*** GRAMMAR ROCK *** (1973)

A Noun Is A Person, Place, Or Thing

Key to symbols within the lyrics

Well every person you can know,

And every place that you can go,

And any thing that you can show,

You know they're nouns.

A noun's a special kind of word,

It's any name you ever heard.

I find it quite interesting,

A noun's a person, place or thing.

Oh I took a train, took a train,

To another state.

The flora and the fauna that I saw were really great.

But when I saw some bandits chasing the train,

I was wishing I was back home again.

I took a train, took a train,

To another state.

Well every person you can know...

<Like a bandit or an engineer.>

And every place that you can go...

<Like a state or a home.>

And any thing that you can show...

<Like animals and plants or a train.>

You know they're nouns

You know they're nouns, oh!

Mrs. Jones is a lady on Hudson Street.

She sent her dog to bark at my brother and me.

We gave her dog a big fat bone,

And now he barks at Mrs. Jones.

She's a lady who lives on Hudson Street.

Well every person you can know...

<Mrs. Jones, a lady or a brother.>

And every place that you can go...

<Like a street or a corner.>

And anything that you can show...

<Like a dog or a bone.>

Well you know they're nouns

You know they're nouns, oh!

I took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty.

My best friend was waiting there for me.

(He took an early ferry.)

We went for a walk on the island you know,

And in the middle of summer it started to snow when...

I took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty.

Well every person you can know...

<Like a friend or the captain of a ship.>

And every place that you can go...

<An island or a sea.>

And anything that you can show...

<Like a statue, a ferry or snow.>

Well you know they're nouns

You know they're nouns, oh!

I put a dime in the drugstore record machine.

Oldie-goldies started playing - you know what I mean.

I heard Chubby Checker, he was doing the twist,

And the Beatles and the Monkees

It goes like this.

I put a dime in the drugstore record machine.

Well every person you can know...

<The Beatles and the Monkees; Chubby Checker.>

And every place that you can go...

<Like a neighborhood or a store.>

And anything that you can show...

<Like a dime or a record machine.>

Well you know they're nouns.

A noun's a special kind of word,

It's any name you ever heard.

I find it quite interesting,

A noun's a person, place or thing.

A noun is a person, place or thing.

Great thanks to:

David Strauss / dss2k@virginia.edu (PsiCop P12+ & B5 Waiter, Fresh Air)
Administrator, New York Islanders Mailing List

*** GRAMMAR ROCK *** (1973)

Verb: That's What's Happening

Key to symbols within the lyrics

I get my thing in action                  >> Verb!
To be, to sing, to feel, to live...       >> Verb!  That's what's
                                          >>   happenin'!
I put my heart in action                  >> Verb!
To run, to go, to get, to give...         >> Verb!  You're what's
                                          >>   happenin'!
That's where I find satisfaction, yeah!   >> Yeah!
To search, to find, to have, to hold...   >> Verb!  To be bold!
When I use my imagination                 >> Verb!
I think, I plot, I plan, I dream...
Turning in towards creation               >> Verb!
I make, I write, I dance, I sing...
When I'm feelin' really active            >> Verb!
I run, I ride, I swim, I fly!
Other times when life is easy             >> Ohhh!
I rest, I sleep, I sit, I lie...          >> Verb!  That's what's
                                          >>   happening!

I can take a noun and bend it...
Give me a noun!                           >> Bat, ball, rake, and plow
Make it a verb and really send it!        >> Show me how!
Ohh, I don't know my own power!           >> Verb!
I get my thing in action...               >> Verb!
In being...                               >> Verb!
In doing...                               >> Verb!
In saying...

<A verb expresses action, being or state of being.>
>> <A verb makes a statement.>
<Yeah, a verb tells it like it is!>       >> Verb!  That's what's
                                          >>   happenin'!

