Stayin Over

BACK to Peter's Song List

STAYIN’ OVER BUY IT NOW!!

Stayin’ Over I Cried (Ruth Pelham)

Bigger, Bigger, Bigger Juice

I Wanna Try It No Excuse T’Use Booze!

Dear Mr. President (Bob Blue) Aaargh!

Us Kids Brush Our Teeth Rachel And The Moon

If You Love A Hippopotamus Where Will I Go?

(Connie Kaldor)

You’re Okay! Go To Sleep You Little Creep

STAYIN’ OVER

All the parents gave permission

Everyone can come tonight!

Bring some pillows for ammunition

We might have a pillow fight!

Pack your toothbrush and your toothpaste

Bring your sleeping bag and tapes

We got towels, you bring your 'P.J.'s

We got popcorn, juice and grapes!

Stayin' over, stayin' over, we're stayin' o-ver!

We'll tell bad jokes and watch TV

Drink hot chocolate from a cup

We might make-up scary stories

We might watch the moon come up!

We’ll dress the dog up, just to tease her

We’ll laugh and whisper all night long

I’ll hide your socks inside the freezer

Then we can dance and sing this song!

Chorus

BIGGER, BIGGER, BIGGER

Sometimes when I ask you if you’ve got time to play C-G

You say “Not right now, I’m just too busy! Go away” G-G7-C-C7

But when you’re in a hurry, and I am moving slow F-E-Am-Am7

You pick me up and carry me, and, (whistle!) off we go! D9-G(stop)

Cho: You’re bigger, bigger, bigger than me! C

Bigger, bigger, bigger than me! G

N’you can make me do things, even when I don’t agree C-C7-F

Cause you’re bigger, C

Bigger, bigger, bigger than me! G-C

Just because you’re bigger, that does not mean

That your head always figures out, the best ideas for me!

Sometimes I get great big ideas in this little head of mine

But you won’t get to hear them, if you don’t take the time!

Chorus

Sometimes I ask questions, n’you don’t pay attention

You say “Just a minute!” then you pick up the phone

And that minute turns to hours, while I wait there on the floor

And when you’re done, my question’s gone! I can’t remember anymore!

Chorus (And you can make me wait for all eternity!)

There’s always someone bigger, who’ll disagree with you

And sometimes make you do things that you, don’t want to do

Big people throw their weight around, when they’re feeling bad

So please don’t pass it on to me if someone bigger made you mad

Chorus: (So don’t just make me do it, find a way to help me see)

No, don’t just make me do it, find a way to help me see,

Cause I love you, and you’re

Bigger, bigger, bigger than me!

Without passing judgment on the outcome, it helps if a parent can consider a child’s sense of powerlessness

before forcing them to do something they don’t want to do.

On Stayin’ Over - www.peteralsop.com

I WANNA TRY IT!

I wanna try it! I wanna try it!

Give me a chance to learn

I wanna try it! I wanna try it!

It's my turn!

Chorus

My Dad bought a toy for me,

He opened up the box

He read directions, set it up,

Then he broke it while I watched! Not again Dad!

Chorus

My grandma said she'd teach me how to

Bake a cake with her.

But she did everything herself,

And she'd only let me stir! Awww Grandma!

Chorus

Sometimes I do jigsaw puzzles

All spread out on the floor

My Mom comes, finds all the pieces

Then it's no fun no more! Yeah,

My sister says that math is easy,

She says "It’s really fun!"

She helped me with my homework problems,

But she finished everyone! And that's okay, but,

Chorus

I'm too young, or I'm too little, or

I’m not strong enough!

What I am is, 'tired of watching'

You guys do my stuff! Yeah,

I already watched you do it!

An' I sat patiently

I know I can do it now,

C'mon, hand it over to me!

Chorus

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT

by Bob Blue

A-Em9/A

Dear Mr. President, I am in second grade. D-G

My teacher thought that I should write this down for you. A-A7-D

I don’t know why he thinks that you’d be interested. D-G

You have so many things to do. A-A7-D

Last week at show and tell, I shared my sticker book, G-D

And Michael Urgo said that he had one like mine. A-A7-D

I said I had about two hundred stickers now. G-D

He said he had five hundred nine. E-E7-A7sus4-A7

I got home after school, picked up my piggy bank,

Emptied it out, and then I laughed and put it down.

I went to “Favorite Things.” It’s like a sticker store.

Maybe they have one in your town.

I got more stickers than I prob’ly should have got.

I brought ’em home and then I stuck ‘em in my book.

It took me very long, like maybe half a day.

Well, I’m not sure how long it took.

I brought ’em all to school, and Michael laughed at me.

He said at home he had a whole lot more than me.

He said his father owns a sticker factory,

And brought him home ten thousand three!

