About the Songs - I've Got a Dinosaur on My Head!

Album Name: "I've Got a Dinosaur on My Head!
Release Date: 2007
Music: Stimulates kids' imaginations. Perfect for the car, at home, and in the classroom. 12 tracks.  Vocals and instrument performance by Peter Apel. High-quality audio. Professionally mastered.
Format: CD w/jewel case. Multi-panel, full-color insert contains original illustrations and complete lyrics.
About the Songs: See below.
Listen/Buy: visit our music store.

All songs copyright Peter Apel 2007

Next Album.

(Fred's Back! 2012)

I've Got a Dinosaur On My Head! (AKA "The Dinosaur Song";sing-along)
An imagination builder, this song encourages kids to imagine any number of items on their heads. With a simple, catchy melody, fun animal sounds, and accelerating tempo, kids enjoy learning the dinosaur verse and enjoy the challenge of adding verses with chickens, cats, dogs, and frogs into the song.    The song was inspired by a silly green dinosaur novelty hat in the Apel house, and it quickly became a fan favorite. This is one of Apel's favorite songs to perform live. It has become a kid (and adult) favorite and is requested at every live performance. 



Giraffe from The Laughing Song (sing-along; counting; movement song)
Younger kids enjoy listening to the melodies and layered harmonies, and the older kids have fun singing along and counting backward. This song was inspired while "Uncle Pete" was entertaining family and nieces and nephews in living room music sessions. The full song, including the addition of forward and backward counting, evolved over time.  The actual laughing on the sound recording can be credited to Peter's son.



Sometimes I Have Oatmeal For Breakfast (AKA "The Oatmeal Song"; sing-along)
This song has been responsible for introducing kids to new foods and has even caused a few adults to try oatmeal again.  The goal is to have fun trying different toppings with your oatmeal.   The song idea originated from Apel's young son, and the two collaborated to decide what should go on the oatmeal next. Peter had a flamenco/classical guitar in hand at the time and used that inspiration to add a new "flavor" the song.  Most people only need to hear this song once, before they can sing it on their own. 




 

Walking in a Circle (movement song category; coordination)
This is a song to help get those kids up and moving around.  It begins with the kids sitting down. In the middle they're led through stretching, stomping, walking, rubbing their tummies while patting their heads, hopping, and clapping.  The song tempo eventually slows, and the kids end the song once again sitting on the floor (helps with transitions to next song/activity).  The song ideas and transition ideas were developed in consultation with Apel's pre-school teacher wife and other teacher friends. 

Christopher Spider Copyright 2007 Peter J. Apel I Once Had a Balloon, But Then it Popped. Copyright 2007 Peter J. ApelI Once Had a Balloon (But Then It Popped)
Despite a mother's valiant efforts, a small child repeatedly loses his "favorite" balloon.  Sometimes we grow attached to people (or things) in our lives. The loss of that item (or person, or relationship) can be a struggle for us even if others don't share or understand our sense of loss.  This musical story, told with gentle humor, acknowledges that kids might actually go through these ups and downs just like the rest of us. The idea is to understand that there is comedy in some our own misfortunes, and that it's important to be able to laugh at ourselves once in a while.  Apel challenged himself to write a sad love song to which kids could relate.  The result is this waltz for kids (and their parents of course).

Blue Beef Broth (musical tongue twister)
This is a homemade tongue twister that evolved into a short musical story. Try to sing along as you hear how Grandma, Grandpa, and kids accidentally create this new concoction.

Eensy Weensy Spider (Traditional)
Peter's rendition of the standard includes a pleasant guitar arrangement and multi-part vocal harmony.  Like parent's around the world, Peter would regularly sing this to his young kids.  Peter customized this one for his son (in the 2nd verse the spider gets a name), and included this track on the album for obvious sentimental reasons.


Railroad Crossing. Copyright 2007 Peter J. ApelTrain Whistles  (Sound effect)
A Sound effect that your kids may enjoy. The steam engine crosses slowly from the left to the right speaker as you listen to the whistles and chugging sounds.

