Top Children Songs of All Time - Right Here

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On the lighter side, I present to you... my top five favourite children's songs. I am not talking about old time classics like Twinkle Twinkle, but the type of children's music that you would haul out the old record player to listen to. Think Raffi, Fred Penner, and the like. You will notice that there is no Duck Song, or Baby Shark. I'm talking real music. Here we go:


5) Puff the Magic Dragon - Peter, Paul, and Mary

 *Sniff* Those lyrics. I'm not crying. You're crying.

"But, but... it's about DRUUUUGS!!" you say?

No, it's not. Get your mind out of the gutter and stop thinking about drugs. Druggie.



4) Hey Dum Diddley Dum - Performed by Sharon, Lois, and Bram

 Fun. Catchy. And to be honest, I needed to have Sharon, Lois, and Bram on the list at least once. 



3) The Cat Came Back - Fred Penner

I could put Fred Penner songs for all five if need be. Sandwiches. Collections. So many others. But, The Cat Came Back is simply legendary.



2) Spaghetti  - Joe Wise

Huh? That's right, Spaghetti by Joe Wise. This is the Bohemian Rhapsody of children's music. Except it's better than Bohemian Rhapsody. I sometimes insist we make spaghetti at home, just so I can listen to this song. And sometimes I listen to it even when I'm making burgers, or pizza, or toast. So there.

Of course, I grew up loving this song. Then one day, to our shock, we opened up a hymnal at Mass and realized one of the sappy hymns was written by Joe Wise. I guess he ruined churches with his happy hippy songs once upon a time. Wise should've stuck with children's music.



1) Hippopotamus Rock - Rosenshontz 

What's this? A curveball for the number one hit? It shouldn't be a curveball if you know your stuff. Hippos have long dominated children's music. Think I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, or Otto the Hippo (he put the "hip" in hippopotamus). 

Hippopotamus Rock has beat, energy, drive, and is a metaphor for life. The repetitive nature of the "Hippo hippo hippo hippopotamus rock, well, hippo hippo...." signifies the attempt to break through life's banality and experience who we really are as existential beings that... Ok. I'm making this up. But the song rocks. Like big time. It hippopotamus rocks!



As a bonus, I offer two honourable mentions.

Honourable Mention 1: Pirate Song - Dan Millette

Woah!!!! Wait a minute! I made the list! I'm honoured. Shameless self-promotion, I know. But it's my list and I just so happen to really like myself. Like a lot. I wrote this for my littlest sister many years ago. Enjoy!



Honourable Mention 2: Garden Song - David Mallet

It's just a nice song, ok? I'm not really a sappy person. But can't a guy like to sing about planting gardens and being one with nature?



That's all. I hope you agree 100% with my choices. You should. Now if you'll excuse me... 

Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea...


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