Complete Story and Music with New Songs Based on the Original Music
Written by Mel Mandel and Marvin Kahn Based on the Music of Tchaikovsky,
transcribed by Ronnie Falcao
Performed by Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan) and the Sandpiper Chorus
Produced by Hudson Productions, Inc.
I grew up with this album, and it is one of the most delightful recordings
I've ever heard.
The record from my childhood was used so many times that the quality
was quite poor, but
I was able to locate a good vinyl copy and have it professionally
converted to digital format.
And, well, now the sky's the limit. Enjoy!
[NOTE - The rest of the album is also here!]
I can hardly wait until I
See the shining star on top.
So, dear Lord, please if you will,
Let Christmas never stop.
Soon, soon, it will be Christmas.
Gee, it will be jolly.
Oh, how I love to see
The trimming of the Christmas tree.
[Interlude]
I can hardly wait until I
See the shining star on top.
So, dear Lord, please if you will,
Let Christmas never stop.
Soon, soon it will be Christmas.
Gee, it will be jolly.
Oh, how I love to see
The trimming of the Christmas tree.
[Interlude]
Clara [spoken]: Oh, look at him, he's the most wonderful Nutcracker I've ever seen.
If you should lift his cloak, his
Mouth will pop wide open.
Feed him a nut because he'll
Crack that nut between his jaws.
He's so handsome,
Funny and clever.
I will keep him,
Keep him forever.
Stop! Don't you
Dare go near him
You will hurt him
Fred . . . for that
Nut you've got will
Never fit
Inside his head.
Up suddenly popped Jack-in-the-Box.
He fell into step beside the fox.
The mighty lion swung his tail.
The hungry wolf began to wail.
The sleeping pawns awoke with yawns.
The toys had come to life.
Left, right and around the room,
Drums beating a bing-bang-boom,
Barks, howling meows, a thundrous roar,
Stuffed animal feet that shook the floor.
The elephant made quite a clunk.
He bumped the camel with his trunk.
For such a sight, and quite a fright!*
The toys had come to life.
[Interlude]
Left, right and around the room,
Drums beating a bing-bang-boom,
Barks, howling meows, a thundrous roar,
Stuffed animal feet that shook the floor.
The elephant made quite a clunk.
He bumped the camel with his trunk.
For such a sight, and quite a fright!
The toys had come to life.
* I am really not sure of this line - please send your better version to ronnie at gentlebirth dot org. Thanks!
Chorus
How'd you do?
Oh won't you
Be my guest,
Try the best
Creamiest
Ice cream ever made.
Take a cake!
What tasty pastry!
Yum, yum yum,
Sample some
Cherry marmalade.
[Interlude]
Repeat Chorus
Dance if you feel like trouble's coming.
Dance, let your feet go lightly drumming.
You turn with a flip, a flap, a clip,
A clop, a clap, a tap, tap, tap.
Happiness comes from dancing,
Starts with a tickle in your feet.
Hard though the step you're chancing,
Somehow the joy's complete.
Dance if you feel the least downhearted.
Dance and you'll feel good once you've started.
You'll ho, you'll hee, you'll ha with a yip, a yep
Full of pep as you step, step, step.
[Interlude]
Happiness comes from dancing,
Starts with a tickle in your feet.
Hard though the step you're chancing,
Somehow the joy's complete.
Dance if you feel the least downhearted.
Dance and you'll feel good once you've started.
You'll ho, you'll hee, you'll ha with a yip, and a yep
Full of pep as you step, step, step.
Will there come one wonderful someone?
Dreams were meant to be shared.
How I long for the day
When he will come my way.
When he'll find me
He will simply come and touch my hand,
And remind me
By his presence we are in Wonderland.
With the one who I long to run to
Dreams were meant to be shared.
Where, oh, where can he be?
The prince who's meant for me?
Let's make a feast, that's the least we can do.
Make it grand and make it great.
Now's the time to celebrate.
Let's make a feast, that's the least we can do.
Where your spats and funny hats.
Bring your friends with you.
Let's have a happy acrobat,
A juggler and a clown.
Let's throw balloons up in the air and
Squash 'em when they come down.
Oh, let's make a feast, that's the least we can do.
Like a trick, let's do it quick,
And it will come true.
Oh, something crisp should go with coffee.
Do be careful how you treat your tummy.
You'll be so much safer
If you take a wafer.
Won't you take a cookie
As you would when drinking milk or tea?
See how the flowers dance,
Wonderf'ly gliding together.
Every tulip leads a violet,
While the pink petunias pirouette.
Daisies do a gentle jig
With each little sprig of heather.
Now they're whirling,
And they're twirling.
Oh! What magic they're unfurling.
Stardust settles
On their petals.
It's a marvelous sight.
May they dance all night.
And when the flowers dance,
Doesn't the world seem appealing?
Don't you hear the music of your heart?
Don't you think it's time for you to start
Treating everyone you know
To that special glow
You're feeling?
Like the pretty flowers
In their sweet
Gentle peaceful bowers
Why don't we
All devote our hours
To making other people happy, too?
As far as I know, the copyright on this material has expired, and digital
versions of this music are not commercially available.
I had a very difficult time finding a good vinyl copy, and I don't
know of any more that are available.
Actual Reviews
You have really lightened the day (and holiday season) of me and my
4 sisters, and my 4 year old daughter (born with the help of a wonderful
midwife in Vermont.) I was trying to find that old recording of the
Nutcracker that we all loved as children, and we are soooo happy to have
the mp3s you put on the web.) [Sara]
My sister and I listened to this record as much as Sound of Music! We had all the words memorized and "balleted" for hours.. also wore out the record. [Chris]
Imagined Reviews
Charming! Every child should be indoctrinated with this music! [Sister Josephine]
Oh, now I get it! I was once attending a performance of the Nutcracker, and some old ladies five rows back were SINGING ALONG! [Anonymous]
Better than Cats!! [Gretel Gebel-Williams]
What is it with these all-girl families' being especially drawn to this music?!? [Concerned sociologist]
This isn't going to subvert society, is it? [Oh darn, you've
found me out!]
The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas
Flight of the Bumblebee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff
Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg
Morning
Anitra's Dance
In the Hall of the Mountain
King
Some people have asked if they could pay me for making this music available.
I don't own the copyright to the music, so it doesn't feel right to
take money for it.
[NOTE - I cannot find this music
for sale anywhere. Otherwise, I would not have put it on the web for people to "pirate".]
But if you would like, I'd be happy for you to make a contribution
to my favorite charity, Citizens
for Midwifery.
[You don't have to join this organization! You can just go to
"Additional Donations and Contributions" at the bottom.]
Thank you!
A tip: I found that I really enjoy the music more than the spoken word
parts, which is why I've broken them up here.
So when I burned CDs for my family, I first burned just the musical
songs, and then I burned them all in the proper order.
The music is only about ten minutes all together, so it does all fit
on a CD, even if you duplicate the music.