This Is the Day Words: Phillis Gershator, adapting a traditional song Music: traditional, adapted by Yonah Gershator Arranged by Yonah Gershator and Dave Hall Sung by Yonah Gershator ****
Lyics follow the text of This Is the Day: "This is the day we give babies away with a half a pound of tea...."	This Is the Day!  by Phillis Gershator illustrated by Marjorie Priceman Houghton Mifflin  2007

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Summer Is Summer Words: Phillis and David Gershator Music: David Gershator Arranged by Dave Hall  Sung by Yonah Gershator ****
Lyrics follow the text of Summer Is Summer: "A rose is a rose and everything grows when summer is summer is summer...."	Summer Is Summer by Phillis and David Gershator illustrated by Sophie Blackall Holt  2006

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Kallaloo Words: David and Phillis Gershator Music: David Gershator Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by Yonah Gershator Backing vocals: Dave Hall & Yonah ****

If you feel hungry-hungry, belly talk to you. Don’t worry at all. Granny knows what to do: mix fish and onions, ham and spinach, too, crab and okra in Granny’s Kallaloo. Clap your hands, stamp your feet if you’re ready for an island treat. Hullabaloo, what a hullabaloo! Hullabaloo for kallaloo! If you feel hungry-hungry, add a scoop or two of yellow cornmeal fungi in your bowl of stew. Your belly will be happy and say for true thank you, thank you, thank you for a lovely kallaloo. Clap your hands, stamp your feet if you’re ready for an island treat. Hullabaloo, what a hullabaloo! Hullabaloo for kallaloo! If you feel hungry-hungry, if you’re feeling blue, don’t worry at all now, you know what to do. Call your friends and neighbors to come and eat with you and cook them up a big pot of hearty kallaloo. Clap your hands, stamp your feet if you’re ready for an island treat. Hullabaloo, what a hullabaloo! Hullabaloo for kallaloo!

Kallaloo! by David & Phillis Gershator illustrated by Diane Greenseid Little Bell Caribbean, 2013

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Moon Rooster Words and music: David Gershator Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by Dave Hall Animals: Dave & Yonah ****
Song as it appears in Moon Rooster: "Every night I crow and crow...." (See Moon Rooster page.)	Moon Rooster by David and Phillis Gershator illustrated by Angel Velazco Little Bell Caribbean 2015

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Bread Is for Eating Words and music: David Gershator Arranged by Yonah Gershator and Dave Hall Sung by David Gershator with Yonah Gershator ****
Song as it appears in Bread Is for Eating: "El pan es para comer...."	Bread Is for Eating by David and Phillis Gershator illustrated by Emma Shaw-Smith Holt  1995

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Greetings, Sun Words and music: David Gershator                   Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by Yonah Gershator ****

Greetings, sun, and how are you? I am fine today. I’m glad you shine on and on, lighting up my way. Light my way, light my way, lighting up my way. Light my way. Shine on and on lighting up my way. Greetings, sun, high in the sky. Can you hear me say I’m glad you shine on and on, lighting up my way. Light my way, light my way, lighting up my way. Light my way. Shine on and on, lighting up my way. Try singing more verses. Greet everything under the sun! And greet the moon and planets, too....

Greetings, Sun by Phillis and David Gershator illustrated by Synthia Saint James DK Ink  1998

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Rata-pata-scata-fata Words and music: David Gershator Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by Dave Hall with Yonah Gershator Backing vocals: Dave Hall & Yonah ****

Some say this and some say that. Some say hold on to your hat. But there’s one thing I can say. It’s my message for today: [refrain] Rata pata scata fata. Rata pata scata fata. Rata pata scata fata. Rata pata scata fata. Some say yes and some say no. Hurry up and take it slow. But there’s one thing I can say. It’s my message for today: refrain Some say worse and some say better. It depends upon the weather. But there’s one thing I can say. It’s my message for today: refrain Some say high and some say low. Some say that’s the way to go. But there’s one thing I can say. It’s my message for today: refrain All good wishes will come true. Yes, indeed, I hope they do. And there’s one thing I can say to make good wishes come your way: refrain