Big Locomotive (movement song, educational, trains)
Take a short rhythmic journey down the tracks and through a tunnel, while learning a bit about the types of cars on a railroad.
 


Peacocks Don't Lay Eggs

("AKA The Peacock Song"; sing-along, science/educational)
Most people respond, "They don't?"  This song was inspired by daily peacock conversations after Apel's son heard the peacock's eerie call from his uncle's front porch. These birds slowly worked their way into Apel family bedtime stories, and then into the song.  Of course the old peacock/egg  joke was a contributing factor.  Hint: The species is the peafowl, and the peahen lays the eggs.  Just for fun and education, we've created a special page of interesting peacock information here.


Fred & Bananas Copyright Peter Apel 2007I Love Bananas (AKA "The Banana Song"; sing-along, nutrition, story time)
A little spaceman named Fred Pinsocket flies down to earth in his blue and silver rocket and sings his favorite song about bananas.  Our company was named after Fred.  Fred the cartoon was created long ago by Peter Apel, but with the CD "I've Got a Dinosaur on My Head!" Fred finally got a voice and a new spaceman outfit and made it onto  track 11 singing about his favorite food. You can also hear brief guest appearances by Fred in "Sometimes I Have Oatmeal for Breakfast" and "Walking in a Circle."   For more info on Fred, see Who is Fred?  and  World-wide Banana Shortage Caused by Spaceman? and Fred t-shirts



Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (Traditional)
Everybody knows Twinkle Twinkle the traditional way.   Peter capitalizes on every young kid's desire to sing along even when they're not really sure of the words. Is it "up above the" or "hubba bubba"?  You decide.  Once you hear this version (or even better, see kids' reactions in a live performance), it will be hard to sing it the old way again.   Peter's "hubba bubba version" is highly requested at live performances. 

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LYRICS - I've Got a Dinosaur on My Head! - By Peter Apel

Supporting Independent Music...
Please note the following:   

1. Use of lyrics is limited to non-business, personal use, or for use in classrooms.   
2. Do not post these lyrics on-line. Instead, online references should Include a link back to this page.   
3. Copyright notice ("Copyright 2007 by Peter Apel. All rights reserved.") should be included with printed copies of the lyrics.

I’ve Got A Dinosaur on My Head!
I’ve got a dinosaur on my head!
He’s been there since I got out of bed.
I don’t know how he got there.
What am I going to do?
I’ve got a dinosaur on my head!
Roar!

I’ve got a chicken on my head!
He’s been there since I got out of bed.
I don’t know how he got there.
What am I going to do?
I’ve got a chicken and a dinosaur on my head!
Bock! Bock! Bock! - Roar!

I’ve got a kitty cat on my head!
He’s been there since I got out of bed.
I don’t know how he got there.
What am I going to do?
I’ve got a kitty cat and a chicken and a dinosaur on my head!
Meeow! - Bock! Bock! Bock! - Roar!

I’ve got a doggie on my head!
He’s been there since I got out of bed.
I don’t know how he got there.
What am I going to do?
I’ve got a doggie and a kitty cat and a chicken and a dinosaur on my head!
Woof! Woof! Woof! - Meeow! - Bock! Bock! Bock! - Roar!

I’ve got a froggie on my head!
He’s been there since I got out of bed.
I don’t know how he got there.
What am I going to do?
I’ve got a froggie and a doggie and a kitty cat and a chicken and a dinosaur on my head!
Ribbit! Ribbit! - Woof! Woof! Woof! -
Meeow! - Bock! Bock! Bock! - Roar!

I’ve got a dinosaur on my head!
He’s been there since I got out of bed.
I don’t know how he got there.
What am I going to do?
I’ve got a dinosaur…
I’ve got a dinosaur…
I’ve got a dinosaur…
On my head!

