An Old “New” Club Song
It feels more complicated than ever to find new songs that are “usable” for club. What if, instead of trying to lyrically edit the hottest new song on the radio, we kicked it old school and reached back into the YL song archives?
We’ve recently started doing this old song, a cappella with motions, and it’s actually gone really well and been super fun! I think it works for both middle and high school if you sell it well. You could even use elderly run-on characters and talk about how you used to sing this song back in the 1940’s.
– Start by teaching them the motions, as outlined below, singing it super slow. (About the same speed as Etta James sings the first part here.)
– Then sing it through at normal speed.
– Then speed it up a little more (trying to keep up with doing the motions)
– Then do it hyper-speed, still doing motions super-fast.
– 4 or 5 times through total.
Swing Low Sweet Chariot (with motions)
Swing
Low (arms swinging left and right, lowering down to the ground)
Sweet (kissing motion to bunched fingers then flinging them away from face)
Chariot (shaking fists held vertically in front of chest as if struggling with reins- think Ben Hur).
Coming (hands motioning forward)
For (hold up four fingers)
To (hold up two fingers)
Carry (arms as if holding baby)
Me (gesture towards self)
Home (hands tented over head).
I Looked Over (hand shading eyes as if looking afar)
Jordan (dunking like Michael Jordan)
and What did (hands out like asking a question)
I see (point to eye)
Coming (hands motioning forward)
For (hold up four fingers)
To (hold up two fingers)
Carry (arms as if holding baby)
Me (gesture towards self)
Home (hands tented over head).
A Band (pretending to play a trombone)
of
Angels (tuck hands in armpits and make wing-flapping motions with elbows)
Coming (hands motioning forward)
after
Me (gesture towards self).
Coming (hands motioning forward)
For (hold up four fingers)
To (hold up two fingers)
Carry (arms as if holding baby)
Me (gesture towards self)
Home (hands tented over head).
