Can you remember the song(s ) that your mother used to sing whilst doing some particular household ch?

What a wonderful memory for you to have of your Mum. I don't recall my mom singing very much. She used to sing "Shortnin' Bread" which now seems somewhat morbid. When my children were little I would sing "Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird". I don't remember learning that song so I guessing my mom sang it to me when was an infant.

My son commented that he began to sing the same song to his children while he rocks them. He said he didn't even know he knew that song but there it was when he was rocking his babies. It's amazing that the brain could store a memory that long.

My mom was a 'hummer'. She never sang a song with lyrics that I

ever remember.But she'd hum either to the tune of the radio when it

was on, or she'd just hum while she'd work. And I found I did that af-

ter I grew up also. It seemed I found myself either humming or

singing some melody that came to mind when I'd do the more difficult

of tasks. It helped to spur me on and continue doing the chores I

disliked the most.

I find I still will hum or sing if I am engrossed in some physical

chore. I don't think about it, but suddenly I'm humming something,

or singing some well known lyrics and melodies.

Mom liked to sing but mostly when it was only us kids around--I don't think she had confidence in her voice (I liked it, it was a low alto). She'd first read to us, and then would sing us to sleep. Down in the valley, the valley so low. Scarlet Ribbons. Danny Boy (she liked Harry Belafonte). She also had songs from the depression that were real sad (why would you sing songs like that to kids?). I remember some song about a man who had no money and hadn't eaten for a while. He walks into a restaurant and sees table clothes and knows he can't eat there but he's so desperate he asks the waiter just for some water and the waiter kicks him out. That was the gist of the song and I can't remember the tune or any of the words but I knew it made me so mad that I'd end up arguing with mom about how the man just wanted water and water was free so it wouldn't have cost the restaurant anything, and then crying myself to sleep.

My mother was severely depressed for as far back as I can remember, and she spent very little time with me, but I remember a short period of time when my brothers were in school, and one brother had just begun living away in an institution because he was profoundly retarded and very hyperactive, and Mom was usually very sad about that, but there were times when she and I were sweeping, making beds, and so on - I was four years old - and she would suddenly start dancing with me and singing, "Que Sera, Sera". If you're not familiar with this, the words were something like, "When I was just a little girl, I asked my mother, 'What will I be? Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?' Here's what she said to me: Que Sera, Sera, whatever will be, will be; the future's not ours to see, Que Sera, Sera."

Oh, what wonderful memories I have of my sweet mother and her beautiful voice!

She sang a lot but one day she wrote some words to the songs I'd hear her sing. Today, I still remember the words and sing: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", "Paper Moon",

"Would You Like To Swing on a Star?".

She also taught me how to jitter bug and we laughed and giggled the whole time!

Songs my mother sang while she rocked me. . .I remember them all. .

Swing low sweet chariot. .

Mairzy Doats

Pistol packin' Momma

If I had the wings of an Angel

I want a Paper Doll. .

Playmates. .

Fishies swimmin' in the water. .

And a pack of nursery rhymes ! !

My gran sang all the time, She liked 'In the blue ridge mountains of Virginia, on the trail of the lonesome pine' and 'Bringing in the Sheaves' and lots of old gospels. She didn't sing particularly great, but she knew all the words and loved the music.

My mother had a lovely voice but really couldn't carry a tune. The ones I remember are "you are my sunshine" , "mares eat oats", and many she made up as she went along. I also remember her singing, mostly to herself "the old rugged cross" and "rock of ages." I sure miss her.

My mom would hum old German folk songs that she remembered. She would put the LP's on the player and let them play over and over and over. I never understood the words, but that music would really get you going! She still plays Cd's of that old music and hums along with it. Oh ... I have also made copies of her Cd's for my collection too. Please don't tell her that I enjoy them too! hahaha

I remember her singing "Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work we go....." from the Disney movie "Snow White and the Seven Drawfs". I think she did it to "hint" the fact of cleaning my room.