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Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus

by Ukulele Jim

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  • Digital Album
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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality 12-track album download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Download also includes a digital booklet with illustrations, liner notes and lyrics, plus a digital storybook.
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  • A fun children's storybook filled with joy, daring, and acrobatic bugs! Now arriving is a circus train filled with little insect performers with big talent. Acrobatic fleas, dancing ladybugs, daredevil grasshoppers and musical beetles travel the world to entertain children and inspire dreams. THE JUMPING FLEA CIRCUS is a kids' picture book about a little circus filled with big heart, written by James Clark and illustrated by Patrick Scullin. Softcover, 44 pages, full color, SIGNED by the author.

    Includes the 12-track Compact Disc (CD) "Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus".

    Includes unlimited streaming of Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Physical copy of the 12-track CD sent right to your door, just like in the old days!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Full Digital Discography Full Digital Discography

    Get all 17 Ukulele Jim releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of I'm Ready, Hop to It!, Little Wonderful You, Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me), Merry Thanks-O-Ween, Wintertide, Aloha from Christmas Island, Your Lovely Face, and 9 more. , and , .

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1.
All of you children, come gather around The Jumping Flea Circus is coming to town The fleas have been traveling all over the world Spreading their joy to the boys and the girls All of the fun they have waiting for you Will only cost you a dime Come see the flea circus for a limited time The Tiny Top tent is set up on a tray And it's tied to a table so it won't blow away The ringmaster is a jolly little flea Who stands upon a thimble for all to see His ukulele is impossibly small And he plays it impossibly loud "Welcome to the circus!" he sings to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen! Your attention, please! Welcome, one and all, to the circus of fleas! Here they come now to the center of the ring... Watch them perform as they jump and they sing! They're simply amazing as they leap through the air And pirouette with the greatest of ease! Folks, you're in for a treat! It's the world-famous circus of fleas!" (la la la la la la) A centipede balances on the high wire Grasshoppers jump through an earring of fire Spiders are swinging up on the trapeze Ladybugs dance with the acrobat fleas Pill bugs are shot from a cannon The Beetles play in a band The Jumping Flea circus is the best in the land Let's give a big cheer (hooray!) For the smallest show of the year Oh, The Jumping Flea Circus is finally here!
2.
What will you be when you grow up? What do you want to be? A doctor, a lawyer, a fire chief? An astronaut in space, a sailor at sea? What do you really want to be when you grow up big and strong? Do you want to be a famous movie star? Do you want to fly a plane or race in a car? There's so many possibilities for you to be what you want to be! What do you dream about at night? What do you see when you sleep? What kind of animals run through your head late at night when you're snuggled in bed? What does the world look like to you when you're having a wonderful dream? Do you fly like a bird through the big blue sky? Does it still feel real when you open your eyes? There's so much you can do in your dreams, you can be what you want to be! I have a special wish for you: May the best of your dreams come true! Try your best from the very start, believe in yourself and always follow your heart. There's a whole world of opportunity for you to be what you want to be! Oh yeah, be what you want to be! You can be what you want to be!
3.
Rock a bye baby in the tree top When the wind blows, the cradle will rock When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall And down will come baby, cradle and all The cradle will rock and roll The cradle will rock and roll The cradle will rock and roll All through the night Baby is drowsing, cozy and fair Mother sits near in her rocking chair Forward and back the baby she swings Though baby sleeps, he hears what she sings The cradle will rock and roll The cradle will rock and roll The cradle will rock and roll All through the night From high on the rooftops, down to the sea No-one's as dear as baby to me With wee little fingers and eyes so bright Now sound asleep 'til the morning light The cradle will rock and roll The cradle will rock and roll The cradle will rock and roll All through the night All through the night
4.
The lonely little saxophone lived in a case all alone. Nobody would play with her, and it made her so very sad. She belonged to a little boy always busy with his other toys. He never played the saxophone and it made her feel so bad. And she cried, "Won't somebody play with me and listen to my lovely melody? I only want to sing real loud and be a part of a band." The saxophone was placed on a shelf. She sat up there all by herself. The little boy forgot all about that beautiful horn that he had. And she cried, "Won't somebody play with me and listen to my lovely melody? I only want to sing real loud and be a part of a band. Oh, if you could only see what fun there could be! There's a music jubilee waiting inside of me (and inside of you)." Over time, the boy grew old and had a little boy of his own. He took the saxophone from the shelf and he handed her down to his lad. And she cheered, "Somebody is playing with me! We're making such a lovely melody! I finally get to sing real loud And be a part of a band!"
5.
The wheels on the bus go round and round. Round and round. Round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round all through the town. The people on the bus go up and down. Up and down. Up and down. The people on the bus go up and down All through the town The door on the bus goes open and shut. Open and shut. Open and shut. The door on the bus goes open and shut all through the town The boy on the bus says, "Let's go play! Let's go play! Let's go play!" The boy on the bus says, "Let's go play!" all through the town. The girl on the bus says, "Tee hee hee! Tee hee hee! Tee hee hee!" The girl on the bus says, "Tee hee hee!" all through the town. The wheels on the bus go round and round. The kids on the bus go up and down. Everybody makes such a silly sound as the big yellow bus rolls all through town! The wheels on the bus go round and round. Round and round. Round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round all through the town. The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep. Beep, beep, beep. Beep, beep, beep. The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep all through the town. The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish. Swish, swish, swish. Swish, swish, swish. The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish all through the town. The motor on the bus goes zoom, zoom, zoom. Zoom, zoom, zoom. Zoom, zoom, zoom. The motor on the bus goes zoom, zoom, zoom all through the town. The mommy on the bus says, "I love you. I love you. I love you." The daddy on the bus says, "I love you, too!" all through the town. The wheels on the bus go round and round. The kids on the bus go up and down. Everybody makes such a silly sound as the big yellow bus rolls all through town! The wheels on the bus go round and round. Round and round. Round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round all through the town. All through the town. All through the town!
