Nursery Rhymes & Lullabies

Here are a bunch of songs that allude to nursery rhymes and lullabies.

"Throw it Out the Window" - Rise Up Singing (as performed by YouTube user matthewvaughan)


This is one of the only videos I could find for this song. It sounds like it's from a book of songs, not from a particular band. The song references a bunch of nursery rhymes, but the line "he/she/it threw it out the window" is at the end of each nursery rhyme. I think the repetition is because children find that kind of repetition funny.

"Cat's in the Cradle" - Harry Chapin


We talked about this song in class. It's really depressing. The chorus refers to nursery rhymes because it's about a father who works and misses his son's childhood. Here are some lyrics:
"The cat's in the cradle with the silver spoon,
Little Boy Blue and the Man in the Moon,
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then
We're gonna have a good time then."

"American Pie" - Don McLean

This song is pretty famous. The relevant line is where he sings "Jack be nimble Jack be quick/ Jack Flash sat on a candlestick”, which references the "Jack Be Nimble" nursery rhyme, where he "jumps over the candlestick" instead of sitting on it.

"My Cat" - Jack off Jill

The band's name alludes to the nursery rhyme "Jack & Jill." The song I've got from them isn't related to nursery rhymes, but it sounds very childlike.

"Mockingbird" - Toby Keith featuring Krystal Keith (his daughter)

The song references and messes with the lyrics from the "Mockingbird" lullaby. Here are some lyrics:

“He’s gonna buy me a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird don’t sing

He’s gonna buy me a diamond ring

And if that diamond ring won’t shine

Oh, he’s surely gonna break this heart of mine”

"Mockingbird" - Eminem
I'm only linking to this one because it includes the f-word. It's another play off the "Mockingbird" lullaby, and Eminem is singing about his daughter. Here are a couple of different sections from the lyrics, one which I've censored:

“Now hush little baby, don’t you cry

Everything’s gonna be alright”

“And if you ask me to

Daddy’s gonna buy you a mockingbird”

“And if that mockingbird don’t sing and that ring don’t shine

I’mma break the birdie’s neck

I’ll go back to the jeweler who sold it to ya

And make him eat every carat don’t f- with dad”

 Just a couple of more posts left on this blog. It's been fun but it will be nice to have this project done before the end of the semester. But there is a lot out there that I haven't included here just for lack of time to find every single song reference and post it.

Time to Play!

Next up: songs about children's games. Basically, any sort of either game kids play together or a children's song with specific actions, or hand-clapping games. Some may only loosely fit this category.


"Hokey F---in' Pokey" - Psychostick
I'm just linking because there's some strong language in this. The f-word is right in the title. But, as you can probably tell, the song references the Hokey Pokey, a dance that they make kids do a lot in the lower grades of school or at the roller rink or something.

"London Bridge" - Fergie
Here's another kind of inappropriate song. There is some swearing in it. Anyway, the title refers to "London Bridge," the landmark that inspired a children's song and game. Here's a video of kids playing the game if you don't know what it is or don't remember. They try to catch the kids walking under the arm bridge when it falls down.

"Follow de Leader" - Soca Boys


The title of this song alludes to the game "Follow the Leader." The song itself is a version of the game, with the singer telling people which dance moves to do.

"Hello Operator" - The White Stripes


The song refers to the Miss Suzy handclapping game, where one part goes "hello operator, please give me number nine, and if you disconnect you, I'll kick your little behind..." Here are the lyrics from the song:

“Hello operator

can you give me number nine?

can I see you later?

Will you give me back my dime?”

"Simon Says" - 1910 Fruitgum Company

The song and the title are a game where you do what one person says, basically like "Follow the Leader" but usually stationary whereas you walk around in Follow the Leader.