 


The Laughing Song
Laughing is fun.
It’s fun for everyone.
C’mon and sing the laughing song.
It’s fun for everyone!

Oh…
Hee hee hee!
Ho ho ho!
Ha ha ha!
Sing along with me!

Hee hee hee!
Ho ho ho!
Ha ha ha!

This time only me!

Have you ever heard a giraffe laugh?
Have you ever heard a little baby calf…laugh?
Have you ever heard a little baby calf or a giraffe
Laugh until they laughed themselves in half?

We’re going to sing again,
But first let’s count to ten.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
Eight, nine, ten!

Oh…
Hee hee hee!
Ho ho ho!
Ha ha ha!
Sing along with me!

Hee hee hee!
Ho ho ho!
Ha ha ha!
This time everybody!

Have you ever heard a giraffe laugh?
Have you ever heard a little baby calf……laugh?
Have you ever heard a little baby calf or a giraffe
Laugh until they laughed themselves in half?

We’re going to have more fun.
This time we’ll count to one.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four,
Three, two, one!

Oh…
Hee hee hee!
Ho ho ho!
Ha ha ha!
Sing along with me!

Laughing is fun.
It’s fun for everyone.
C’mon and sing the laughing song.
It’s fun for everyone!


Eensie Weensy Spider
Eensie weensy spider went up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Up came the sun, and dried up all the rain
And eensie weensy spider went up the spout again.

Little Christopher* went up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Up came the sun, and dried up all the rain
And little Christopher went up the spout again.

Instrumental Break

Eensie weensy spider went up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Up came the sun, and dried up all the rain
And eensie weensy spider went up the spout again.


Sometimes I have Oatmeal for Breakfast
Sometimes I have oatmeal for breakfast.
Sometimes I have oatmeal for breakfast.
Sometimes I have oatmeal.
Sometimes I have oatmeal.
Sometimes I have oatmeal for breakfast.

…with milk!

Sometimes I put raisins in my oatmeal.
Sometimes I put raisins in my oatmeal.
Sometimes I put raisins.
Sometimes I put raisins.
Sometimes I put raisins in my oatmeal.

…with milk!

Sometimes I put brown sugar in my oatmeal.
Brown sugar in my oatmeal.
Sometimes brown sugar.
Sometimes brown sugar.
Sometimes brown sugar and raisins in my oatmeal.

…with milk

Sometimes I put nuts in my oatmeal.
Sometimes I put nuts in my oatmeal.
Sometimes I put nuts.
Sometimes I put nuts.
Sometimes I put nuts or brown sugar or raisins in my oatmeal.

…with milk

Sometimes I have oatmeal for breakfast.
Sometimes I have oatmeal for breakfast.
Sometimes I have oatmeal.
Sometimes I have oatmeal.
Sometimes I have oatmeal.
Sometimes I have oatmeal.
Sometimes I have oatmeal for breakfast.

…with milk!


Blue Beef Broth
Grandma was fixing the soup in the kitchen
When grandpa came in and tripped over her shoe.
He was eating a big piece of blueberry strudel,
Which somehow he dropped in the stew.

Blue beef broth, blue beef broth, blue beef broth,
It’s much easier to eat than to say.
Blue beef broth, blue beef broth, blue beef broth,
It’s the best soup that we’ve had all day.

At first Grandpa laughed and Grandma got mad,
And I didn’t know what to do.
But just after one taste, we decided in haste,
We all loved Grandma’s new blue stew.

Blue beef broth, blue beef broth, blue beef broth,
It’s much easier to eat than to say.
Blue beef broth, blue beef broth, blue beef broth,
It’s the best soup that we’ve had all day.


Big Locomotive
I’m a big locomotive goin’ down the track
I’m going down the track and I’m gonna come back
I’m a big locomotive on the railroad track
I’m gonna come back, gonna come back, gonna come back.

