create gnarled forrests of limbs and funny faces :) I usually model a few 
wacky ones to get it started :)

The three parts go together nicely if you time it out correctly, making
for a giant medley of "Tu's" "Tree's" and Growing :) or just run them one
after another if its too complicated. 

As for the melody, chords and rhythm, as far as I'm concerned you have two
options. One is to call me (or someone else on the list who know's it)
(510)-527-2355 and leave me a message and I'll call back and sing for you,
the other option is just to make up your own melody, and just borrow my
ideas for body motions, since they are the most important part of the song
anyhow :)

Enjoy! And may we all have very fruitful and nutty and musical Tu B'shevat 
seders this weekend :)

- Josh

PS- I recommend this song for younger kids, but it seems that it has 
    snuck its way into the older-kid / college kid / adult circuit. Use 
    it as you wish :)

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