To Thom for his unconditional love and support.

This CD is a National Parenting Publications Honors Award, iParenting Media Award and a Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Award winner!

The Second Line in New Orleans originated from Jazz Funerals. The First Line is the parade of mourners to the grave. The Second Line is the parade leading away from the grave to celebrate the passing of a loved one to a better place. Handkerchiefs used in the First Line to wipe tears are used in the Second Line to punctuate the beat of the music in a joyful parade behind a marching brass band. Other definitions of a Second Line describe the First Line as the family and the Second Line as the community. Today in New Orleans, a Second Line is used in many celebrations. It is our inherited “joie de vivre” or “joy of living” that inspires us to open our hearts and lives to share with others. Everyone is welcome to join the Second Line, and to share our music, our food and our culture. It is what we do, it is who we are and it is what makes us rich in the spirit here and after.

*Note: Songs are best executed in a standing circle formation except where indicated.

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Scarves up, scarves down, shake your scarves all around
Scarves up, scarves down, shake your scarves all around
Scarves in, scarves out, shake your scarves all about
Scarves in, scarves out, shake your scarves all about
Right knee, left knee, shake your scarves fancy free
Right knee, left knee, shake your scarves fancy free
Right hand, left hand, shake your scarves with the band
Right hand, left hand, shake your scarves with the band
On your back, on your tummy, shake your scarves nice and funny
On your back, on your tummy, shake your scarves nice and funny
Scarves up, scarves down, put your scarves on the ground.
Clap.

The scarves are softly flowing left, right, left
The scarves are softly flowing left, right, left
Up and down and around, up and down and around
Up and down, up and down, up and down and around
The scarves are softly floating; release them up in the air, catch!
The scarves are softly floating; release them up in the air, catch!
Up and down and around, up and down and around
Up and down, up and down, up and down and around
Release them up in the air, watch them float to the ground
Release them up in the air, watch them float to the ground
Up and down and around, up and down and around
Up and down, up and down, up and down and around

Water is flowing, flowing, flowing (Hold scarves at two corners and move on the ground)
Water is flowing here and there
Water is flowing, flowing, flowing
Water is flowing here and there.
Everyone clap your hands together... (Put scarves on the ground and clap hands)
Wind is blowing, blowing, blowing...(Hold scarves at two corners and move scarves above heads)
Everyone jump up together... (Jump with scarves)
World is turning, turning, turning... (Turn around in a circle)
Everyone join your hands together... (Hold hands)

(Partner Game. Partners stand back to back.)

Shake hands with your partner and stand back to back
There’s a new game in town it’s called the sacroiliac
Now you pass the scarf to your partner on one side
And your partner passes it back to you on the other side
Pass it hand to hand and hand to hand, play the sacroiliac
Pass it hand to hand and hand to hand, play the sacroiliac
We’re going to change it up a bit so stand with your feet at ease
We’re going to pass it over our heads and down between our knees
Pass it overhead and down below, play the sacroiliac
Pass it overhead and down below, play the sacroiliac
Now we’ll put it all together as we did before
Pass it hand to hand overhead and down below some more....

(Game similar to London Bridge. Two children make a bridge. The other children form a line and pass under the bridge.)

Bob, bob, bob, bob, bobbing along, we’re bob, bob, bobbing along
The thread moves through the needle (Children move through bridge with scarves)
As we sing our threading song
And then we thread the needle, thread the needle
Come on everyone
And then we thread the needle, thread the needle
Now our threading is done.
And then we sew it up, sew it up, sew it up right (Capture one child)
And then we sew it up, sew it up, and sew it up tight! (Gently squish the child and then release.)

(Children seated in a circle)

Scarves on your laps, clap, clap; scarves on your laps, clap, clap
Shake them to the east, shake them to the west
Scarves back on your laps clap, clap.
Scarves on your shoulders, clap, clap; scarves on your shoulders, clap, clap
Shake them to the east, shake them to the west
Scarves back on your shoulders clap, clap.
Scarves on your tummies, clap, clap; scarves on your tummies, clap, clap
Shake them to the north, shake them to the south
Scarves back on your tummies clap, clap.
Scarves on your backs, clap, clap; scarves on your backs, clap, clap
Shake them to the north, shake them to the south
Scarves back on your backs clap, clap.
Scarves on your knees, clap, clap; scarves on your knees, clap, clap
Shake them in a circle around the world
Scarves back on your knees clap, clap.
Scarves on the ground, clap, clap; scarves on the ground, clap, clap
Shake them in a circle around the world

(Children creatively explore bird and bug movements with scarves)

Flitter flutter, flitter flutter, flitter flutter, wings that flap (Flapping movements)
Flitter flutter, flitter flutter, flitter flutter, wings that flap
Around and around, around and around
Up and up and up and down, down, down
Around and around, around and around
Up and up and up and down, down, down
Birds are flying, birds are flying, and birds are flying in the air.... (Flying movements)
Bugs are buzzing, bugs are buzzing, bugs are buzzing in the air.... (Small bug movements)

(Make figure eights in the air with scarves)

There’s a crazy little game that you should know
It’s called crazy eights and here we go
You make figure eights in the air
And you make figure eights everywhere
Go crazy, crazy, crazy eights
Crazy eights above your head, crazy eights in front instead
Crazy eights around your arm, crazy eights around your other arm
Go crazy, crazy, crazy eights
Crazy eights move your hips, crazy eights behind your back
Crazy eights between your knees, crazy eights your ankles please
Go crazy, crazy, crazy eights
Crazy eights hop on one leg, crazy eights hop on the other leg
Crazy eights boogie down, crazy eights dance around
Go crazy, crazy, crazy eights

Take it way down low, and way up high
Take it way down low and way up high
Draw in the air and paint the sky
Take it way down low and way up high

Write W-O-W Wow! (Write the word in the air and then jump at end)
W-O-W Wow!
Write the word in the air and end it with flare!
W-O-W Wow!

Swing to the left and swing to the right
Swing to the left and swing to the right
Write your name in the air, it’s a beautiful sight
Swing to the left and swing to the right
Tap your toe and turn around
Tap your toe and turn around
Give yourself a cheer (Woooo!); it’s a wonderful sound
Tap your toe and turn around

(Punctuate the rhythm with the scarves)

Scarves up 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8
Scarves down 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8
To the side 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8
Other side 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8

We have the rhythm, we have the rhythm
We have the rhythm in the scarves moving all around
We have the rhythm, we have the rhythm
We have the rhythm in the scarves moving all around

Circle round 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8
Boogie down 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8
Do the twist 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8
Jump around 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8
Move your hips 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8
Shake your knees 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8
Swing your arms 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8
Tap your toes 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8
Scarves back on the ground clap, clap.

(Children form a line and parade around.)

Ladies and Gentlemen, let the show begin!
Under the big top join the big parade
Follow the leader in a line around the colonnade
March, march, and march with your knees up high
Balance the scarves on your back and stretch your arms out wide
Balance the scarves on your head and walk a tight rope
Juggle the scarves from hand to hand without letting them touch the ground
Put the scarves in the air and twirl them all around
March, march, and march with your knees up high
Now bow to the audience for a grand applause!