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Original poster

To remember this primary school song?

113 replies

funnytimes1 · 02/01/2024 18:34

Sorry, this is a bit random and pointless and possibly a bit of a niche memory! But it suddenly popped into my head earlier today!

im 25 and went to primary school between 2003-2010 so not even that long ago, but I remember singing songs in the assembly and one of them stuck in my mind so clearly I can still remember it word for word.

‘if you’re feeling sad and weary and you’re down in the dumps there’s something you can do…
don’t be grumpy
don’t go on and on
don’t be grumpy
don’t go and spoil the fun’

obviously hindsight is a wonderful thing and it’s not fair to put 2024 standards on something from 20 years ago but wow that hasn’t aged well very at all! The motto of the song (as i remember it anyway so maybe wrong) was that if you’re sad you shouldn’t talk about it and bring other people down, probably not the best mental health message to send to kids and I imagine it’s not sung too often anymore!

not even sure what the point of this post is sorry!

(and on a more cheerful note- does anyone else remember a song called build up?? And another about a chicken or Easter chick or something like that? That was the best assembly tune!!! 🤣)

OP posts:
Morph22010 · 16/03/2025 20:08

does Anyone remember we’re all going on a buffalo hunt, it was pretty much the same as going on a bear hunt book but earlier, teacher would say a line and we’d all repeat. First lines were

we’re all going in a buffalo hunt

got my gun

and my holster by my side…

hereismydog · 16/03/2025 20:04

DP and I sing Cross Over the Road when we walk the dog 😁🤣 it started when we were training him to wait at the kerb until we said it was time to cross and one of us started humming it. It stuck so now we sing it to him to tell him it’s time to cross the road 😁

Cross over the road, my friend! 🎶

Pootles34 · 16/03/2025 20:00

Such a lovely thread! Id forgotten loads of these.

@BarnacleBeasley they do it quite a bit round here - I guess it's tricky to do so something that requires lots of practice!

Morph22010 · 16/03/2025 19:59

Goandygo · 12/03/2025 13:36

My favourite is I saw the grass, I saw the trees.
I love all hymns but that one immediately takes me back 50 years ❤️

And I saw the faces of men more clearly as if I had never been blind, the lines of envy around their lips and the greed and the hate in their eyes….

MementoMountain · 16/03/2025 19:59

Clarinet1 · 02/01/2024 19:03

One I’ve only ever heard at one of my primary schools was:
At half past three
We go home to tea
Or maybe at quarter to four
And ten pairs of feet
Go rushing down the street
And knocking at the old front door
There’s rough and tumble
Clatter and Noise
Brothers and sisters
Girls and boys
Baby in the carrycot
Tucked by the stove
A little bit of worry
And a lot of love!

Ours had a "cat by the stove" but was otherwise the same!

Morph22010 · 16/03/2025 19:57

Anyone remember ta ra ra bum de day? We definately sang some interesting songs ar primary in the early 80s

Daddydog · 16/03/2025 19:53

Sahara123 · 12/03/2025 14:59

Also a great one , something about cauliflowers fluffy and cabbages green ! And something about a blankety bed !

My brain immediately filled in...

"The apples are ripe, the plums are red
The broad beans are sleepin' in a blankety bed"

I swear Come and Praise 1 & 2 was some government mind control experiment!

Sahara123 · 12/03/2025 14:59

Also a great one , something about cauliflowers fluffy and cabbages green ! And something about a blankety bed !

Sahara123 · 12/03/2025 14:58

babybythesea · 02/01/2024 19:12

The one I found myself singing in the car the other week was:
Love is something if you give it away,
Give it away, give it away.
Love is something if you give it away,
You end up having more.

Its just like a magic penny,
Hold it tight and you won’t have any,
Lend it spend it and you’ll have so many,
They’ll roll all over the floor, for…

Back to the start.

Oh my kids used to sing this, I’d forgotten it 🥰

Cotswoldmama · 12/03/2025 14:54

I used to love the 'milk bottle tops and paper bags' song

Middleagedstriker · 12/03/2025 14:54

My favourites were
On top of spaghetti all covered in cheese I lost my poor meatball when somebody sneezed

My grandfathers clock was to tall for the shelf so it stood 30 years on the floor.

And

Lord of the dance

GentianCoffee · 12/03/2025 14:50

Glad That I Live Am I

Goandygo · 12/03/2025 13:36

My favourite is I saw the grass, I saw the trees.
I love all hymns but that one immediately takes me back 50 years ❤️

DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe · 12/03/2025 13:31

Mumoftwo1312 · 02/01/2024 19:06

I don't know that one, but at primary school we sang one that went...

