Edited by Azizi Powell
Part I of this pancocojams post showcases the song "Hello" that is sung by K-2nd grade students of Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School (New York).
Part II of this pancocojams post showcases the text (words only) to a circle game called "Green Color Up" that I adapted in 1990 from an old African American children's game called "Green Sally Up". Some of the words in those circle game songs are similar to the "if you have on [name a color]" verse in the "Hello" song that is showcased in Part I of this post.
The content of this post is presented for recreational and educational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the students and staff of Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School. Thanks also to the unknown composer/s of the "Green Sally Up" game song and thanks to Moby for helping to revive interest in that song.
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PART I
SHOWCASE VIDEO:
Hello Song by Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade Students
SyracuseAcademy, Published on Sep 23, 2011
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LYRICS TO HELLO SONG
(Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School, New York)
Part I
Hello, hello
How do you do
How do you do
How do you do
Hello, hello
How do you do today.
Part II
slightly slower tempo and different tune
If you're wearing [name a color]
Stand up
If you're wearing [name the same color]
Stand up
Part III
the same tempo almost the same tune as Part II
Pat pat pat your legs
Pat pat pat your legs
Pat pat pat your legs
Pat your legs today
repeat entire song changing the color in Part II and the action word in Part III (for instance, change to "clap clap clap your hands")
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PART II
From http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/09/green-sally-up-various-related-rhymes.html "Two Versions Of "Green Sally Up", A Related Rhyme, & Moby's Tune "Flowers" (information, examples, & commentary)
[Note: "Green Sally Up" is also given as "Bring Sally Up" although I think that title is erroneous.]
Here's the tune and lyrics for the African American circle game "Green Sally Up" as recorded by Moby:
Flowers (with Lyrics) - Moby (Bring Sally Up and Bring Sally Down Song)
All In One, Published on Mar 10, 2017
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GREEN COLOR UP (a contemporary circle game based on the African American children's circle game "Green Sally Up"
(created by Azizi Powell, 1990, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Performance Directions For "Green Color Up":
1. Players form a large circle.
2. A person is designated as the "Caller". The same person remains the caller throughout the entire rendition of this game.
3. The Caller calls out the color "Green". (If no one in the group has on an outfit with the color "green", the game start with another color).
4. Everyone who has the color "green" on quickly moves to the center of the circle. (People wearing an outfit that has that color can also remain where they are if they so choose.) **
5. Everyone claps their hands and stomp their feet to the beat while singing.
6. The people who have on the color that is called out raise both of their hands in the air and sway back and forth while singing this portion of the song.
6. The people who don't have that color on, strike a pose while folding their arms.
7. The Caller randomly calls out another color. The people in the center of the ring who don't have an outfit on that has that color in it quickly leave the center of the circle. At the same time, people who do have that color on quickly enter the center of the circle.
8. Follow the directions that have already been given, and continue this pattern until all of the colors (for outfits in that people are wearing) are called out.
** I made this rule because I noticed that some children were shy about moving to the center when they were there alone, or even when there were other people in the center.
"GREEN COLOR UP" LYRICS:
Caller - Green!
Caller & Group - Green color up.
Green color down.
Green color all around the town.
If you have on green, just raise your hands.
If you do not, just fold your arms.
Caller- Yellow!
Caller - Green!
Caller & Group - Green color up.
Green color down.
Green color all around the town.
If you have on green, just raise your hands.
If you do not, just fold your arms.
-composed by Azizi Powell, 1999 (c)Azizi Powell, 1999
I created this game in 1990 after unsuccessfully trying to introduce "Green Sally Up" to the children in my Alafia Children's Ensemble game song groups. Unfortunately, I don't have any sound files or videos of this game.
I became aware of the 1950s "Green Sally Up" game after someone gifted me with the multi-CD Sounds Of The South album. Before teaching this game to the group of children and their accompanying adults (who attended these sessions and were always encouraged to join in the play), I explained its background and the meaning of the song's words. However, I gave up after several tries as I could see that the children didn't like the game and particularly had difficulty with the "last one squat gotta tear the ground" line. I think that might have been because "squatting down to the ground" is something that little children might be allowed to do in selected places outside when they have to pee and they aren't near any bathroom.
While playing "Green Color Up" some children would complain that another child or other children shouldn't go into the center of the circle because that child or children only had a little bit of a certain color in their shirt, pants, or hat. I redirected them, advising them to focus on themselves and not on other people. Also, some children wanted to count the color of their underwear. I told them that that doesn't count.
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