Dynamic Music Room – Music guides, information, and resources for all.

Are you looking for ocean songs for a concert theme? Do you want to add on to your general education teacher’s science content? It’s sometimes easy and fun to build a program around specific themes, and oceans songs are fun ones to do. I love doing this theme in the middle of winter when we’re all thinking about the warm and fun summer. So to help you out, here 19 fun kids songs about the ocean: Charlie Over The OceanA Sailor Went To Sea Sea SeaDown At The BeachBobby ShaftoeA Hole In The Bottom Of The SeaUnder The SeaYellow SubmarineOnce I Caught A Fish AliveBaby SharkOctopus’ GardenAquarium from the Carnival Of The AnimalsDown By The BayRow Row Row Your BoatFive Little SeashellsIf You’re A Pirate And You Know ItThe Big Ships Sails On The Ally-ally-o! Sea Shell (sing a song for me)Sailing Sailing Baby Beluga Read on for a brief description of each song and links where you can find it. 19 Fun Kids Songs About The Ocean In this section, I’ll go into each song a little and offer two important pieces of information you may find helpful. You’ll see a difficulty score out of 10 with 1 being easy and 10 being hard. This score was picked by me depending on the lyrics, melody, range, and form. You’ll also see a grade level recommendation. This is based in part by the song’s difficulty but also based on the content of the song. This list includes authentic folk songs as well as popular songs and songs recorded for kids. Note: In cases where songs were written by a specific company or person, we always include a link to where you can buy the song and a sample of the lyrics. I encourage you to support the writers by purchasing the tracks. These songs will be noted with an “*” after their name. #1 Charlie Over The Ocean Difficulty: 1/10 Grade: Preschool - 2nd Grade Source/Link: American Folk Song Collection Notes: This song is also a chase game. Kids love this one! Lyrics: Charlie over the ocean (echo) Charlie over the sea Charlie caught a big fish Can’t catch me! #2 A Sailor Went To Sea Sea Sea Difficulty: 3/10 Grade: 1st-3rd Grades Source/Link: Super Simple Songs (From a traditional tune) Notes: This is an addition song. Students can keep choosing ocean animals and motions to add to the song. Lyrics: A sailor went to sea sea sea to see what she could see see see. But all that she could see see see was the bottom of the deep blue sea sea sea. A sailor went to sea sea sea to see what she could see see see. But all that she could see see see was a seahorse swimming in the sea sea sea. A sailor went to sea sea sea to see what she could see see see. But all that she could see see see was a jellyfish swimming and a seahorse swimming in the sea sea sea. Other additions: TurtleOctopusWhale StarfishEtc... #3 Down At The Beach* Difficulty: 3/10 Grade: 2nd-4th grades Source/Link: Music K-8 Notes: Have your students make up their own motions for each part. Kids love this song. Lyrics: Dance, dance, dance at the beach. Down, down, down at the beach. Dance, dance, dance at the beach. Down, down, down at the beach. Swim, swim, swim... #4 Bobby Shaftoe Difficulty: 2/10 Grade: 1st-2nd grade Source/Link: American Folk Song Collection Notes: This simple song works well with an Orffestration. I’ve included the optional 2nd verse I learned. Lyrics: Bobby Shaftoe’s gone to sea Silver buckles on his knee. He’ll come back to marry me, Bonny Bobby Shaftoe! Optional Verse 2 Bobby Shaftoe’s fat and fair Combing down his yellow hair. He’s my love forevermore, Bonny Bobby Shaftoe! #5 A Hole In The Bottom Of The Sea Difficulty: 3/10 Grade: 2nd-4th grades Source/Link: Kiddie OK (from traditional folk song) Notes: This is another addition song adding parts to the song. Lyrics: There's a hole in the bottom of the sea, There's a hole in the bottom of the sea, There's a hole, there's a hole, There's a hole in the bottom of the sea. There's a log in the hole In the bottom of the sea, There's a log in the hole In the bottom of the sea, There's a log, there's a log, There's a log in the hole In the bottom of the sea. There's a branch on the log in the hole In the bottom of the sea, There's a branch on the log in the hole In the bottom of the sea, There's a branch, there's a branch, There's a branch on the log in the hole In the bottom of the sea. There's a bump… There's a frog… There's a tail… There's a speck… There's a fleck... #6 Under The