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Forgot My Oars by Tim Seston - About the Album




Forgot My Oars is a collection of songs I sing with my students at Milldam Nursery School in Concord, MA. Some songs were written in recent years while others have been part of my school repertoire for over a decade. All have found their way into the classroom where they compliment the work being done by the preschool teachers.


The title track evolved from the traditional song Row Your Boat. Instead of rowing "gently down the stream" we rowed to all sorts of places. Then instead of "Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily" I sang - "I forgot my pair of oars." Finally I ended the verse with some object that rhymed with the new place. As the song continued to progress I changed the tune and played around with the structure to get to the version I recorded for the CD.


The other tunes on the album each have their own stories. The common factor is that each song has been played in the classroom and changed over time as I have figured out what works with different age groups, different teachers, and different individual children. Ultimately, I recorded these songs in my living room with just my voice and my guitar. The goal of the album is that each listener gets the feel of joining me for a private concert.


The artwork of the album cover is a modified photo taken at sunset in Maine where I go each summer to be with family, relax, and take a rowboat out on the lake. Even if I do forget the oars, I can always jump in for a swim.


Forgot My Oars became available on all platforms on Friday, October 7th, 2022. Scroll down for more about each song. Full Lyrics and “Behind the Scenes” notes can be found on individual song pages in the links at the bottom of this page.



Animal Parade




One day while I was walking and happened by a field

A parade came out from nowhere, my family had to yield

In front there was a farmer his best friend by his side

A long haired border collie with blue eyes all full of pride.


It barked just once to order the rest to fall in line

5 cows, 4 sheep, 3 donkeys, 2 horses and a swine

Moo, Moo, Baa, Baa, Hee Haw, Neigh, Neigh, Oink and Moo

Moo, Moo, Baa, Baa, Hee Haw, and another Hee Haw too


The cows wore bells around their necks,

each played a different note . . .


.



Butterfly on my Nose




Now a butterfly has the brightest colorful wings I’ve ever seen Patterns of red and yellow and blue, purple and orange and green From its chrysalis it hatches out to the world where it is free And this is the story of yesterday when a butterfly landed on me . . .



Charlie at the Farm




Little Charlie was surrounded

By the sounds that nature made

He sat listening quite astounded

In the shadows of the shade


He was left there in his buggy

By his folks to take a nap

The air was still, hot and muggy

As he fiddled with his strap


Way up above a squirrel gnawed

On some acorns in the tree . . .



Cookie Recipe




I was mixing the flour, sugar and butter,

Baking soda and salt

Eggs, brown sugar, vanilla,

When somebody hollered, “HALT!!!”


"You can’t make a cookie recipe – like that

It doesn’t make any sense

If you’re gonna feed hungry children

You gotta use more ingredients."


"Like what” I said, “Can you help me out?

Can you tell me please what it’s all about?

Can you help me make a tasty treat?

That all the children in the world will like to eat . . .



David and the Mosquito




After the hours for work and for play

We sat down to talk and recap the whole day

When all of a sudden, David said, “Ouch”

Then he jumped to his feet and over the couch

To catch a mosquito flying quickly away


That poor little bugger, he said in a fit

I swear it’s the last time I’ll ever get bit

I’m going to find each and every last one . . .




Do You Like to be Scared




Do you like to be scared - Well I hope that you do

So gather real close cause I'm gonna say boo


What is orange and green and lives on your porch

Has a hole in the middle just right for a torch

It has jaggedy teeth and triangular eyes

If you said a . . .



Find a Color




What are you going to do hey

What are you going to do


Put your hands up on your head

Look around for something red


Reach down and touch your shoe

Look around for something blue


Let's wave to the music fellow . . .



Five Pancakes




I found 5 pancakes here on my plate

I'll eat just one, I might be late

I'll grab my coat, run out the door

But wait . . .



Forgot My Oars




I was out on my boat.

On a beautiful lake

I forgot my pair of oars

But I had a rake


So I paddled along

The best way that I could

And I thought to myself . . .



Four Princesses




Come hear a story of a king who lived down by the bay

With his queen he ruled the land in a kind and gentle way

And he had four young daughters, who studied and were smart

They learned all about philosophy, science, math and art


All four of these fine princesses began to hone a skill

So after graduation each could follow their own will

And the royal king he watched his daughters grow up far to fast

But he worried for his youngest girl . . .



Good to Have You Here




Hey everybody, welcome everybody

Hey everybody it’s good to have you here


We’re going to clap our hands, stomp our feet

Move to the rhythm of the guitar beat

We’re going to sing our song as the music plays

Welcome everybody . . .



One That Got Away




Oh the little fish go splish splash splish

As they hear the story unfold

A warning with this water myth

Helps the little fishies grow old.


Sal swam near the surface of Tuckerman Lake

Her fins flipped so fast they created a wake

She darted beneath the old wooden dock . . .



Pretend You're a Rocket



Hey everybody, come pretend with me

Is everybody ready to play.

Ten, nine, eight seven, six, five, four

Three, two, one, zero, away.


Pretend you’re a rocket on the launching pad

Wave a final goodbye to your mom and dad

Put your feet together, raise your hands up high . . .



Shake an Egg




I think I’ll make, make, make

Up a song, song, song

So we can shake, shake, shake,

The whole day long, long, long.


So shake your leg, leg, leg

And shake your hand, hand, hand

Then shake your egg, egg, egg

And join my . . .



Swimming Up the River




Swimming up the river on a sunny day

Water's so warm for the fish to play

They dive over boulders that are sunk in the ground

Some are so big that they have to go around


Swimming up the river on a sunny day

Lots of debris getting in their way

So they dive to the bottom . . .



Up in the Sky




Way up in the sky where we cannot go

Live all the little snowflakes that I know

But one snowflake from the time she was small

Dreamed about the day she would get to fall


Now this one snowflake had peculiar thoughts

Of floating through the air only to be caught

On top of a tip . . .



Forgot My Oars


Animal Parade
Butterfly on my Nose
Charlie at the farm
cookie Recipe
david and the Mosquito
do you like to be scared
find a color
five pancakes
Forgot my oars
four Princesses
good to have you here
one that got away
pretend you're a rocket
shake an egg
swimming up the river
Up in the sky
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166 Main Street, Concord, MA 01742





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