Songs And Songwriting by Angela Lansbury

 What's the best selling song of all time, known worldwide, by English speakers and even the Japanese? Happy Birthday To you. How Many Words Five, altogether. Four word are repeated. Then repeated a third time with the word dear added. The melody used was from another pre-exiting song. The firs version of the song was Good morning to you, to start the day for the class at school. Then one day it was somebody's birthday, so the words were changed. As they say, the rest was history

 Humorous Victor Borge German Girl Quartet Salut Salon "Wettstreit zu viert" | "Competitive Foursome" Pic from wiki article on the group. Sentimental - Twist End Song - Sad / Horror Updated with song 12 on December 28, 2025 Twist Song Granny had hula hoops, did the twist She used to twist her hips like this Daddy used to sing the blues Like Elvis in his blue suede shoes Some people will sing in the rain Or whistle waiting for a train Toddlers like to jump in puddles Lost Property sorts out muddles Stations stock free papers to read And shelves of books, a choice indeed It rains, I should have stayed in bed Newspaper hat protects my head My umbrella's blown upside down Then it's fallen on the ground I'm glad to see warm trains again On Circle Lines I'm riding around. The Circle line goes round and round Round and round, round and round The circle line goes round and round All night long. Once, the driver, tired of riding Drove the train towards the si...

 Solo singers, with the guitar. Piano accompaniment to opera singer. Part of a quartet. Part of a du or trio. Radio orchestra. Film orchestra. Recording studio backing group (session musisican) Restaurant entertainer - strolling guitarist at tables, playing tunes on request. Honky tonk piano at dinner restaurant, playing happy birthday and tunes on request. Piano background music at tea or dinner in large hotel room. Seasonal act for restaurant dinners, doing set pieces.  Back ground music for special occasion dinners. Wedding disco. New Year's eve party entertainer. Romantic music for Valentine's night. Xmas parties in restaurants. Opera on the lawn in a park or festival for summer. Themed summer entertanment. Marching band in a parade. Weekend perfoermance on a park bandstand or pier. Entertainment in a central square during the holidays. Music at an ice rink. Accompanist at talent show. Accopnaist to ballet classes in schools. Music tutor in schools. Private music lesson tu...

 Inspired by "the wheels on a bus', my grand-daughter's favourite song, I thought of all the things my four- year- old grand-daughter likes to do. Based on what she did at the hotel on Menorca, Spain in June 2025. What would you like to do, like to do, like to do. Tell me and I'll do it with you, do it with you, do it with you. We'll say what's right, we'll drink wat I would just like to sit on my chair, sit on my chair., sit on m chair Then I would like to comb dolly's hair, comb dolly's hair, comb dolly's hair. I would like to go to the sea, go to the sea, go the sea? Would you like to go with me, go with me, go with me? I would like to ride a boat, riade a boat, ride a boat. I agree, I'll make a note, make a note., make a note. We would like to ride in a boat, riade in a boat, ride in a boat. Would you like to see a farm, see a farm, see a farm. I shall set my alarm, my alarm, my alarm. So we can go to a farm, to a farm, to a farm. Would ...

 Swanwick Writers' Summer School At The writers Summer School at Swanwick in 2024, we learned to use sign language for the lyrics. Singn Language On Singapore Airlines I had previously watched the sign language instructions in the corner of the security announcements on Singapore Airlines Planes. Some signs were obvious and easy. For example, take off, was a hand moving diagonally through the air, upwards. We rehearsed it by seeing our instructor do the song once. Then we all copied her three times. After that we ran out of time. In the evening, she first did the song by herself, singing alone to the recording. Then she did it with all of us. We repeated each sign two or three times together, half a fozen of us. Then each member of the singing group, individually.  I really enjoyed it and so did the audience.  Writing Songs In Sign Language She had written her own song, with very simple sentence structure and message, something like, I love you , you love me, the more we ...

Angela Lansbury and Smiley balloon. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright. This is a song for everyone So pass the smiles around You may look up at the ciling Or look down at the ground But this song is for everyone So pass the smiles around. A melodious melody for Melanie Or a lovely tune for June Say my name ... say your name ... We'll get talking soon. This is a song for everyone So pass the smiles around -ends-  You can create an original song for a pantomime, about characters in your organization, or local landmarks, by using a classic out of copyright tune and adding new words. Be careful that humour is not offensive. The safe way is to run the idea past the person being described. Change the details so they enjoy the surprise. However, creating a modern song and a modern melody requires a different stepped approach.  The genre? Classical, country, jazz, opera, operetta, pop. rap, rock? Happy or sad? (Major or minor key.) A chord progression. Useful Websites for songwriter...