I can tell you when it's happenin'!       >> Past, present, future
                                          >>   tense!
Tell you more about what's happenin'.     >> Say it so it makes
                                          >>   some sense!
Oh!  I can tell you *who* is happenin'.   >> Verb you're so intense!
Hey, every sentence has a subject.        >> Noun: person, place or
                                          >>   thing!
Find that subject, where's the action?    >> Verb can make the subject
                                          >>   zing!
Take the subject, what is it?             >> What?
What's done to it?                        >> What?
What does it say?                         >> Verb!  You're what's
                                          >>   happenin'!
I can question like, "What is it?"        >> Verb!  You're so
                                          >>   demanding!
I can order like, "Go get it!"            >> Verb!  You're so
                                          >>   commanding!
When I hit, I need an object!             >> Verb, hit!  Hit the ball!
When I see, I see the object!             >> Do you see that %"Berlin
                                          >>   Wall"?%

<If you can see it, man, put the ball over the fence, man!  Go 'head,
 on!  Yeah, alright!  What?!  He hit it!  It's goin'... it's goin'...
 it's gone! What?!>

I get my thing in action!                 >> Verb!  That's what's
                                          >>   happening!
To work...                                >> Verb!
To play...                                >> Verb!
To live...                                >> Verb!
To love!

Great thanks to:

David Strauss / dss2k@virginia.edu (PsiCop P12+ & B5 Waiter, Fresh Air)
Administrator, New York Islanders Mailing List

*** GRAMMAR ROCK *** (1973)

Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Adverbs Here

Key to symbols within the lyrics

Hmmmmm... hmmmmm... hmmmmm!!!

<Ready pop?>

<Yep.>

<Ready son?>

<Mmm hmm!>

<Let's go.>

<Let's go!>

<One, two...>

Lolly Lolly Lolly, get your adverbs here!

Lolly Lolly Lolly, got some adverbs here!

Come on down to Lolly's, get the adverbs here!

You're going to need

If you write or read

Or even think about it.

Lolly Lolly Lolly, get your adverbs here!

Got a lot of Lolly, jolly adverbs here!

Anything you need

And we can make it absolutely clear!

An adverb is a word... <That's all it is, and there's a lot of 'em!>

That modifies a verb... <Sometimes a verb! Sometimes...>

It modifies an adjective,

Or else another adverb.

And so you see that it's positively, very, very, necessary.

Lolly Lolly Lolly, get your adverbs here!

Father, son and Lolly selling adverbs here!

Got a lot of adverbs and we make it clear,

So come to Lolly!

<Hello, folks. This is Lolly Senior, saying we have every adverb in

the book, so come on down and look!>

<Hello, folks. Lolly Junior here. Suppose your house needs painting.

How are you going to paint it? That's where the adverb comes in.

We can also give you a special intensifier so you can paint it very

neatly or rather sloppily.>

<Hi. Suppose you're going nut-gathering. Your buddy wants to know

where and when. Use an adverb and tell him.)

Get your adverb...

Use it with an adjective, it says much more.

Anything described can be described some more.

Anything you'd ever need is in the store,

And so you choose very carefully

Every word you use.

Use it with a verb it tells us how you did.

Where it happened, where you're going, where you've been.

Use it with another adverb at the end, and even more...

How, where, or when, condition or reason...

These questions are answered

When you use an adverb...

<Come and get it!>

Lolly Lolly Lolly, get your adverbs here!

Quickly quickly quickly, get your adverbs here!

Slowly surely really, learn your adverbs here!

You're going need 'em

If you read 'em,

If you write or talk or think about it.

Lolly...

>> <If it's an adverb we have it at Lolly's!

>> Bring along your old adjectives too, like slow, soft and sure.

>> We'll fit them out with our "l-y" attachment,

>> And make perfectly good adverbs out of them!>

Get your adverbs here!

>> <Lots of good tricks at Lolly's, so come on down!>

Lolly, Lolly, Lolly!

>> <Adverbs deal with manner, place, time...>

Lolly, Lolly, Lolly!

>> <Condition, reason...>

Father Son and Lolly!