6.
Yellow Bird 02:24
Yellow bird, high in banana tree. Yellow bird, sitting alone like me. Did your lady friend leave the nest again? That is very sad, makes me feel so bad. You could fly away, in the sky away. You more lucky than me. I once had me a pretty girl (she not with me today). They all the same, those pretty girls. They make their nest, then they fly away. Yellow bird, high in banana tree. Yellow bird, sitting alone like me. You should fly away, in the sky away. The picker's coming soon, he picks from night 'til noon. Black and yellow you, like banana too, they might pick you someday! I wish I were a yellow bird, I'd fly away with you. But I am not a yellow bird, so here I sit, nothing else I can do. Yellow bird. Yellow bird.
7.
Little Star 02:14
Twinkle twinkle, my little star Beautiful baby, how lovely you are You light up my darkness like a star in the sky Wonderful child, light of my eye My star, you know that you are My star, my little star Little darling, tell me why do you cry? Daddy is here and I'm right by your side With arms wide open just to hold you tight There's nothing to fear on this beautiful night My star, you know that you are My star, my little star My sky was dark until you arrived You gave me a smile that lit my life You stole my heart, my little star Twinkle twinkle, my little star Beautiful baby, how lovely you are You light up my darkness like a star in the sky Wonderful child, light of my eye My star, you know that you are My star, my little star
8.
If I was a super-hero I might have the power of flight I'd run faster than a bullet Round up evil everywhere And deal justice with my might You might never see Someone as great as me I'll make history You might choose to be The one who flies with me High above the city We could be a team The best that's ever been We will always win We'll fight our enemies If you'll agree to be My sidekick If I was a super-villain Taking lots and lots of cash I would have a secret hideout Where I'd build my secret weapons And my wicked plans would hatch You might never see Someone as bad as me I'll make history You might choose to be The one who hides with me Deep beneath the city We could be a team The worst that's ever been We will sneer and grin We'll fight our enemies If you'll agree to be My henchman If I had some super powers I would do what's right and fair I would always use them justly (Although a big flat-screen TV would look so nice inside my lair...) You might never see Someone as great as me I'll make history You might choose to be The one who flies with me High above the city We could be a team The best that's ever been We will always win We'll fight our enemies Together we can be Heroes
9.
Ee he o he-o cowboy Ee he o he-o oooo Ee he o he-o cowboy, cowboy, cowboy Under the moon. I was ridin' my horse by the Rio Grandee and all o' them coyotes singing in a prairie symphony. I was ridin' my horse down by the Rio Grandee when I seen me a cowboy, cowboy, cowboy, ridin' toward me. Ee he o he-o cowboy Ee he o he-o oooo Ee he o he-o cowboy, cowboy, cowboy Under the moon He was twirling his guns And he had a guitar And we sang us up a sweet old song about love Under the stars Ee he o he-o cowboy Ee he o he-o oooo Ee he o he-o cowboy, cowboy, cowboy Under the moon Giddyup!
10.
The day is done and it's getting late The clock on the wall reads a quarter to eight I round up the kids to put them down for the night But they won't lie down They just put up a fight I say "go to bed" but the children refuse They're giving me a case of those bedtime blues It's nine o'clock, it's time for bed But all I'm getting are excuses instead They put on their PJs and brushed their teeth But they keep running 'round And they won't go to sleep They're all wound up, they don't want to snooze It's giving me a case of those bedtime blues Come on, kids Have some mercy for your old dad There's nothing under your bed The dark ain't bad Stop making a fuss 'Cause it's driving me mad I look at the clock and it's half past ten The kids start complaining all over again I read them some stories and sing lullabies But they're wormin' and a-squirmin' And they won't shut their eyes They got me workin' on a real short fuse It's gettin' me a case o' them bedtime blues Come on, kids Take some pity on your old dad There's nothing under your bed The dark ain't bad Stop making a fuss 'Cause it's driving me mad The clock strikes twelve and I don't hear a sound The kids tired out from all that running around I tuck 'em in bed and I turn out the light Hugs and kisses and I tell 'em good night I played it cool and I made it through I survived the bedtime blues The kids are asleep Now it's bedtime for daddy, too
11.
The sun has gone down, the tent is put away The circus shuts down at the end of the day Everything's quiet as the fleas lie down to sleep And all that remains of their wonderous display Are the memories we carry away The Jumping Flea Circus will come back someday
12.
Let's have an old fashioned Christmas Like they had so long ago The times may have changed But the spirit remains Something you never outgrow Let's bring back those old traditions Our grandparents and their parents made It's never obsolete To sing carols in the street And walk in the Christmas parade I remember a time as a child When Christmas was something divine Well it seems like the meaning is changing so fast It's up to us to bring back the past It's not about shopping on credit And spending more than you afford Give from the heart 'cause that's where it starts You can't find that love in a store Let's keep our Christmastime simple Without all the holiday stress Children at play Cookies on a tray Are things that make holidays best I remember a time When we told each other stories By the warmth of the fire Of a family together on a cold Christmas eve We can keep that alive if we only believe Let's have an old fashioned Christmas Just like they did it before It worked way back then We can do it again And bring back tradition once more