Sea* Difficulty: 6/10 Grade: 3rd-5th grades Source/Link: Disney's The Little Mermaid Notes: Popular kids song from the famous Disney movie. A lot of words, but fun to sing. Lyrics: Under the sea Under the sea Darling it's better Down where it's wetter Take it from me Up on the shore they work all day Out in the sun they slave away While we devotin' Full time to floatin' Under the sea #7 Yellow Submarine* Difficulty: 5/10 Grade: 3rd-5th grades Source/Link: The Beatles Notes: Catchy school-appropriate song everyone will know at least a little bit. Lyrics: In the town where I was born Lived a man who sailed to sea And he told us of his life In the land of submarines So we sailed up to the sun 'Til we found a sea of green And we lived beneath the waves In our yellow submarine We all live in a yellow submarine Yellow submarine, yellow submarine We all live in a yellow submarine Yellow submarine, yellow submarine And our friends are all aboard Many more of them live next door And the band begins to play We all live in a yellow submarine Yellow submarine, yellow submarine We all live in a yellow submarine Yellow submarine, yellow submarine As we live a life of ease Everyone of us has all we need (has all we need) Sky of blue (sky of blue) and sea of green (and sea of green) In our yellow submarine (in our yellow, submarine, ha ha) We all live in a yellow submarine Yellow submarine, yellow submarine We all live in a yellow submarine Yellow submarine, yellow submarine Courtesy of Lyric Find. #8 Once I Caught A Fish Alive Difficulty: 1/10 Grade: PreK-1st grade Source/Link: Traditional Chant Notes: This isn’t actually a song, but a rhyme/chant. Lyrics: One, two, three, four, five Once I caught a fish alive, Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, Then I let it go again. Why did you let it go? Because it bit my finger so. Which finger did it bite? This little finger on my right. Count to 10 #9 Baby Shark Difficulty: 1/10 Grade: K-2nd grade Source/Link: Pink Fong (originally a camp song) Notes: In its original form, you can create different verses to tell a story about the shark. Example included below. Lyrics: Baby shark do do do do do do Baby shark do do do do do do Baby Shark do do do do do do Baby shark! Mommy shark… Daddy shark… Grandma shark… Grandpa shark… Let’s go hunt… Swim away… Safe at last… It’s the end… Alternate example with new verses: Baby shark… Mommy shark… Daddy shark… Grandma shark… Grandpa shark… Shark’s a coming… Swim away… Shark attack!... We fight back… Lost my arm… Lost my leg... We’re alive!... #10 Octopus’ Garden Difficulty: 4/10 Grade: 3rd-5th grade Source/Link: The Beatles Notes: Another fun song focused on the ocean most people would recognize. Lyrics: I'd like to be under the sea In an octopus' garden in the shade He'd let us in, knows where we've been In his octopus' garden in the shade I'd ask my friends to come and see An octopus' garden with me I'd like to be under the sea In an octopus' garden in the shade We would be warm below the storm In our little hideaway beneath the waves Resting our head on the sea bed In an octopus' garden near a cave We would sing and dance around Because we know we can't be found I'd like to be under the sea In an octopus' garden in the shade We would shout and swim about The coral that lies beneath the waves Oh what joy for every girl and boy Knowing they're happy and they're safe We would be so happy you and me No one there to tell us what to do I'd like to be under the sea In an octopus' garden with you Courtesy of LyricFind. #11 Aquarium from the Carnival Of The Animals Difficulty: -/10 Grade: -- Source/Link: Carnival of the Animals: VII. Aquarium by Saint-Saens Notes: This is actually a classical piece focused on water by Camille Saint-Saens. Students wouldn’t sing to this, but they could do motions matching you or create their own. Lyrics: #12 Down By The Bay Difficulty: 2/10 Grade: 1st-3rd grades Source/Link: Raffi Notes: This is a fun echo song with a rhyming ending. Students love to make up their own silly ending. Lyrics: Echo each phrase. Down by the bay Where the watermelons grow Back to my home I dare not go For if I do My mother would say (Ending) Down by the bay Sample endings: Have you ever seen a whale with a polka-dotted tail? Have you ever seen a fly wearing a tie? Have you ever seen a llama eating pajamas?Have you ever seen a tree scratching its knee? #13 Row Row Row Your Boat Difficulty: 3/10 Grade: 2nd-4th grades Source/Link: Traditional Notes: This song can be sung in a round and makes a good introduction to part-singing. Lyrics: Row row row your boatGently down the stream Merrily merrily merrily merrilyLife is but a dream #14 Five Little Seashells Difficulty: 2/10 Grade: PreK-1st grades Source/Link: Traditional Notes: This song is a fingerplay and chant. There is no melody, but young kids always find this fun. Lyrics: 5 little seashells lying on the shore, Swish went the waves, and then there were 4. 