At the Animal School, at the Animal School
Everybody learns, indeed
Running, climbing
Swimming, flying
Everything that everyone needs
The duck was excellent at swimming, good at flying, too
But with running and climbing he showed little hope
So they kept him after school to do some extra work
Running ’round the track and climbing up a rope
As his webbed feet and feathered wings became so badly worn
He was now only average when he’d fly and swim
And he heard the teachers say
“Average gets you through the day”
They all thought it was okay — except him
At the Animal School, at the Animal School
Everybody learns, indeed
Running, climbing
Swimming, flying
Everything that everyone needs
No-one could climb a tree as quickly as the little squirrel
And her flying was fine when starting treetop down
But her climbing suffered when her legs got sore because
The flying teacher made her take off from the ground
As for the eagle, he beat everybody to the top
But it’s cheating to fly in climbing class, and how
So they kept him after school
Sitting on a little stool
Writing, “I will follow rules, I vow”
At the Animal School, at the Animal School
Everybody learns, indeed
Running, climbing
Swimming, flying
Everything that everyone needs
The kangaroo could outrun everyone until the day
That the teacher said, “Use four legs like all the rest”
They said bear was dumb and lazy, but when school was closed
In the summer there was much that he did best
And when the gophers saw that no-one taught their kids to dig
They began a new private school to call their own
And though testing proved the bee’s
Wings were far too small, well, she
Just kept flying fancy free, even so
At the Animal School, at the Animal School
Everybody learns, indeed
Running, climbing
Swimming, flying
Everything that everyone needs
At the Animal School, at the Animal School
Everybody learns, indeed
It’s okay if we’re all middling
If we all learn every little thing
Yes, everything that everyone needs
Lyrics based on the story published by ArtScroll / Mesorah Publications, Ltd., in turn based on the original story by George H. Reavis, now in the public domain.
Dianne Mucci – Vocals
MSM – Instruments
Produced, arranged, recorded and mixed by MSM in the basement in the village, Red Hook, NY, using a MacBook Pro, MOTU Digital Performer 5.13, EastWest/Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Gold Complete, and an M-Audio Keystation Pro 88.
Vocals recorded in the garage on the mountain, Bloomingburg, NY.
Written: 5th of the 12 songs for the album, starting January 30, 2008
Key: C
Arranged: 10th, starting April 7, 2008
Vocals recorded 7th, July 25, 2008
Mixed: 7th, starting September 22, 2008
“… brilliantly written lyrics… an eclectic sampling of funky, kid-friendly and parent-approved music that will have your
little one jumpin’ and jivin’… you just might wonder if Mark isn’t perhaps the most astute parent to have ever composed children’s music… I can totally envision The Offhand Band becoming a popular household name.” — RootandSprout.com...more
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