"1, 2, 3, Red Light" - 1910 Fruitgum Company

Another song from the 1910 Fruitgum Company, this reminds me of the game "Red Light, Green Light" that kids play, where you're racing but the person in charge says if you can move ("Green light") or you have to stop ("Red light"). The lyrics refer to a girl refusing a boy's advances:
"Ev'ry time I try to prove I love you,
1, 2, 3, Red Light,
You stop me"

"Chain Hang Low" - Jibbs

This song references the children's song "Do Your Ears Hang Low?", which it seems like I learned a little dance or hand motions to at some point, hence its inclusion here. Children sing in the background, and it plays of the lyrics of "Ears Hang Low" and uses the same melody. Here are some lyrics that echo "Ears Hang Low":

 “Do your chain hang low
Do it wobble to the flo'
Do it shine in the light
Is it platinum, Is it gold
Could you throw it over ya shoulda
If ya hot, it make ya cold
Do your chain hang low”

"The Hand Clap" - Hurricane Chris


Some lyrics in this song reference "Row Row Row your Boat":

“Row, row, row ya boat

Gently down the stream

Ain’t nobody in that club feelin like me”

Well, that's it for the children's games/songs post. Next up: nursery rhymes and lullabies, childhood and adolescence, and a hodge-podge post. I might also do a Schoolhouse Rock post since that's for children.

Harry Potter and the Magic of YouTube

Next up is another Harry Potter post, this time focusing on both musical spoofs of the series and songs that spoof pop hits or other songs but talk about the series or the fandom. There are a lot of videos in this post because there are a ton of good videos out there! There are bad ones, too, but I picked some pretty good ones.

"A Very Potter Musical"


This is probably the most famous of YouTube Harry Potter spoofs, and it's pretty darn awesome if you ask me! It was created by a group called Starkid, and they were students at the University of Michigan at the time. A lot of people know Darren Criss now because of his role as Blaine on "Glee," and that's where I first heard him. I watched AVPM after seeing him on "Glee," and I really liked it. There's a sequel also, but I don't like it as much. We'll come back to StarkidPotter at the end for my favorite video.

"Harry Potter vs. Voldemort Rap" - Backyard FX

I saw this video a couple of years ago, and I remembered it for this post. It's pretty funny, especially the end!

"Dumbledore" - Alex Carpenter, spoof of "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz

I thought this was a pretty good video. He kept the sound of the song pretty much the same but the lyrics are all about Harry Potter, pretty much the last major battle. I love Dancing Hagrid in the background!

"Good Morning Voldemort" - lyrics by Dylan White, spoof of "Good Morning Baltimore" from the movie/stage musical "Hairspray"

I didn't like this the first time I saw part of it, but I've watched more and it's actually pretty funny. I'm a fan of Hairspray and Harry Potter, but I would never think of combining them. This is basically Bellatrix Lestrange's theme song, pledging her love to Voldemort. Bellatrix loving Voldemort isn't necessarily in the books, but some people interpret their relationship that way and it's in fanfiction, I'm sure.

"The Last 10 Years" - EccentricTV, spoof of "Last Friday Night (TGIF)" by Katy Perry

This isn't the best spoof out there, but it's pretty funny. I mostly included it because the occasional cheesy dance moves (which were hopefully bad on purpose) seem to be used to reflect the pop genre that the original song comes from.

These next two videos all refer to the Harry Potter fandom specifically.

"We R Lightning Scars" - Alex Carpenter featuring Kri$tina, spoof of "We R Who We R" by Ke$ha

(Another song from Alex Carpenter, but what can I say, he's got good songs & videos!) I like how this song is about being proud of being a Harry Potter fan. Most people I know don't have a problem showing their love for the series, but it's still a fun song. I also like that it shows how fandoms intersect (there's a person wearing a red, yellow, & orange hat like Jayne Cobb, a character from the sci-fi series "Firefly") and how strong and connected the fandom is, like when the bullies try to pick a fight with the two main singers and then the rest of the Harry Potter fans show up and they run away.

"Hallows" - Mandy Maynard, spoof of "Halo" by Beyonce


We watched this in one of my classes because my professor is a major Harry Potter fan (which is part of why she's awesome!). It's about a fan's mixed feelings over seeing the final Harry Potter film, which is something I think most fans can related to. This one is also funny because because Hagrid is played by a girl.