4 little seashells cozy as could be. Swish went the waves, and then there were 3. 3 little seashells all pearly new, Swish went the waves, and then there were 2. 2 little seashells lying in the sun, Swish went the waves, and then there was 1. 1 little seashell left all alone, I whispered “Shhh” as I took it home. Motions: Hold up 5 fingersUse your other hand to swish over the first handAs the hand swishes, put the first in a fistSwish back againAs the hand swishes again, put out 4 fingers on the first hand #15 If You’re A Pirate And You Know It* Difficulty: 3/10 Grade: 1st and 2nd grades Source/Link: Kids Soup Notes: This is to the tune of “If you’re happy and you know it.” Lyrics: If you're a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish) If you're a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish) If you're a pirate and you know it, then you'll hear the sea winds blowin'. If you're a pirate and you know it, swab the deck (swish, swish) See more at the Kids Soup site. #16 The Big Ships Sails On The Ally-ally-o! Difficulty: 4/10 Grade: 2nd-4th grades Source/Link: Mr. Mike TV (from traditional) Notes: The song comes from a nursery rhyme in England as early as the 1880s. Lyrics: The big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh, the ally-ally-oh, the ally-ally-oh, Oh, the big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh, on the last day of September. The captain said it will never, never do, never, never do, never, never do, The captain said it will never, never do, on the last day of September. The big ship sank to the bottom of the sea, the bottom of the sea, the bottom of the sea, The big ship sank to the bottom of the sea, on the last day of September. We all dip our heads in the deep blue sea, the deep blue sea, the deep blue sea, We all dip our heads in the deep blue sea, on the last day of September. #17 Sea Shell (sing a song for me) Difficulty: 1/10 Grade: K-2nd grades Source/Link: American Folk Song Collection Notes: This is a simple song perfect for teaching do and half note. Lyrics: Sea shell, sea shell Sing a song for me. Sing about the ocean. Sing about the sea. #18 Sailing Sailing Difficulty: 5/10 Grade: 3rd-5th grades Source/Link: Kids Song TV (from traditional 1880 song by Godfrey Marks) Notes: Famous and catchy sailing song. Most notable for its use in Disney cartoons. Lyrics: Verse 1 Y'heave ho! my lads, the wind blows free, A pleasant gale is on our lee, And soon across the ocean clear Our gallant barque shall bravely steer; But ere we part from England's shore tonight, A song we'll sing for home and beauty bright. Then here's to the sailor, and here's to the heart's so true, Who will think of him upon the waters blue! Chorus Sailing, sailing, over the bounding main; For many a stormy wind shall blow, ere Jack comes home again! Sailing, sailing, over the bounding main; For many a stormy wind shall blow ere Jack comes home again. See more lyrics at the Wikipedia page. #19 Baby Beluga Difficulty: 5/10 Grade: 1st-4th grades Source/Link: Raffi Notes: Loving song turned into several books and recorded many times. Lyrics: Baby beluga in the deep blue sea Swim so wild and you swim so free Heaven above and the sea below And a little white whale on the go Baby beluga, baby beluga Is the water warm Is your mama home with you, so happy Way down yonder where the dolphins play Where you dive and splash all day Waves roll in and the waves roll out See the water squirtin' out of your spout Baby beluga, oh, baby beluga Sing your little song Sing for all your friends, we like to hear you See more lyrics at Wikipedia. Conclusion I hope you find this list of kids songs about the ocean helpful. It’s always good to have lists of songs in your back pocket (that’s why Kodaly training has you compile resources for yourself). Did I miss any of your favorite ocean songs for kids? Let me know in the comments.

Recent Posts