USU librarian co-authors book for singing in the car
Creating projects for herself is one of the ways Jan Anderson, campus services librarian at Utah State University, keeps herself from being bored.
In 2001, one of her projects that came to fruition was the compilation of popular songs into a book called “Singing All the Way.” Anderson and her husband, history professor Jay, who met while she was doing graduate work at Western Kentucky University, took about four months in 2001 to compile their book.
“Years ago I saw a book designed for singing in the car,” Jan said. “You didn’t need music because they are all songs you know.”
She said she was never able to find the book again. She set out to put together familiar songs for which people wouldn’t need to be able to read music in order to sing. She went on the Internet to Web sites like www.mudcat.org and www.kiddles.com to find songs.
Jan said after she compiled a preliminary list, she had more than 7,000 songs. After she and Jay pulled out all of the songs they deemed inappropriate or still were still licensed by copyright, they were left with a list of 236 songs they felt most people would know.
“‘Anchors Away’ would probably have been fun,” Jan said.
But the song had to be eliminated from their list because of its copyright.
The Andersons sent copies of the list to 65 friends and family members around the United States, from Alaska to Florida. People of ages ranging from a 4-year-old grandson to a 94-year-old great aunt read through the list, making note of what songs they knew and what songs they didn’t know, Jan said.
From the feedback they received, the list was narrowed to 114 songs. Some songs were even added to the list, Jan said.
“With all the Web sites we went to, we had forgotten to include ’99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall’,” she said.
Some hymns were eliminated by the Anderson’s feedback group.
“Some people said, ‘I hated it [hymns] in Sunday school and I hate it now’,” Jan said.
Jan said the book was printed in large print so more than one person can read it at a time.
Researching songs brought some surprises to Jan and Jay. “Home on the Range” has about 18 verses, she said. She also found some quirky versions of popular songs.
“Three Decrepit Rodents,” Jan’s favorite song in “Singing all the Way” is a variation of “Three Blind Mice.”
“Three decrepit rodents. Three decrepit rodents.
Observe how they perambulate. Observe how they perambulate.
They all pursued the agriculturist’s spouse, who severed their posteriors with a culinary cleaver.
Have ever you observed such a phenomenon in your existence as three decrepit rodents?”
“Singing all the Way” is available at the Book Table, Chapter Two Books and the USU Bookstore. It can also be purchased online at www. dcwi.com/~ singing.