This Old Man

Barney™ may have schmaltzed this one up as a theme song, but the original is still a lot of fun, so we dreamed up a special arrangement for you to use with your little ones.

First a few words on the lyrics... One dispute we had was the difference between "give the dog a bone" and "give a dog a bone." We recorded the latter because we put it to a vote (and because that's how Teresa knew it...) but we all know using "the" is the better way. Teach it however you like. There are also a couple of approaches to the last verse: "on my chin" versus "once again." Here again, teach it however you know it. Now to the fun stuff...

There are all sorts of moves for this little tune, some for each phrase, and some for each new action. Here are the ones we have used. Alter them to your taste and as you may have learned them.

• This old man- hands on hips
• he played one- hold up one finger (or the appropriate number for that verse)
• He played knick-knack on my thumb... - index finger tap on thumb of opposite hand.
• With a knick-- slap right thigh w/right hand
• knack-- slap left thigh w/left hand
• Paddy- slap left shoulder w/right hand
• whack- slap right shoulder w/left hand
• Give a dog a bone- hands in front, palms up
• This old man - hands on hips
• came rolling- roll hands one over another
• home.- point thumbs over shoulders

During the interlude music, walk in a circle, one step for every other beat. Point index finger upward, opt.

...And here are the movements for each verse...

• 2...on my shoe- tap shoe with index finger
• 3...on my knee- tap knee with index finger
• 4...on my door- tap forehead with index finger
• 5...on my hive- tap fist with index finger
• 6...on my sticks- tap index fingers together
• 7...up in heaven- point up with index finger
• 8...on my gate- tap forearm in front of you
• 9...on my spine- tap back with index finger
• 10...on my chin- tap chin with index finger
• (if "once again," circle index finger in the air)

Have fun with it...and let us know what other standards you would like to see in the future. Also be sure to see percussion sidebar on the next page.