To bring this post full-circle, I've got another StarkidPotter video. It's for "Goin' Back to Hogwarts," the song in the first video in the post and what starts AVPM.

This is from a Harry Potter convention of some sort in 2009, after AVPM but before Darren Criss got famous. The fans sing along with the cast members that are there, and they know every word. Not too surprising - I've got the soundtrack pretty much memorized too. My favorite parts are when Dumbledore doesn't sing his part quite as awesomely as in the original so they have him redo it for the fans, and when the Cho Chang part comes in and one of the fans gets really into it! It's just fun to see the StarkidPotter people interacting with their enthusiastic fans. Oh, there's an f-bomb at the end of this video and I've been linking only, but it's the only profanity so I'm letting it slide.

That's all I've got for Harry Potter spoofs. I could've used more, but I had to cut it off at some point or it would be out of control. This post was so fun to put together!

Are you ready to Wrock?

"Wrock" in the title isn't a typo - this post is all about Wizard Rock, or Wrock! If you don't know what wizard rock is, here is an article that's pretty good, even if it's a few years old. There is also a documentary, but it looks like you have to buy it. Anyway, what I have selected for this is just a small sampling of songs about Harry Potter. There are tons more out there, by these bands and others. Wrock has a bunch of different sounds, and the songs can be serious or funny.

"Ode to Harry" - Switchblade Kittens

According to the article I linked to, this is the first Wrock song, and it was originally released in 2000. It's Ginny singing to Harry about her at-that-time unrequited love.

"Save Ginny" - Harry & the Potters
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Harry & the Potters is another famous wrock group. This song is about, as you can tell from the title, saving Ginny from the basilisk, and it includes the lines "Are you petrified/ of being petrified?"

"My Dad is Rich" - Draco & the Malfoys


I put these back-to-back because of how Harry and Draco are always set up as opposites. Here, Draco is doing what he does best in the early books: making fun of Harry and bragging about his dad.

"The Prince's Tale" - The Butterbeer Experience

So I'm not a fan of this song (I don't know if it's the girl's overdramatic vocals or what, but there's something that bugs me), but I included it because instead of a rock or indie sound like the others, this sounds like it could be from a Broadway musical, both in the backing track and in the way the lyrics tell a story. If the Marauders had a musical, this song would be in it.

"Welcome to Hogwarts" - Tonks & the Aurors


This song reminds me a little of Plumtree, at least "Scott Pilgrim" since that's their only song I've heard. From what I know, the lead singer of Tonks & the Aurors went to EMU at some point in time! This song is really catchy, and it's the students' first experience of Hogwarts.

"Seven Potters" - The Remus Lupins


The "Seven Potters" of the title are from Deathly Hallows when they use Polyjuice Potion to turn several of the kids into Harry to get him to the Burrow. It's a good song, and I like the video since it's black & white & because it looks like it's a play.

"Dumbledore is Gay and That's Okay" - Justin Finch-Fletchley & the Sugar Quills


I couldn't find any really good videos for Justin Finch-Fletchley & the Sugar Quills, but here's a better one. I really like the song because of the message behind it: "Dumbledore is gay/ and that's okay/ he's still the greatest freaking wizard/ of his day/ It doesn't matter anyway." This obviously came out after J.K. Rowling announced that Dumbledore was gay.

"End of An Era" - Oliver Boyd & the Remembralls

Wizard rock doesn't refer just to the books. This song discusses the fandom and its bittersweet feelings over the series ending. I love how this sounds! It's a little sad to recall the end, but the lyrics emphasize how it's still happy that we had the books.

"Lovegood" - Ministry of Magic

Confession time: I didn't listen to wizard rock until recently, despite being a Harry Potter nerd. My friend sent me this song, and the lyrics are just so cute! It sounds pretty good too. Here are my favorite lyrics:

“In the cellar you were tender to Ollivander

so perceptive and protective of those you love

Your truth is piercing but welcome in these confusing times

Some say you’re crazy, but I am crazy for those silver blue eyes”

Well, that's all I'm posting for Wrock, but there is a ton out there. I only included these to show and range and to hit on some of the important names that I know of. Coming up soon: Harry Potter song spoofs! There were so many good ones that I wanted to give them their own post.