Rata-pata-scata-fata by Phillis Gershator illustrated by Holly Meade Star Bright  2005

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Tukama's Song Words: David and Phillis Gershator               after traditional children's chants Music by David Gershator Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by David Gershator Backing vocals: Dave Hall & Yonah ****

Tanto tanto tanto. (x2) Oh, Tukama play the flute. Play the flute Tukama. Tanto tanto taya. Tamarind, papaya. Mama lama cuma lama. Mama lama laya. Tanto tanto tanto. (x2) Oh, the woman merry sipping quavaberry. Tanto tanto tango. Fig banana, mango. Mama lama cuma lama. Papa lama jango. Tanto tanto tanto. (x2) Oh, the woman merry sipping quavaberry. Tanto tanto taya. Tamarind, papaya. Mama lama cuma lama. Mama lama laya. Tanto tanto tanto. (x2) Oh, Tukama play the flute. Play the flute Tukama.

Tukama Tootles the Flute retold by Phillis Gershator illustrated by Synthia Saint James Orchard  1994

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When It Starts to Snow Words: Phillis and David Gershator Music: David Gershator Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by Yonah Gershator and Dave Hall ****

What if it starts to snow? What do you do? Where do you go? “I creep into the house,” says the mouse. Cold winds blow when it starts to snow. “I keep watch,” says the shiny black crow. Caw caw caw when it starts to snow. Snow, snow, snow, when it starts to snow. “I run to a place where the grasses grow,” says the deer when it starts to snow. “We fly south,” say the geese all in a row. Honk honk honk when it starts to snow. Snow, snow, snow, when it starts to snow. The turtle says “Into the mud I go.” Frog says “Me too” when it starts to snow. The otter says “I go with the flow.” Slip slip slide when it starts to snow. Snow, snow, snow, when it starts to snow. What if it starts to snow? What do you do? Where do you go? “Look!” says the bear. “The snow is deep. Deep, deep, deep. It’s time to sleep.”

When It Starts to Snow by Phillis Gershator illustrated by Martin Matje Holt  1998

Come Back, Come Back Words and music: David Gershator Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by Dave Hall Backing vocals: Yonah ****

Catch the flash of a hummingbird on a nectar hunting spree. Come back, come back to this garden in the middle of the sea. Tell your tales to the islands. Secret treasures fill the sea. Watch the sailboats in the harbor wave to Charlotte Amalie. refrain (2x) Come back, come back to this garden in the middle of the sea. Watch out for the tamarind. There’s a jumbi in that tree. If you pass by in the moonlight it will never set you free. Go out for a midnight ride and the moon will be your guide, gliding on a shining ocean, mermaids dancing by your side. refrain (2x) Let hibiscus be your flower. It lasts only for a day, gives its heart to the hummingbirds. They come and go and fly away. refrain (2x)

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Life Is a Dream Words and Music: David Gershator, with thanks to Calderón! Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by David Gershator Backing vocals: Dave Hall & Yonah **** (2x) Si toda la vida es sueño y nada mas que sueño.   If what’s seeming only seems and if dreaming’s only dreams then we’ll dream and sing along, singing a dreamtime song. (2x) Si toda la vida es sueño y nada mas que sueño. (2x) Todo todito es sueño. Todo todito todo. Todo todito todo. (4x) If what’s seeming only seems and if dreaming’s only dreams then we’ll dream and sing along, singing a dreamtime song, singing a dreamtime song.