>> <Comparison, contrast...>

Lolly, Lolly, Lolly!

>> <Enrich your language with adverbs!>

Lolly, Lolly, Lolly!

<Besides, they're absolutely free!>

Lolly, Lolly, Lolly!

>> <At your service!>

Indubitably!

Great thanks to:

David Strauss / dss2k@virginia.edu (PsiCop P12+ & B5 Waiter, Fresh Air)
Administrator, New York Islanders Mailing List

*** GRAMMAR ROCK *** (1973)

Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla

Key to symbols within the lyrics

Now I have a friend named Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla,

And I could say that "Rufus found a kangaroo

That followed Rufus home

And now that kangaroo belongs...

To Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla."

Whew! I could say that, but I don't have to!

Because I got pronouns, I can say,

"He found a kangaroo that followed him home

And now it is his."

You see, "he", "him" and "his" are pronouns

Replacing the noun "Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla",

A very proper noun,

And "it" is a pronoun replacing the noun "kangaroo"!

%Now comma...%

Now Rufus has a sister named Rafaella Gabriela Sarsaparilla,

If she found a kangaroo I'd say to you

"She found a kangaroo that followed her home

And now it is hers."

But I can't say that...

'Cause she found an aardvark

That fell in love with her and they're so happy.

And my name is Albert Andreas Armadillo

<No relation to the Sarsaparillas...>

Because of pronouns I can say

"I wish she would find a rhinoceros for me,

And we'd be happy."

You see, a pronoun was made to take the place of a noun.

'Cause saying all those nouns over and over

Can really wear you down.

Now I could tell you "Rafaella Gabriela

and Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla and

Albert Andreas Armadillo found

An aardvark, a kangaroo and a rhinoceros.

And now that aardvark and that kangaroo

And that rhinoceros belong respectively to:

Rafaella Gabriela Sarsaparilla

And Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla

And Albert Andreas Armadillo."

Whew! Because of pronouns I can say, in this way,

"We found them and they found us,

And now they are ours and we're so happy!"

<Thank you pronoun!!>

You see, a pronoun was made to take the place of a noun.

'Cause saying all those nouns over and over

Can really wear you down.

Sometimes when we take them all on the bus,

People really raise a fuss.

They start shouting out loud pronouns at us, like:

"*Who* brought that rhinoceros on the bus?" and

"*What* made that horrible noise?" and

"Which one of 'em's getting off first?"

"Who", "what" and "which" are special pronouns

That can ask a question

In the sense where you do not know the name of the noun.

But I know!

I have mine and she has hers and he has his,

Do you have yours?

They love us and we love them.

What's ours is theirs, that's how it is with friends.

And pronouns, you are really friends. Yeah!

'Cause saying all those nouns over and over

Can really wear you down.

David Strauss / dss2k@virginia.edu (PsiCop P12+ & B5 Waiter, Fresh Air)
Administrator, New York Islanders Mailing List

*** GRAMMAR ROCK *** (1973)

Unpack Your Adjectives

Key to symbols within the lyrics

Got home from camping last spring.

Saw people, places and things.

We barely had arrived,

Friends asked us to describe

The people, places and every last thing.

So we unpacked our adjectives.

I unpacked "frustrating" first.

Reached in and found the word "worst".

Then I picked "soggy" and

Next I picked "foggy" and

Then I was ready to tell them my tale.

'Cause I'd unpacked my adjectives.

Adjectives are words you use to really describe things,

Handy words to carry around.

Days are sunny or they're rainy

Boys are dumb or else they're brainy

Adjectives can show you which way.

Adjectives are often used to help us compare things,

To say how thin, how fat, how short, how tall.

Girls who are tall can get taller,

Boys who are small can get smaller,

Till one is the tallest

And the other's the smallest of all.

We hiked along without care.

Then we ran into a bear.

He was a hairy bear,

He was a scary bear,

We beat a hasty retreat from his lair.

And described him with adjectives.