Young Adult Literature but mostly Hunger Games

I don't have any homework due for a couple of days, so I'm trying to get ahead on blog posts. The next topic is young adult literature, or literature aimed at teens. I almost gave The Hunger Games songs a separate post, but then there only would have been three young adult songs so they would've been sad. Let's start with the other stuff and then work our way to The Hunger Games.

"Lord of the Flies" - Iron Maiden


The title references William Golding's Lord of the Flies, which focuses on English schoolboys stranded on an island. It is a frequently challenged book, but it was in my high school's curriculum. There are a bunch more Lord of the Flies songs out there, but here's the one that someone listed. Anyway, here are some relevant lyrics that I feel relate best to the book:
Fate has brought us to these shores,
what was meant to be is now happening

I've found that I like this living in danger
Living on the edge it feels, it makes me feel as one
Who cares now what's right or wrong, it's reality
Killing so we survive wherever we may roam
Wherever we may hide, we've got to get away

"Tom Sawyer" - Rush

The title references Mark Twain's novel that features the same character. I haven't read the book, so I can't say whether or not the rest of the lyrics relate much.

"Who Wrote Holden Caulfield?" - Green Day

The title refers to Holden Caulfield of J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. I think the chorus relates to Holden:

“There’s a boy who fogs his world and now he’s getting lazy

there’s no motivation and frustration makes him crazy

He makes a plan to take a stand and always ends up sitting

Someone help him up or he’s gonna end up quitting”

Time for Hunger Games stuff!! This is all fan-made. I could include stuff from the CD "Songs from District 12 & Beyond" that they released before the movie, with songs inspired by the film, but I prefer the fan stuff. 2 are actually from artists I found relating to Wizard Rock, one more is a serious song, and I'll end with a spoof. Oh, and there are some spoilers for later books. Mostly in "Freedom in Panem." Just FYI.
"Girl on Fire" - Steph Anderson

Here's one from Steph Anderson, who is from Tonks & the Aurors and who I believe went to EMU at some point in time. The song is told from Katniss's perspective, and it's really catchy. The very beginning is "I never asked for this life/to be given to me/ I never knew that a person could be bought & sold/ But I am more than just a girl/ in a costume on a stage/ for you to control...." It goes on from there and it's just awesome!

"Freedom in Panem" - Alex Carpenter


I really love this song! It's from Alex Carpenter, who is the Remus Lupins in wizard rock. I like the rhythm of it, and the lyrics are cool too. Here are some lines from the beginning:
Stay alive is all that haymich said
He took another swig
And hoped the plan would go smoothly

May the odds ever be in yourfavor,
Heres a life to savor
I laugh at the irony

Alex Carpenter has a couple of Hunger Games albums I'm definitely going to check out soon!

"Girl On Fire" - Arshad

Here's a song that was introduced to me by a friend. I like the sound of it. It's told from Peeta's perspective and it's about Katniss. The lyrics include the famous line from Peeta, "She doesn't know. The effect she can have." It also talks about how Peeta wants his and Katniss's love to be real, and how he wants to stand against the Capitol. The full lyrics are here, I suggest checking them out.

"I Wanna Go" - Britney Spears, spoofed by Luke Conrad, Joey Graceffa, and Whitney Lee Milam


I had to end on a light note with a spoof. This one is hilarious, between Gale's emo hair and Katniss eating everything in sight. The lyrics are all included with the video.

Coming soon, maybe even tonight: Wizard Rock and Harry Potter spoof songs!! After that, some more childhood/adolescence stuff.

Children's Books

This post will focus on songs that reference children's books that haven't already been covered on this blog. It's kind of a hodge-podge, but they're based on either picture books or novels for younger readers (there will be a separate post for Young Adult Literature, and Harry Potter and maybe even Hunger Games will get their own posts). Anyway, let's get to the music!

