The ‘We Love to Sing’ Song (2003) Words and music by Jon Washburn
Jon Washburn, founding Director of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, now in its fourth decade, composed this song for us last spring. The composer writes, “No one loves to sing more than the Joyful Noise singers. That makes my song—The “We Love to Sing” Song—a perfect selection for them. In the spirit of fun and joy, I dedicate this song to them and their intrepid conductor, Allison Fromm. As for the commission from the Philadelphia Eagles, how many composers can say they’ve been engaged by a football team to write music? I’m proud to be one of the few. After all, musicians and athletes: essentially, we’re all just playing!” We love to sing this song that says “we love to sing this song!” We love to have our friends with us so they can sing along. We love to sing this melody, It comes to mind so handily, And so we sing it merrily. We love to sing this song! It has a catchy melody that locks into your mind. And then you can’t forget the tune (as you will quickly find). We sing it when the sun is high, And then beneath the ev’ning sky, And even as in sleep we lie. We love to sing, we love to sing, we love to sing this song! We’d love to sing that song again but it might get too long. A song too long is very gauche, (gauche?!) it makes your day go wrong. We have an easy remedy: Forget that little melody, We’ll simply have a cup of tea!... And sing a diff’rent song. Frere Jacques... (half of the choir tries another tune) ...dormais vous (the other half replies) O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum... (first half) ...That’s it, too! (second half) Ol’ MacDonald had a farm... (first half, desperate) ... he loves to sing this song! (second half) Oh, we give up, capitulate! We have to sing this song! But luckily our audience just loves to sing along. Yes, now you know this melody, iZ`^ 1 Ohb\^l h_ IabeZ]^eiabZ & Hg^ ?Zfber