This is one of my new favorites! I first saw it in Ruth Crawford Seeger’s American Folk Songs for Children, but I’ve since seen it in some of my other collections as well.
Lyrics:
Johnny, get your hair cut, hair cut, hair cut
Johnny, get your hair cut, just like me!
It obviously lends itself well for a child about to get a haircut, but, as with all these folk songs, the lyrics can be modified for the situation. I find it’s a good song for encouraging a child to do something you’d like them to be doing. Instead of nagging, try singing, and see!
Some examples:
Daniel, put your coat on, coat on, coat on
Daniel, put your coat on, just like me
or…
Amy, go to sleep now, sleep now, sleep now, etc.
or, don’t even use a name…
Now it’s time for dinner, dinner, dinner
Now it’s time for dinner, come join me!
I also liked this idea of “copying” what another kid is doing to encourage a group to follow.
Charlie, let’s clean up now, up now, up now
Charlie, let’s clean up now, just like me
then…
We can copy Charlie, Charlie, Charlie
We can copy Charlie, Just you see!
As I’m searching for a video or recording of this that I really like, I’m realizing I may have to record my own. It’s lesser known, perhaps, and there are fewer choices. There’s also the related “Hey, Betty Martin,” which is a fun one for movement. Check it out!
And despite my comment about formally trained voices in the SRF homepage, I actually really enjoy this one.