When you go into a sweet shop
And you buy a sticky sweet
Don't take the paper off
And throw it in the street!
Find a bin, find a bin
Find a bin, find a bin
Find a bin and put it in!

I've never heard it since and no one I sing it at has heard of it. But it was an excellent, toe tapping number

That sounds like something they'd teach their kids in a communist country: a worthy message but maybe a bit too full-on?!

The 'don't be grumpy' one reminds me very much of Don't Worry, Be Happy - I don't like that one either, as it seeks to mask and minimise some very valid concerns.

BarnacleBeasley · 12/03/2025 13:31

I've always been a bit sceptical about the jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled, but just now been inspired to google it. Turns out it is a thing, but not that frequent and mainly used in military operations, so I still think it doesn't merit inclusion as the third item in a list of 'all these things I love so well' about autumn days.

My favourite was When A Knight Won His Spurs' though it used to annoy me how everyone would try and rhyme valiant with gallant. Galliant, ffs.

MellowPinkDeer · 12/03/2025 13:28

Everyone needs to follow Jamesbpartridge on Intsa - will change your life

Probablygreen · 12/03/2025 13:24

Daddydog · 02/01/2024 21:43

Anyone remember 'Autumn Days'?

It was on BBC radio the other day and it unlocked so many memories of primary school!!

"Scent of gardens when the rain's been falling
And a minnow darting down a stream
Picked-up engine that's been stuttering and stalling
And a win for my home team!!!"

We'd get so excited for that last line as we would all jump around belting it like football hooligans! Such magical, simpler times!!

So I mustn’t forget
No I mustn’t forgeeeeeet!
To say a great big thank you,
I mustn’t forget.

😁 We did the same thing as you for that last line!

galaxygirl01 · 12/03/2025 13:19

Mumoftwo1312 · 02/01/2024 19:06

I don't know that one, but at primary school we sang one that went...

When you go into a sweet shop
And you buy a sticky sweet
Don't take the paper off
And throw it in the street!
Find a bin, find a bin
Find a bin, find a bin
Find a bin and put it in!

I've never heard it since and no one I sing it at has heard of it. But it was an excellent, toe tapping number

@Mumoftwo1312 Did you grow up in Bridlington?

Inca22 · 03/01/2024 00:02

@babybythesea I loved that song. Actually I loved all primary school songs. I was talking to my adult daughter the other day and agreed singing everyday is very good for the soul!

Daddydog · 02/01/2024 21:43

Anyone remember 'Autumn Days'?

It was on BBC radio the other day and it unlocked so many memories of primary school!!

"Scent of gardens when the rain's been falling
And a minnow darting down a stream
Picked-up engine that's been stuttering and stalling
And a win for my home team!!!"

We'd get so excited for that last line as we would all jump around belting it like football hooligans! Such magical, simpler times!!

SpongeBobSquarePantaloons · 02/01/2024 20:30

Sneezein3 · 02/01/2024 18:53

I’m a spring chicken, yellow and small,
my feathers are fluffy and they’re keeping me warm….

My legs are not long so I'll never be tall!
But I'm a real spring chicken and I'm having a ball!

AllIsCalmButImNotBright · 02/01/2024 20:08

@ShoesoftheWorld
We did 'Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile' - similarish message, but a song from WWI, when getting on with it was kind of essential.

And the next lines are
While there’s a Lucifer to light your fag
Smile, boys, that’s the style.

(Lucifer is a brand of matches, fag = cigarette. Then.)

riotlady · 02/01/2024 20:01

babybythesea · 02/01/2024 19:12

The one I found myself singing in the car the other week was:
Love is something if you give it away,
Give it away, give it away.
Love is something if you give it away,
You end up having more.

Its just like a magic penny,
Hold it tight and you won’t have any,
Lend it spend it and you’ll have so many,
They’ll roll all over the floor, for…

Back to the start.

Totally forgot about that one til now, you’ve just unlocked a memory!

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 02/01/2024 19:25

Sneezein3 · 02/01/2024 18:53

I’m a spring chicken, yellow and small,
my feathers are fluffy and they’re keeping me warm….

Oh my DS did that one - he's a similar age to you OP.

I quite like your don't be grumpy verse - if I knew the tune I would sing it to DH (Mr
Grump McGrump!)