about

There's toe-tappin' fun for the whole family in this collection of kid-friendly ukulele rock. Kids from ages 2 to 92 will dig these catchy tunes! Scores of parents have already reported that "Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus" has become their children's all-time favorite CD with heavy rotation at home and in their cars and, fortunately, the parents are enjoying grooving and singing along to it too.

"Ukulele Jim's Jumping Flea Circus" plays like a version of Sgt. Pepper for children, opening with the first song about a traveling circus of singing fleas. This whimsical tune sets up the rest of the album as part of a loose concept of watching a performance of musical vignettes. It all comes together by the later inclusion of a lullaby reprise about the fleas settling down in their beds for the night. Each song on the album captures the essence of being a kid through lyrics that reach to the heart of children's imaginations and danceable arrangements that get kids jumping. The album explores a variety of musical genres, including acoustic folk, rock, calypso, country and blues, all unified by Ukulele Jim's lilting voice and playful songwriting style. Even his own kids get in on the act, appearing in several songs as they interact with their father through humorous banter and singing along. Also included on the album as a bonus track is the nostalgic "Let's Have An Old Fashioned Christmas" which preceded the album as a holiday single.

"Clark has found a winning formula in combining clever original songs, well-weathered favorites of the playground set, and a few left-field selections that fit nicely in the mix... Clark will delight children with his singing and songs, and he thankfully avoids the pitfalls that make such albums a trial for parents." (Hyperbolium)

"Great family entertainment... I defy you NOT to smile when you listen to this." (Ukulele Player Magazine)

credits

released November 3, 2010

Mixed and mastered by Crystal Mixing, except tracks 8 & 12 mixed and mastered by Frank Kennedy

Cover design by Chris Fason ~ fason.deviantart.com

Download the digital booklet of full liner notes and lyrics here: files.ukulelejim.com/extras/UJJFCDigitalBooklet.pdf

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Ukulele Jim California

Ukulele Jim's music blends soulful songwriting with uplifting pop sensibilities. Music lovers of all ages will enjoy these catchy, emotive, and family friendly songs that bridge the gaps between pop, rock, country and folk music.

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