Called him a “dirty liar!” He called me something else,

Something my parents said a person shouldn’t say.

I told him “Cut it out!” He said “You make me stop!”

I hate when people talk that way.

Then I hit Michael’s arm. I know I shouldn’t hit,

But I was angry as an eight-year-old can be.

He hit me back of course. Soon we were fighting hard.

Me hitting him, him hitting me.

My mouth was full of blood. His nose was bleeding too.

We had to talk about it ’stead of having gym.

We should have gone to gym. The talk was really dumb,

Him blaming me, me blaming him.

I got home mad that day, threw out my sticker book.

I don’t know why I like those stickers anyway.

You just keep buying them to say you have the most.

That’s such a boring thing to say.

I save my money now. Soon I’ll buy better stuff,

Stuff that is useful, like a bicycle or sled.

And Michael’s friends with me. Showed me his sticker book,

Not quite as many as he said.

I cannot figure out why I am writing this.

Maybe my teacher thinks that you have stickers too.

Well, if you really do, why don’t you throw them out?

Sincerely, your friend, Tommy Drew.

On Stayin’ Over – www.peteralsop.com

US KIDS BRUSH OUR TEETH

When you're in a hurry and time's flying past

Sometimes you get mad 'cause I don’t move so fast

I'm still just a kid, bein' slow's not that bad

Please listen a minute, before you get mad

Us kids brush our teeth, the way that we do,

Because we are kids, and we're different than you!

First, I must move the stool into just the right place

Or I can't reach the sink, and I can't see my face

It's important to see just whose teeth I have brushed

So I'm slow and I'm careful, this step can’t be rushed.

Then I turn on the faucet, unless it's too tight

Sometimes I need two hands, t'get it just right!

'Cause water must trickle in just the right stream

Not too hot or too cold, but exactly between

Chorus

Next I take my toothbrush and make it all wet

So the toothpaste will stick to it better I bet!

Or maybe it's just to wash old germs away

I don't know for sure why, but kids do it this way.

Maybe it's 'cause when a toothbrush is dry

The toothpaste can splatter and get in your eye,

N'make spots on the mirror, so do not not forget

When y'load on your toothpaste, your brush must be wet!

Then I stick out my tongue and I taste the toothpaste

'Cause there might be some bad tasting stuff in it's place

You must not forget this, because if you do, well,

You might end up brushing your teeth with shampoo!

Next I squoosh up the tube in the middle and make

A big mess on the sink, with a long skinny snake

Kids must do their duty and do this because

It’s important to follow Kid-Toothbrushing-Laws

Chorus

Now the easiest part is brushing the teeth

I rub it upstairs and around underneath

And wiggle and wobble the edge of my gums

And sweep out the leftover pieces of crumbs

Then I blow a big bubble and dribble my spit,

All foamy and white, down the drain, like a pit!

And I count all the pieces of food that I cleaned!

Fill my mouth up with water and squirt little streams

That rinse out the sink and spray rivers and rain

And wash all those food pieces right down the drain

Next I rinse off the toothbrush, get all of the suds

Then give my old toothbrush, five solid thuds (1-2-3-4-5)

On the edge of the sink, like I'm playing a drum

It won't knock all the drops off, but it'll knock some!

Wipe my face with a towel, put my toothbrush away,

Then get a dry shirt, put the wet one away

Chorus

I know your way's faster for you, so it's better,

And I'm just a kid now, but I won't be forever

My face in my mirror looks just like yours did

If you look in your mirror, you can still see that kid

Chorus (Because we are kids, once you were one too!)

IF YOU LOVE A HIPPOPOTAMUS

by Connie Kaldor

If you love a hippopotamus

And you love her 'alotamus'

She will be your friend

And that can be mighty handy now and then

'Cause if you're stuck outside

And the door on the house won't budge

Your friend the Hippo can lean on it

And give it an extra nudge (crash!)

Chorus

If you want a cookie

But it's too high on the shelf

You can climb on the back of a Hippopotamus

And get one for yourself! (and one for ME too!)

Chorus

When you go to bed

If you find that you just can't sleep

Late at night, your friend the Hippo

Into your room will creep

She'll sing you a lullabye

'Til you begin to snore

Then she'll tiptoe out

Hippotamusly and slam the door (crash!)

Chorus

YOU’RE OKAY!

Our cat Carlos has dandruff,

Our dog Homer has fleas (scratch, scratch)

Daddy's breath in the morning

Smells like very old cheese! (p.u.!)

My big sister has pimples

That just won't go away (oh no!)

If something’s wrong with you too, then you're okay!

You're okay! Wha'd'you say!?

No need t'make a fuss!

If something's wrong with you too

Then you're like us!