"Baobabs" - Regina Spektor


This song is a reference to The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I haven't read it, but the person who listed it in their list of allusions says that the baobabs are in it. Here are some lyrics:

I don't have my thorns now
But I feel them sprouting
They'll grow right through if I don't watch them
They'll grow right through even if I watch them
And a sunset couldn't save me now
These baobabs, and baobabs, and baobabs some more

"Mowgli's Road" - Marina and the Diamonds

I'm not going to lie, this music video creeps me out. The arms and legs look weird, due to puppetry or video editing or something and it's just really strange. Anyway, the title references Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.

"Humble Mumble" - OutKast
I'm only linking to this one because it has the N-word in it. It references The Little Engine that Could, which was one of my favorite picture books as a kid. The beginning has a spoken part that alludes to the book and changes it up:
 Ahhhh I stank I can, I stank I can
The funky engine that could
Oooo oooo yosky, wosky, pisky, wisky
All aboard the Stankonia Express
The underground smell road
Everybody's lookin' for an excuse to let loose
What's your locomotive, the chatter and the choo choo



"Peter Rabbit" - Dee Jay & the Runaways

The title is an obvious reference to The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. Here are some relevant lyrics that reference more than just Peter Rabbit:

“Peter Rabbit and Little Boy Blue

Hidden in the Brush with Mr. Magoo

Along came McDonald with his trusty gun

And he goes, everybody run”

"The Other Side" - Bruno Mars featuring Cee Lo Green & B.o.B.

The relevant lyrics come from a rap a little over halfway through the song. Alice in Wonderland, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Frankenstein (not children's lit., I know, but it's literary so I included it) are all mentioned:

 If They Say Life's A Dream
Call This Insomnia
Cause This Ain't Wonderland
It Damn Sure Ain't Narnia
And Once You Cross The Line
You Can't Change Your Mind
Yeah I'm A Monster
But I'm Not Frankenstein

Coming up: songs that reference young adult literature, and then Harry Potter songs and maybe Hunger Games if I give it its own post. Fun stuff up ahead!

Fun & Games!

Breaking away from children's literature for a post (I'm trying to write something up quick between classes), this post focuses on children's culture, particularly children's products - food, toys, etc. Here we go:

"We Care a Lot" - Faith No More


The title references Care Bears, and I think Transformers and Garbage Pail Kids are also mentioned. Also, as I noticed when this was played in class, this is the theme song for "Dirty Jobs," which, if you don't know, is a show on Discovery Channel that is pretty hilarious.

"Barbie Girl" - Aqua


The title is pretty clear, right? Lines include "Life in plastic/It's fantastic!/You can brush my hair/ Undress me everywhere...." It's fairly sexual, which I didn't totally catch when I was in elementary school and we'd go to the local roller rink and they'd play this.

"Shoots and Ladders" - Korn


So this song could really go under Nursery Rhymes since it mentions Ring Around the Rosie and other nursery rhymes and children's song games, but I put it here due to the title and because I wanted more than 3 songs for this post. It's a play on Chutes & Ladders, the children's game that I know is also called Snakes & Ladders sometimes.

" 'Bout to Get Fruit Punched, Homie" - The Wonder Years

I made sure to find a version of this that didn't show the cover because it's kind of disturbing. Anyway, This song is about a fight between the Kool-Aid Man and Cap'n Crunch over Kool-Aid Man's wife (Kool-Aid Woman?). Here are some lyrics:

I was peddling sugary drinks to all the little kids for weeks,
spending late nights at the factory,
making fat stacks for my family,
but now my wife's been getting shady.
That trick-ass mark don't call me baby.
I'll sit by the window sill and if she's got another man,
then juice will spill.

Well, I hope you enjoyed that slight deviation from everything else that's been on the blog so far. Now I'm off to eat some Cap'n Crunch! (Not really, though I do have a box of Chocolate Cap'n Crunch I just opened and it's really good!)