>> <Whoah! Boy, that was one big, ugly bear!>

<You can even make adjectives out of the other parts of speech, like

verbs or nouns. All you have to do is tack on an ending, like "ic"

or "ish" or "ary". For example, this boy can grow up to be a huge

man, but still have a boyish face. "Boy" is a noun, but the ending

"ish" makes it an adjective. "Boyish": that describes the huge

man's face. Get it?>

Next time you go on a trip,

Remember this little tip:

The minute you get back,

They'll ask you this and that,

You can describe people, places and things...

Simply unpack your adjectives.

You can do it with adjectives.

Tell them 'bout it with adjectives.

You can shout it with adjectives.

David Strauss / dss2k@virginia.edu (PsiCop P12+ & B5 Waiter, Fresh Air)
Administrator, New York Islanders Mailing List

*** GRAMMAR ROCK *** (1973)

Conjunction Junction

Key to symbols within the lyrics

>> Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

Hooking up words and phrases and clauses.

>> Conjunction Junction, how's that function?

I got three favorite cars

That get most of my job done.

>> Conjunction Junction, what's their function?

I got "and", "but", and "or",

They'll get you pretty far.

"And":

That's an additive, like "this and that".

"But":

That's sort of the opposite,

"Not this *but* that".

And then there's "or":

O-R, when you have a choice like

"This or that".

"And", "but", and "or",

Get you pretty far.

>> Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

Hooking up two boxcars and making 'em run right.

Milk and honey, bread and butter, peas and rice.

>> Hey that's nice!

Dirty but happy, digging and scratching,

Losing your shoe and a button or two.

He's poor but honest, sad but true,

Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

>> Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

Hooking up two cars to one

When you say something like this choice:

"Either now or later"

Or no choice:

"Neither now nor ever"

>> Hey that's clever!

Eat this or that, grow thin or fat,

Never mind, I wouldn't do that,

I'm fat enough now!

>> Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

Hooking up phrases and clauses that balance, like:

Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

He cut loose the sandbags,

But the balloon wouldn't go any higher.

Let's go up to the mountains,

Or down to the sea.

You should always say "thank you",

Or at least say "please".

>> Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

Hooking up words and phrases and clauses

In complex sentences like:

<"In the mornings, when I am usually wide awake,

I love to take a walk through the gardens and down by the lake,

Where I often see a duck and a drake,

And I wonder as I walk by

Just what they'd say if they could speak,

Although I know that's an absurd thought.">

>> Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

Hooking up cars and making 'em function.

>> Conjunction Junction, how's that function?

I like tying up words and phrases and clauses.

>> Conjunction Junction, watch that function.

I'm going to get you there if you're very careful.

>> Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

I'm going to get you there if you're very careful.

>> Conjunction Junction, what's your function?

I'm going to get you there if you're very careful.

David Strauss / dss2k@virginia.edu (PsiCop P12+ & B5 Waiter, Fresh Air)
Administrator, New York Islanders Mailing List

*** GRAMMAR ROCK *** (1973)

Interjections!

Key to symbols within the lyrics

>> <Cough!  Cough!  Cough!>

When Reginald was home with flu, (uh huh)
The doctor knew just what to do:
He cured the infection,
With one small injection,
While Reginald uttered some interjections:

>> <Hey!  That smarts!
>>  Ouch!  That hurts!
>>  Yow!  That's not fair, giving a guy a shot down there!>

Interjections        >> <Hey!>
Show excitement,     >> <Yow!>
Or emotion.          >> <Ouch!>
They're generally set apart from a sentence
By an exclamation point,
Or by a comma when the feeling's not as strong.  Mmmm...

Though Geraldine played hard to get,  (uh huh)
Geraldo knew he'd woo her yet.
He showed his affection,
Despite her objections,
And Geraldine hollered some interjections:

>> <Well!  You've got some nerve!
>>  Oh!  I've never been so insulted in all my life!
>>  Hey!  You're kinda cute!>

Interjections        >> <Well!>
Show excitement,     >> <Oh!>
Or emotion.          >> <Hey!>
They're generally set apart from a sentence
By an exclamation point,
Or by a comma when the feeling's not as strong.