My Uncle Luke is grumpy,

He never will say “Please” (humpf!)

Aunt Lois is much nicer,

But her perfume makes me sneeze! (ah-choo!)

Sometimes when Mom gets angry,

There's a bad word she will say, (breathe in!)

If something's wrong with you too, then you're okay!

Chorus

Stephanie chews her finger nails,

Although she knows it's wrong, (chomp, chomp!)

My brother thinks that he's too short,

And he thinks his tongue's too long (twoo lwong)

I pig out on candy,

And I never get straight "A"s, (oh well!)

Well, if something's wrong with you too, then you're okay!

Chorus

Now if this song is boring you,

Because you're not a clod, (not me!)

And y'never ever make mistakes,

And you're perfect, just like God (A-men)

Then we won't call you "snobby!",

Or tell you "go away!", 'cause, hey!

There's something wrong with you too, so you're okay!

Chorus (2X)

I CRIED

by Ruth Pelham

Today was real tough, I got out of bed

I brushed my teeth and then I held my head

And then I cried, cried, cried, cried.

I said "I won't wear those shoes, and I won't wear those socks

And I won't go to school if I can’t take my new rocks!”

And then I cried, cried, cried, cried.

Breakfast was a scene, I wouldn't eat my eggs

I got jelly in my hair and I got juice on my legs,

And then I cried, cried, cried, cried.

School was no better, my best friend was sick

I got a gumball on my homework and in gym I got kicked

And then I cried, cried, cried, cried.

I went home n'the house smelled great, fresh muffins out t'cool

My Daddy poured me a cup of milk, then he hugged me warm and still

And then I cried, cried, cried, cried.

My Dad said "What is wrong?", and here's what I said,

I said, "I wish that you and my Mom could live together again."

And then I cried, cried, cried, cried.

"Your Mom and I are friends, no longer husband and wife,

But we will love you always, we'll love you all our lives."

And then we cried, cried, cried, cried.

Today was real tough. I got into bed

I snuggled with my teddy bear, and then laid down my head

And then I cried, cried, cried, cried.

Cried, cried, cried.

JUICE

Juice, juice, please pass the juice

Pass that juice along!

Juice, I've found, makes the world go 'round

When we got it we pass it on!

I love juice that comes from fruit

Cause it tastes sweet and fine

I can drink until my tummy's full, but that's

Not what I got in mind, when I say

Chorus

Now they got "juice" in a battery

Called e-lec-tri-city!

It cooks the food and runs TV, but that's

Not the juice I mean, when I say

Chorus

When you sit down, just t'be with me

That’s the "juice" I'm speaking of

When you take time t'be a friend of mine

You just fill me up with love! We all need that

Chorus

NO EXCUSE T’USE BOOZE!

There's no excuse t'use booze

All you get is confused

Booze makes a problem for you, so

There's no excuse t'use booze!

Chorus

Booze is bad for kids

Now we all know that's true

But some folks don't admit

That it's bad for the grown-ups too!

Chorus

One of my good friends

Offered me some beer

But I got "common sense"

So I whispered in his ear

Chorus

M'friend said "You’re no fun!"

"When there's booze around, I grab it!"

He got drunk, and he got sick,

If that's fun, well, he can have it!

Chorus

Now some kids drink at parties

'Cause they're feelin' bad inside

And sometimes gettin' loaded

Seems like a way to hide.

Yeah, sometimes life's a drag

An' it's tough t'be a kid

But you'll make it fine without drugs an' booze

Lots of other people did!

Chorus

AAARGH!

I am always good as gold G

I do exactly what I’m told G

I do what the grown-ups say F

I don’t complain, ‘cause it’s okay. D-D7-G

I don’t talk back, I don’t get mad

I don’t upset my Mom and Dad

I don’t get sick, I comb my hair

I wear clean socks and underwear

I fold my clothes and clean my room D-G

I dust and sweep and vac-cu-um D-G

I clean-up mud and dirt and grime D-G

I always go to bed on time C-D-G

But sometimes when I’m all alone Em

I have to sing this little song B7-C

It really helps me feel better A-D

If you want to, sing along, B7-E

Cho: Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go, E

Aaaaa-aaaaa-aaaaa-aaaaargh!

(Pant, pant, Let’s do it again, okay? C’mon!)

Aaaaa-aaaaa-aaaaa-aaaaargh!

(Pant, pant, there, now doesn’t that feel better?)

I don’t make noise or laugh or cry

I don’t stick out my tongue or lie

I don’t fidget, I sit still

When I have soup, I never spill, it!

I wash dishes ev’ry night

I do my homework, I don’t fight

I follow rules, I don’t chew gum

I never even sucked my thumb!

I never watch the T.V. set

At school, I am the teacher’s pet

I have the best grades on the list

Some day I’ll be a therapist!