The wheels play a rhythm as they’re rolling down the track,
Embellished by the puffing of the smokestack on my back.
Listen to the rhythm, the tooka-chika rhythm
Listen to the rhythm, the too-tooka-chika-tooka rhythm

(FAST) Too-tooka-chika-tooka, Too-tooka-chika-tooka, Too-tooka-chika-tooka, Too-tooka-chika-tooka,….

There’s a STEAM locomotive goin’ down the track
It’s going down the track and it’s gonna come back
There’s a steam locomotive going down the track
It’s gonna come back, gonna come back, gonna come back.

There’s a DIESEL locomotive goin’ down the track
It’s going down the track and it’s gonna come back
There’s a diesel locomotive going down the track
It’s gonna come back, gonna come back, gonna come back.

What’s that ahead? It looks like a tunnel.
What’s that ahead? It looks like a tunnel.

Here comes the tunnel!
Here comes the tunnel!
Here comes the tunnel!
Here comes the tunnel!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Box car, tank car, passenger car, caboose.
Box car, tanker car, passenger car, red caboose.
Box car, tank car, passenger car caboose.
Box car, tanker car, passenger car, red caboose.
Box car, tank car, passenger car caboose.
Box car, tanker car, passenger car, red caboose.
(repeat & fade out)


Peacocks Don’t Lay Eggs
Once upon a time, there was a peacock.
A peacock is a very big bird.
It’s got a lot’a big, very very big feathers
And the loudest call you’ve ever heard. (uhrr urrrrr!)
You can ask the peacock for a really big favor,
You can even plead or beg,
But even if that big bird tries all day,
It’s not going to lay an egg.

(Chorus)
Because peacocks don’t lay eggs.
Oh! Peacocks don’t lay eggs,
Even if you ask real nicely,
Or even if you beg.
(Because …) A Peacock is a he.
A peacock’s not a she.
And if that bird ever laid an egg,
He’d make peacock history.

You see, the species is the Peafowl.
And the peahen is the one that lays the eggs.
So you wouldn’t name your peacock Jill or Sally,
Choose a name like Bill, or Jeff, or Tim, or Greg.

(Chorus)
Oh! Peacocks don’t lay eggs.
Oh! Peacocks don’t lay eggs,
Even if you ask real nicely,
Or even if you beg.

(Because …) A Peacock is a he.
A peacock’s not a she.
And if that bird ever laid an egg,
He’d make peacock history.

And if that big bird ever laid an egg,
He’d make peacock history.

And if that big bird ever laid an egg,
He’d make peacock history….


Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (Traditional)
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Huh bah bah bah…. (Hubba bubba?)

Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are

Instrumental Verse

Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Huh bah bah bah…. (Hubba bubba?)

Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are


I Once Had A Balloon (But Then It Popped)
I once had a balloon, but then it popped.
I once had a balloon, but then it popped.
I once had a balloon, but then it popped.
Where’s my balloon?
Where’s my balloon?
Where’s my balloon? (Where’s my balloon?)

My Momma said she’d buy me another balloon,
But I want the one that I already had.
(Where’s my balloon?)
I just need some time; I’m feeling kind of sad.
Where’s my balloon?
Where’s my balloon?
Where’s my balloon? (Where’s my balloon?)

I feel like I’ve lost my closest friend,
(Where’s my balloon?)
And my Momma says my broken heart will mend,
(Where’s my balloon?)
I’m holding a string with nothing on the other end.
Where’s my balloon?
Where’s my balloon?
Where’s my balloon? (Where’s my balloon?)

My momma tied a replacement balloon to my wrist.
(A brand new balloon)
But the loop was too loose and it promptly slipped off of my fist. (Here we go again)
Up up and away, I’m sure you get the gist.
(Someone grab that balloon)
As I look up and stare,
My balloon's in the air.
It's way way up there.

I feel like I’ve lost another friend,
(Where’s my balloon?)
And my Momma says my broken heart will mend,
(Where’s my balloon?)
This balloon has a string but I’m not on the other end.
Where’s my balloon?
Where’s my balloon?
Where’s my balloon?