Angela dressed as a pirate. (Chorus) Some watchers wonder what you are But I can see you are a star Everything you show is tempting Everything you do's inviting I see smiles, I hear laughter Something different, so exciting A new baby, a growing child Will it be taught? Will it be wild? Will it guard health? Will it grow wealth? And say, 'I did it all myself!' Some watchers wonder what you are But I can see you'll be a star Sidelong glances from long lash eyes The bright and sparkly clothes you wear I feel intrigued, I see surprise Little flowers wave, weave in long hair I see coloured hair, big curled wigs Toes cute and small, arms strong and big News suggestions, once depressing Hints and questions keep us guesssing Everything you show is tempting Everything you do's inviting I see smiles, I hear laughter Something different, so exciting, Some watchers wonder what you are But I can see you are a star -ends- Choose a singer or a record label or company. Research th...

Useful books for Songwriters You might also like Songwriting For Dummies. How do I write successful songs How do I cook a tasty egg How do I know? How do you know? You don't have to pay or to beg All the world's books by the world's cooks All the world's laws, all the applause All great knowledge from seeds is grown The world will help, you're not alone But if money's not an object You want one to one all your days You can find mentors and teachers Who speed you on your way with praise Good friends who'll be glad to guide Who went ahead, back beside you To end the wars, and share applause Fulfil your dreams, and help your cause When others fear, then you are bolder Like a baby on your shoulder Do not be shocked by other's greed It means you can fulfil their need If the rich buy, then you can sell When they're busy, then ring your bell If others fail, you can do well If they're silent, then you can tell Prepared for hot or cold weather Surviving s...

Remember my name Ill remember your name Say something that sounds the same Then we'll both play and win life's game Remember your friends,  parents, teachers Famous writers, singers, preachers All the people, sayings you've heard The best music and the best words Remember wise words when you frown What picked you up when you fell down How you right wrongs, then pass it on Pick up hope and pass it around I've walked with sticks, been deaf and blind Met pretty women and strong men Seen dark at night and morning's light I've found my strength and walked again And everyone I meet I'll praise Encourage all for all my days Each new stranger could be a friend I'll go on loving til the end -ends- Women have taken men's names, not just recently, but a long time ago. Such as the Bronte girls who originally did not publish under their owwn names.  Men also chooe women's names. I met a male writer of romances who wrote under a woman's name.  David Bowie ...

Dolls house.photo by Angela Lansbury.  Copyright.  What can I see inside my big dolls' house A lady, a baby, a doll with long hair A cat, a dog, a hedgehog, and a mouse A car, a bed, and a table and chair Curtains at windows, a man guards the door Pictures on the walls, a rug on the floor A door you can open, a door you can shut Windows which open, a roof that lifts up. -ends-

  Writing Songs for Children Songs For Children My four year old grand-daughter loves  The Wheels On The Bus. Some websites say it is in public domain since t was first published in 1937, and the tune has no registered writer, usually being the melody of  Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush.  However the writer Vernon lived until 1990.  In 2025 I saw a video of my grand-daughter at a hotel in Menorca which caters to children, and the entertainment crew were leading the children singing The Shark Song. The Shark Song My grand-daughter likes Unicorns. There could be a copyright problem there. But she is also very proud of doing things for herself.  So I have written this song for her. Children's songs are very repetitative. When written down they look quite boring Yet add a catchy tune and actions and your simple song is transformed. So here goes. What Can I do? I can put on my Shoe! Song 3 by Angela Lansbury. Copyright. What can I do? I can put on my shoe. Se...

Song 2 What Do You Want To be - by Angela Lansbury  What do you want to be? Be happy and free? To go down to the sea? You can do it with me!\ What do you want to be? To be a orchestra director? To be a driving instructor? You can do it with me. What do you want to be? You don't need a preacher You just need a teacher You can do it with me What do you want to do? To drive a steam train To pilot a plane To fly off to (sunny) Spain What do you want to be Why do you hesitate Why do you want  to wait?. Do it for free, with me. -ends- Songwriting Courses Berklee (USA, online) Songwriters International (About 6 weeks. Costs a four figure sum. Can help you write songs, , modernize old songs, will strum music to it, pitch it.) Useful Books For Songwriters The Songwriters Rhyming Dictionary Sammy Cahn Online Resources Music Backing https://submitmysong.com/ https://www.apple.com/uk/mac/garageband/ Facebook Forums For Singers & Songwriters Singers & Songwriters Forum sponsored by...

Angela Lansbury, Photo by Trevor Sharot. C.2015. Do You Want To Meet Me? Song 1 by Angela Lansbury. Copyright. Do  you really want to meet me? You know I'm longing to meet you We have so many lovely thoughts Old plans to share, new things to do Now let's both be realistic We can't lose, so don't be absurd It just takes a simple phone call Courage, a polite, friendlly word I'm admit I know famous pairs Who start well, then can't get along But they have left us trasures of Success before something went wrong Life changes, good things reach an end That does not mean you should not start Songs, like Rolls Royce, last centuries From their first famous heart-to-heart Worldwide, people like me and you  Each hour, each day, sign, say I do Wedding, business, friendship, travel How about linkingt me and you? I know lots of things might go wrong But let's find what we agree on What I can offer, you can see Now tell me what you'll do for me. I want to be a bright an...