Your parents prob’ly wanted you

To be a perfect kid like me

But maybe that’s a little crazy,

Sing along if you agree, . . .

Chorus

On Stayin’ Over, Family Roles, and Songs On Recovery & Addiction - www.peteralsop.com

RACHEL AND THE MOON

from a story by Rachel Barber, age 11

Fog drifted through the streets of the town

Leaving a misty trail

The fog horn bleated out on the point

And the moonlight glowed cold and pale, cold and pale.

No one was out in the cool night air

As Rachel lay in her room

And she wished that the fog would all roll away

To clear the sky for the Moon.

And she'd sing to herself,

Chorus:

The Moon is my friend.

It watches me, all night through.

The Moon keeps me safe

And it won't go to sleep, until I do.

Rachel knew how special she was

To have such a friend as the Moon

As she stared out her window, the fog rolled away,

And she kept on humming her tune.

And she'd sing to herself,

Chorus

Her father came in to kiss her "Goodnight"

And she told what her friend, the Moon, did.

That it watched her and followed wherever she went

And so wasn't he proud to have her as his kid?

And her father laughed "Yes!" he was proud and he

Hugged her, and up on his lap Rachel curled.

Then he smiled and kissed her, and told her "the Moon,

Follows everyone in the world."

Fog drifted through the streets of the town

Leaving a misty trail

The fog horn bleated out on the point

And the moonlight glowed cold and pale, cold and pale.

And Rachel lay wide awake on her bed

She was sure that her father was wrong

And the Moon couldn't sleep at all that night

And the fog hid the tears, that ran with her song.

And she'd sing to herself...

Chorus

WHERE WILL I GO?

I’m glad that I can ask you

About things that I don't know

Like, when my body dies

I wonder, where will I go?

Oh, where will I go

When I'm dead and gone?

Where will I go when I die?

If my body's down

In a hole in the ground,

Will I fly up in the sky?

Oh, where will I go when I die?

Dead goldfish go down the toilet bowl

Dead mice go out in the trash

My sick cat disappeared at the vets

And Grandma came home in a pot full of ashes!

Will I be a ghost in a haunted house?

Will I scare kids when I say "BOOO!!"

Will my foot hurt, when I kick the bucket?

I don't know, do you?

Oh, where will I go

When I'm dead and gone?

Where will I go when I die?

If my body's turned

Into smoke and burned,

Will I make a tear in your eye?

Oh, where will I go when I die?

Hey, maybe you could dress me up

And keep me around

Sit me in your kitchen chair

Then if you got lonely

And you needed someone,

I'd be right there!

Or you could hang me out

In the sun on your patio,

I'd dry hard as a stone

And the wind would make

Music on me, like a radio!

You could dance to my rattlin' bones!

Oh, where will I go

When I'm dead and gone?

Where will I go when I die?

If my body gives

Some parts t'save kids,

Will I disappear like a sigh?

Oh, where will I go when I die?

Some people say

We go up to Heaven,

Where no one's cold or scared.

I bet no one's

Lonely in Heaven,

They only let friendly people in there!

My questions make

Some people nervous,

"This stuff's not for kids!" they say,

I don't care if you don't know,

I need to ask you anyway,

Oh, where will I go

When I'm dead and gone?

Where will I go when I die?

If my "bod's" in a box

Down under the rocks,

Can I get cable T.V. inside?!

Oh, where will I go

Doesn't anyone know,

Tell me where will I go

When I die?!

GO TO SLEEP YOU LITTLE CREEP

Go to sleep you little creep

It’s time to get undressed

You're so cute when you're asleep

It's when I love you best

Brush your teeth and wash your face

And don't forget to go!

Then kiss and hug and pick a story

We can read it nice and slowly,

Climb in bed and rest your head

Down where it belongs

No more drinks, an' no more stories

This is your last song

Don't you see my angry face?

My ears are getting red

So cut your fussing, go to sleep!

Now get your butt in bed!

Tomorrow there's new things to break

Then you can turn life upside down

You've still got one good knee to scrape!

Now get in bed! Don't make me frown!

Grandma says when I was little

I would use ev'ry excuse to

Stay up late, she thinks it's funny

'Cause my kid acts like I used to.

Close your eyes, (and your mouth too)

Not one more peep, my little friend!

Go to sleep you little creep!

I can't wait for this day to end!!

When you sleep, you'll have sweet dreams

And peace the whole night through

But if you get up one more time,

If you get up one more time,

I'll stick you to your sheets with glue,

And get a cow to sit on your head

To keep you in bed,

And you'll get no more television

For the rest of your life!

So go to sleep you little creep

Us big folks really need a rest

We love you when you're wide awake,

But when you sleep, we love you best!