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Sleep Song Words: Phillis and David Gershator Music: David Gershator Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by Yonah Gershator and Dave Hall **** Snuggle up quick. Let’s close our eyes before the sun begins to rise. Night goes fast, fast as day. A summer’s night is on the way. Snails lie low, tree frogs peep: [2x] Goodnight, goodnight. Sleep, sleep, sleep. Night goes fast, fast as day. An autumn night is on the way. Birds fly south, leaves in a heap. [2x] Chilly winds sigh sleep, sleep, sleep. Night goes fast, fast as day. A winter night is on the way. Snow so cold, so white, so deep-- [2x] snowflakes whisper sleep, sleep, sleep. Night goes fast, fast as day. A springtime night is on the way. Birds fly north. Cheep, cheep, cheep. [2x] Garden crickets chirp sleep, sleep, sleep. Night goes fast, fast as day. Snuggle up and dream away. Kittens, puppies, ponies, sheep-- [2x] we all go to sleep, sleep, sleep.

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Moon Song Words: Phillis and David Gershator Music: David Gershator Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by Yonah Gershator with Dave Hall **** Stars low, moon high, I will sing you a lullaby. Flute and drum, harp and horn, moon shining bright till early morn. Close your eyes, my little one. Mama’s here, sweet dreams will come. Stars low, moon high, I will sing you a lullaby. Flute and drum, whistle and bell, every star has a story to tell. High in the sky, old moon and new, Mama sings moon songs to you. Stars low, moon high, I will sing you a lullaby. Flute and drum, rattle and rhyme, Mama loves you all the time. Daytime, nighttime, rain or shine, I am yours and you are mine. I am yours and you are mine.

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Hush, Little Bird Words: Phillis Gershator, after traditional lullabies Music: David Gershator Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by Yonah Gershator  Backing vocals: Dave Hall & Yonah                                          ****

Hush, little bird. I’ll sing you a song. Do you want to know where Papa’s gone? Papa’s gone fishing for fish in the sea to bring home a fish for Baby and me. Hush, little bird. I’ll sing you a song. Do you want to know where Mama’s gone? Mama’s gone to market, to market to buy bean cakes for Baby so Baby won’t cry. Hush, little bird. Fold up your wings. Close your sleepy eyes when the singer sings. Mama’s coming home. Papa won’t be long. Hush, little bird. I’ll sing you one more song. Hush, little bird. I’ll sing you one more song.

The Babysitter Sings by Phillis Gershator illustrated by Mélisande Potter Holt  2004

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Where Did the Baby Go? Words: David & Phillis Gershator Music: David Gershator Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by Yonah Gershator Backing vocals: Dave Hall & Yonah ****

Where did the baby go this morning? Where did the baby go Did the baby go a-sailing? Does anybody know?  Where did the sailboats go this morning? Where did the sailboats go?  Did they head for the horizon where treasure lies below?  Where did the tradewinds blow this morning? Where did the tradewinds blow? The sailors ‘round the harbor say “We’ll tell you what we know:  “The tradewinds blow from east to west.  That’s how the tradewinds blow,  all the way from Africa. That’s how the currents flow. “The wind will blow the sailboats home, their white sails all aglow. The sailboats will come home again, with a little boat in tow.” Where did the baby go this morning? Where did the baby go? Out to sea and back again, rocking to and fro, over the horizon wherever tradewinds blow. The Mourning Dove Words and music: David Gershator Arranged by Dave Hall Sung by Yonah Gershator **** Good morning, morning. Good morning, mourning dove. Who are you calling? Are you calling your true love? Coo coo coo. The mourning dove calls you. Coo coo coo. The mourning dove calls you. Buenos, buenos días, paloma, palomita. ¿A quién estás llamando mi linda palomita? Cu cu ru. Te llama la paloma. Cu cu ru. Te llama la paloma. Good morning, morning. Good morning, mourning dove. Who are you calling? Are you calling your true love? Sing to the doves all over the world! All songs © 2008 by David & Phillis Gershator (ASCAP)

Where Did the Baby Go?                                 by David and Phillis Gershator illustrated by Phillis Gershator Little Bell Caribbean  2016

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