“Do Re Mi – global pandemic version” (2020)

The streets are quiet. The shops are closed. The bars and restaurants are dead. But YouTube is alive with the sound of … a coronavirus song.

A Great Time for Music

These are tough times. But we’ve been through difficult times before. One way we can get through the most difficult of times – through wars, pandemics, sorrows, miseries, and other sufferings – is through music.

Maria von Trapp knew that. Rodgers and Hammerstein knew that. And Shirley Șerban (aka Maria, and her Von Trapplings) reminds us of that, with this clever parody of the classic show tune “Do Re Mi” from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical “The Sound of Music.” _{(Image source)}

Maria and her Von Trapplings (Shirley Șerban)

Shirley is a school principal in New Zealand. She also dabbles in writing songs and lyrics for children.

Principal Creativity

As the Covid lockdown kept her from her principal activities, she found that her “creative juices have time to flow.” As a result, she composed clever parodies of not only this “Do Re Mi” song, but also of another classic from the same musical, “My Favourite Things.”

(I could not find any info on the tuneful little Von Trapplings, but we can safely assume that they are Kiwi schoolkids who benefit from Shirley’s guidance and “creative juices.” ) _{(Image source)}

Let's start at the very beginning
A sore throat, a cough in Wuhan
And in no time at all, there were 1, 2, 3
And one went on a plane – took it overseas

Overseas
And that’s how pandemics get started, you see
Woe is me
Now we’ve got Covid-19

Do not fear – but please stay here
Stay at home now, everyone
We must wash and clean things well
Cars? No long trips just for fun!

Don’t let Covid virus spread
Isolate yourself at home
See your friends online instead
That’s the healthy way to go oh oh oh

Do not fear – but just stay here
Time to all self-isolate
Wash your hands, use lots of soap
Don’t go further than your gate!

Social life must stay online
Keep 2 metres clear of me,
Watch TV, drink lots of wine
That will kill Covid-19!

Cough in your elbow, wash your hands with soap!

Now children, staying at home – and so on – are things we do to stop the spread of Covid-19
Once you have this in your head
You can do a million different things at home to stay sane
Like this:
Sleep, eat, whinge, tweet, snooze, blob, think
Loaf, mooch, doze, smooch, binge watch, drink

But staying inside is so boring!

So we think about why
Remember why we’re doing it – like this:
When you know the reason why
Kill off Covid – stay inside!

Exercise close to your home
Only shop for what you need
Keep your bubble tightly closed
And we’ll beat this bug with speed!

Social life has been postponed
And you’re bored out of your mind
Suck it up and stay at home
And we’ll leave this bug behind!

Cough in your elbow, wash your hands
Keep 2 metres away from me

Yes, please, I’m germ free
And that’s how I’d like to be!
Keep away, please from me
I will stay Covid free!
When you know the things to do
Germs will stay away from you!
Stay inside your bubble now
Do not spread those germs around
Yes, you might be going mad
And be desperate to get out!
It’s a nasty world out there
Keep the social distance rules
Everything you touch – beware
You could spread more germs, you (fools)
Flatten the curve – Covid 19!
You have got the power to flatten the curve through
The things you choose to do
It’s true!
_{(Image source)}

Julie Andrews, and a bunch of kids – “Do Re Mi”
_{_{(Right-click to hear on YouTube)}

Lyrics by Shirley Șerban, courtesy of – YouTube

Reference – Shirley Șerban

Reference – YouTube}

Into your ears … through 5 channels

The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)} _{1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)

2 – “Cover Versions”

3 – “Honor Roll”

4 – “Documentaries”

5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

More “Mock’n’Roll” ...

Mock’n’Roll – Music to Your Ears – "Posts 1~20"

Links to my other series ...}

Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"