The origin of call and response music can be traced to Africa. It was used to teach and invite participation from others during public gatherings and religious rituals. Over the years, the music has found its way into other genres. In education, it is the most important tool teachers have at their disposal to teach new songs by rote.
List of call and response songs
From spiritual songs to teaching pieces, the list of call and response songs for kids to sing along is endless. Here is a list of popular call and response songs you can teach your kids.
1. Oh, Won’t You Sit Down – Alex & The Kaleidoscope
Alex & The Kaleidoscope is an Emmy Award-winning interactive music entertainment brand targeted for children 4-8 years old. It released the song Oh, Won’t You Sit Down in September 2015. The song is one of the songs in the album Get On Board!
2. May-ree Mack by Ella Jenkins
Ella Jenkins is a famous American folk singer and actress. She released the track Mary-ree in October 1995. The leader sings the first two lines, and the audience comes in on the “Hi-yos”
3. Green Grass Grows – The Learning Station
If you are looking for songs to teach elementary students, this is the go-to option. This popular nursery rhyme song for children is from the award-winning CD Seasonal Songs in Motion. It’s a great song for morning meetings, circle time, group activities, or brain breaks.
4. Miss Mary Mack – EflashApps
EFlashApps offers Fun and Educational apps and entertaining tunes. It released the song Miss Mary Mack in March 2017. It is a fun clapping play activity song for kids in preschool and kindergarten.
5. A Trains-A-Coming by Ella Jenkins
This song by Ella Jenkins is one of the oldest call and response songs. It was released in January 1974. The song is from the album Jambo and Other Call and Response Songs and Chants.
6. There’s a Hole in the Bucket by Little Fox
Little Fox has released several award-winning animated stories and songs. There’s a Hole in the Bucket is one of the most famous nursery rhymes by Little Fox. The song is based on a protracted dialogue about a leaky bucket between two characters, Henry and Liza.
7. The Other Day I Met a Bear – Turtle Interactive
This is a traditional American camp song sung as an echo song. Turtle Interactive released it in December 2015. The fun-style animated song is about two young children and a bear.
8. Princess Pat – The Learning Station
Princess Pat is a popular call and repeat song for kids in preschool, kindergarten & elementary school. The song was released by The Learning Station in June 2018. It is one of the songs on the CD Brain Breaks Action Songs: Let’s Move.
9. Happy Hippopotamus – Itty Bitty Beats
Happy Hippopotamus is one of the best songs for elementary students to sing. It was released by Itty Bitty Beats in September 2020. Itty Bitty Beats is the musical pairing of Jenny Payne and Lucy Hiku. The award-winning duo has released original Kiwi music for kids around the world.
10. Rabbit Run on the Frozen Ground – Dany Rosevear
The Kentucky call and response song was released by Dany Rosevear in August 2016. Dany is a retired primary school teacher who enjoys making music. This nursery rhyme is a great song for morning assembly, group activities or brain breaks.
11. Flurdadoodle Boodle Woodle – Twinkl Educational Publishing
Flurdadoodle Boodle Woodle is a brain break song about an imaginary bird written by Twinkl Educational Publishing. When singing this song, the children are required to perform actions that mimic the appearance of the bird.
12. Telephone by Laurie Berkner
The song was released by Laurie Berkner in October 2018. It is an upbeat and lighthearted song about calling your friends on the telephone. Laurie is a famous musician best known for her work as a children’s musical artist.
13. My Aunt Came Back – The Learning Station
My Aunt Came Back was adapted by The Learning Station in April 2021. The call and repeat song is filled with silly, fun movements. This action song is great for brain breaks, circle time, or those bad weather days when children can’t go out to play.
14. Banana Boat Song – Harry Belafonte
Banana Boat Song is a call and response work song written from the point of view of dock workers working the night shift loading bananas onto ships. The song is from Harry Belafonte’s 1956 album Calypso and is an adaptation of a vernacular Jamaican work song.
15. Alouettle, Gentille Alouette – Alain le Lait
Alouette is a French song that translates to French body parts for birds. It involves active audience participation, with the kids echoing every line of each verse after the verse’s second line. Alain le Lait released the song in August 2011.
16. A Sailor Went to the Sea – Super Simple Songs
The classic nursery rhyme gives kids the opportunity to learn about different sea creatures including seahorse, a jellyfish, a turtle, an octopus, a baby shark, and a blue whale. Each verse in this classic kids’ song gets harder and harder, making it super fun to sing! It was released by Super Simple Songs in June 2017.
17. Down By the Bay – The Learning Station
The popular nursery rhyme was released by The Learning Station in February 2015. It is ideal for learners in preschool and kindergarten. This popular rhyming song makes learning delightfully fun.
18. The Great Big Moose – Scratch Garden
The Great Big Moose is a fun camp song for kids. It features funny lyrics and many cute forest animals. The song was released by Scratch Garden in 2015 in the album Camp Songs & Nursery Rhymes.
19. Yes I Can – Super Simple Songs
Yes I Can is a popular animal song for children. It introduces animal vocabulary and action verbs. The song was released by Super Simple Songs in February 2015.
20. John the Rabbit – Muffin Songs
John the Rabbit song is from the album 70 Best Kids Songs, which was released by Muffin Songs in November 2011. The song is ideal for preschoolers.
21. Boom Chicka Boom – The Learning Station
This is one of the most famous call and response songs. The song is from the award-winning CD, #1 Best Kid’s Songs, released by The Learning Station in June 2011. When singing this song, kids are required to repeat each line and perform each movement with their hands and body.
22. Barreling on Down the Highway by Ella Jenkins
This song by Ella Jenkins is from the album Jambo and Other Call and Response Songs, which was released in August 1996. It is ideal for preschoolers because it introduces them to different rhythmic sounds and patterns.
23. Who Fed the Chickens – Ella Jenkins
Ella Jenkins released the song in December 2012. The song is included on her Smithsonian Folkways album Get Moving with Ella Jenkins. It demonstrates her genius as both a music educator and children’s entertainer.
24. Little Tommy Tucker
If you are looking for an easy and short English language rhyme for kids, this song should be at the top of your list. The song was released by The Tiny Tots in October 2014.
25. There’s A Hole in The Bottom Of The Sea – Cedarmont Kids
Remember all those wonderful songs you learned as a child? The odds are that you’ll find them on Cedarmont Kids videos. There’s a Hole in the Bottom of The Sea is from the album Songs of America, which comprises 18 classic songs from childhood.
26. Hi, My Name Is Joe (Jo) and I Work in a Button Factory- Camp Song
Hi, My Name Is Joe (Jo) and I Work in a Button Factory is a traditional camp song. When singing this song, the kids are required to repeat the entire song, each time ending with a different body part. It was released by Camp Song in April 2012.
27. Praise ye The Lord Hallelujah – The Wonder Kids
If you are looking for spiritual call and response music examples, this track should be at the top of your list. It was released by The Wonder Kids in 2007. It is from the album 30 More Bible Songs & Stories.
28. The World is Big, The World is Small – Ella Jenkins
The call and repeat song was released by Ella Jenkins in October 1995. It is from the album Multicultural Children’s Songs, which is the most popular Smithsonian Folkways release.
29. Hey ho Nobody Home – Dany Rosevear
If you are looking for a call and repeat Christmas song, Hey ho Nobody Home is the go-to option. The song was released by Dany Rosevear in November 2017.
30. Oh, In the Woods – John Feierabend
The list of call and repeat songs cannot be complete without the mention of this track. It was released by John Feierabend in 2010. The song is from the album Lomax, the Hound of Music: Favorite Songs.