So my first balloon vaporized with a giant ka-boom!
(A giant ka-boom)
And my second one’s floating somewhere near the moon I presume.
(Floated up to the moon).
My third balloon’s pressure was way way too much, I assume.
(Too much I assume)
When I reached for a grape,
The balloon, it escaped…

PFFFTTTTPPHHHHHHHHHTHT!

Where’s my balloon?

 


 

Walking In A Circle
I'm sitting. I'm sitting. I'm sitting on the floor.
I'm sitting on the floor, but want to move some more.
'Cause moving is quite good for you; my teacher says I must.
It's better than just sitting here on the floor collecting dust.

I'm going to stand up, if you agree, say, Yup! (YUP!)
Shout a little louder now, if you agree, say, Yup! (YUP!)

I'm standing and stretching my arms over my head,
Like a really big stretch like I just got out of bed.
(repeat)

Now I'm tired of standing here, I want to move around.
I'm going to start stomping my feet upon the ground.

Stomp, stomp, stomp (clap),
Left foot, right foot, Whoah!
My feet, they feel like walking.
Get ready, here we GO!

I'm walking. I'm walking in a circle with my friends.
When you're walking in a circle, you never reach the end.
(repeat)

Now walking's pretty easy, so I'm going to up the score.
I'm going to rub my tummy while I walk across the floor.

I'm walking...in a circle, and I'm rubbing my tummy.
I'm rubbing my tummy like I'm saying yummy yummy.
(repeat)

But this is still too easy, still too easy's what I said.
So I'm going to rub my tummy, and I'm going to pat my head.

I'm walking in a circle, and I'm rubbing my tummy and patting my head.
I'm walking in a circle, and I'm rubbing my tummy and patting my head.
I'm walking in a circle, and I'm rubbing my tummy and patting my head.
Now this is getting silly, so I think I'm going to stop (STOP!)
(silence...)
Now I'm tired of stopping, so I think I'm going to HOP!

Hop hop hop! Hop hop hop!

Hop like a kangaroo, or maybe like a rabbit.
It's best to hop in moderation, or it might become a habit.

We're in the final lap now, so let's call it a wrap
I'm going to stop the hopping, ‘cause now I'm going to clap.

Repeat after me!
Clap to the left.
Clap to the right.
Behind the back.
Over your head!

Everyone slow down...get down... we're going lower and lower
Down towards the floor. We're not going to move anymore...more…
We're sitting on the floor. (snore) 

 

 


I Love Bananas
I know a little space man;
He's a very happy dude.
All day he sings his favorite song;
About his favorite food.

FRED:
I love bananas
I love them yum yum yum
I love bananas
They've got fiber and potassium
(I love bananas!)

He flew down to the earth one day
In a blue and silver rocket
I'd like to introduce my him now.
His name is Fred Pinsocket
....and he loves bananas...yeah yeah

FRED:
I love bananas.
I love them yum yum yum.
I love bananas.
They've got fiber and potassium
(I go bananas for bananas!)

(Fred: "Banana, Banana, Banana, Banana, Bananana,...")

Fred eats bananas for breakfast
And he eats bananas for lunch,
But he doesn't eat them one by one,
He eats them by the bunch!
...Fred loves bananas ... yeah yeah...

FRED
I love bananas.
I love them yum yum yum.
I love bananas.
They've got fiber and potassium.
(I love bananas!)

2nd time:
Fred loves bananas.
(I love them yum yum!)
They can be good for you.
(They've got fiber and potassium)
Fred: I love bananas!!!! Yeah!!!
Good bye! Gotta go! See you!

 


 
Copyright 2007 Peter Apel.  All rights reserved.  All songs written by Peter Apel, with the exception of traditional songs “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and “Eensie Weensy Spider” which have arrangements and additional words by Peter Apel.  These songs are for the personal use of parents and teachers only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For personal use, please see simple agreement at top of this page.