Daley Ponderings
Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things.
When he's reached the point where it won't confuse him, I'll teach him to sing it backwards (to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb).
It's also a handy song to use while washing hands. We've used it to make sure everyone washes their hands long enough. It's got a nice length, doesn't it? And as a side benefit, it was Ellery's first song.
Hmmm...I can say the alphabet backwards, but when I tried to sing it to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb," I wasn't sure where to put which syllable. Perhaps Jonathan can teach it to me after he learns it?
Ma (Z) ry (Y) had (X) a (W) lit (V) tle (U) lamb (T)
Lit (S) tle (R) lamb (Q)
Lit (P) tle (O) lamb (N)
Ma (M) ry (L) had (K) a (J) lit (I) tle (H) lamb (G)
Its (omitted) fleece (F) was (E) white (D) as (C) snow (B and A)
The last line is a little funny, the way I sing it, omitting the "its" and saying "B and A" on the "snow" syllable. But you can just as easily sing "Its (F) fleece (E) was (D) white (C) as (B) snow (A)." In fact, that makes more sense. But I've always done it the other way.
Did you ever sing that to us? I can't sing the alphabet backwards, and I've never heard it to Mary Had a Little Lamb!
No -- I made it up one day while waiting for the T in Boston. The Red Line, I think. I don't know why I did the last line that odd way; I may convert to the more logical one before teaching it to Jonathan.
I actually tried a little harder after I commented, and I figured it out. I did do the last line with the method that "makes more sense," as you put it.
Maybe I'll wait until Ellery stops skipping letters in the actual alphabet song before introducing her to this one. ;o)