So when you're happy    >> <Hurray!>
Or sad                  >> <Aw!>
Or frightened           >> <Eeeeeek!>
Or mad                  >> <Rats!>
Or excited              >> <Wow!>
Or glad                 >> <Hey!>
An interjection starts a sentence right!

The game was tied at seven all, (uh huh)
When Franklin found he had the ball.
He made a connection,
In the other direction,
And the crowd starting shouting out interjections:

>> <Aw!  You threw the wrong way!>
>> <Darn!  You just lost the game!>
>> <Hurray!  I'm for the other team!>

Interjections        >> <Aw!>
Show excitement,     >> <Darn!>
Or emotion.          >> <Hurray!>
They're generally set apart from a sentence
By an exclamation point,
Or by a comma when the feeling's not as strong.

So when you're happy    >> <Hurray!>
Or sad                  >> <Aw!>
Or frightened           >> <Eeeeeek!>
Or mad                  >> <Rats!>
Or excited              >> <Wow!>
Or glad                 >> <Hey!>
An interjection starts a sentence right!

Interjections        >> <Hey!>
Show excitement,     >> <Hey!>
Or emotion.          >> <Hey!>
They're generally set apart from a sentence
By an exclamation point
or by a comma when the feeling's not as strong.

Interjections!
Show excitement!
Or emotion!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah... yea!!

>> <Darn, that's the end.>

Great thanks to:

David Strauss / dss2k@virginia.edu (PsiCop P12+ & B5 Waiter, Fresh Air)
Administrator, New York Islanders Mailing List

*** MULTIPLICATION ROCK *** (1973)

Two Elementary, My Dear

Key to symbols within the lyrics

Forty days and forty nights, didn't it rain, children?

Not a speck of land in sight >> Didn't it, didn't it rain?

But Noah built the ark so tight, they sailed on, children.

And when at last the waters receded,

And the dove brought back the olive tree leaf,

He landed that ship near Mount Ararat.

And one of his children grabbed Noah's robe and said...

>> <Hey Dad, how many animals on this old ark, anyway, huh?>

Elementary, my dear, two time two is four.

Elementary, my dear, two time three is six.

Elementary, my dear, two time four is eight.

Elementary, my dear, two time five is ten.

Two times one is two, of course, and it must occur to you,

You get an even number every time you multiply by two.

Elementary, my dear, two time six is twelve.

Elementary, my dear, two time seven is fourteen.

Elementary, my dear, two times eight is sixteen.

Elementary, my dear, two times nine is eighteen.

Two times ten is twenty; eleven twice is twenty-two.

Double twelve that's twenty-four; thirteen twice is twenty-six.

Fourteen twice is twenty-eight; fifteen twice is thirty.

Now you build it up on thirty.

Sixteen twice is thirty-two, elementary.

Seventeen twice is thirty-four, elementary.

Eighteen twice is thirty-six, elementary.

Nineteen twice is thirty-eight, elementary.

Twenty twice is forty, and it must occur to you,

You can double any number, all you do is multiply by two.

Elementary, my dear, two time two is four. Woo!

Elementary, my dear, two time three is six. Yeah.

Elementary, my dear, two time four is eight. Woo!

Elementary, my dear, two time five is ten. Yeah.

<Now, if you want to multiply two times 174, or some big number like

that... Two times 174 equals two times 100 plus two times 70 plus

two times 4, that's all. So two times 174 equals 200 plus 140 plus

8, or, 348. It's elementary!>

Elementary... elementary...

Twice 32 is 64, elementary. Twice 33 is 66, elementary.

Twice 34 is 68, elementary. Twice 35 is 70, elementary.

Yeah, yes! It's elementary, yeah....

<Now, what's two times 98?>

>> <Aww, that's hard!>

<No, it's very simple. Two times 98 equals two times a hundred,

minus two times two. That's 200 minus four: 196. Elementary.>

Forty days and forty nights, didn't it rain, children?

Great thanks to:

David Strauss / dss2k@virginia.edu (PsiCop P12+ & B5 Waiter, Fresh Air)
Administrator, New York Islanders Mailing List

*** MULTIPLICATION ROCK *** (1973)

Three Is A Magic Number

Key to symbols within the lyrics

Three is a magic number.

Yes it is, it's a magic number.

Somewhere in the ancient, mystic trinity

You get three as a magic number.

The past and the present and the future,

Faith and hope and charity,

The heart and the brain and the body

Give you three.

That's a magic number.

It takes three legs to make a tri-pod or to make a table stand.

It takes three wheels to make a ve-hicle called a tricycle.

Every triangle has three corners,

Every triangle has three sides,

No more, no less.

You don't have to guess.

When it's three you can see it's a magic number.

A man and a woman had a little baby.

Yes, they did.

They had three in the family.

That's a magic number.

3, 6, 9... 12, 15, 18... 21, 24, 27... 30.

3, 6, 9... 12, 15, 18... 21, 24, 27... 30.

>> <Multiply backwards from three times ten.>

Three time ten is... >> 30

Three times nine is... >> 27

Three times eight is... >> 24

Three times seven is... >> 21

Three times six is 18, three times five is 15

Three times four is twelve

And three times three is nine and three times two is six.

And three times one is three of course.

>> <Now take the pattern once more.>

>> <Three!>

3, 6, 9.

>> <Twelve.>

12, 15, 18.

>> <Twenty-one.>

21, 24, 27... 30.

>> <Now multiply from 10 backwards.>

Three times ten is... >> 30

Three times nine is 27

Three times eight is... >> 24

Three times seven is... >> 21

Three times six is 18, three times five is 15,

Three times four is twelve

And three times three is nine and three times two is six.

And three times one... <What is it?>

>> <Three!>

<Yeah> That's a magic number.

A man and a woman had a little baby.

Yes, they did.

They had three in the family.

That's a magic number.

Great thanks to:

David Strauss / dss2k@virginia.edu (PsiCop P12+ & B5 Waiter, Fresh Air)
Administrator, New York Islanders Mailing List

*** MULTIPLICATION ROCK *** (1973)

The Four-Legged Zoo

Key to symbols within the lyrics

We went to the four-legged zoo,

To visit our four-footed friends.

>> Lions and tigers, cats and dogs,

>> A goat and a cow and a couple of hogs

A rhinoceros and of course a hippopotamus,

And, oh yes, a horse.

>> An elk and a bison and a gnu or two,

>> Giraffes and elephants, quite a few.

A llama, alpaca, bicuna too,

Zebras, xebexes, and one big kudu.

It was swell! >> <I liked the gazelles!>

>> <Now Miss Simpson said...>

>> <She teaches school, you know.>

>> <Yeah, she took us there!>

>> <Well Miss Simpson said...>

>> <If you counted every head on these quadripeds,

>> then multiplied that number by four,

>> We'd know how many feet went through the door

>> If we turned 'em all loose!>

>> <Oh no, don't do that!>

>> <It's a really groovy zoo.>

>> <But, anyway, what Miss Simpson said,

>> It was a good chance to work with our fours in our head.

>> One, two, three, four!>

I'll take a lion... >> One times four

He's got four legs and maybe a roar.

>> Gimme two camels, that's two times four

>> Eight legs walking 'cross the desert floor.

A tiger and a lamb and a fat kudu

We got three times four >> Equals 12 %legs too%

But then I had to subtract when that tiger was through... Rowwwr!

Four four-footed friends, no matter who

Would have 16 legs, And it's always true...

>> That four times four equals 16.

>> Five times four is 20.

<Now a coach and six, if you were Cinderella, wo