2. Nopalito
2. Nopalito (by Tara Scheyer)
This was a little clapping song I made up to sing to Felix during meals. He was just a few
months old and was more interested in throwing food than eating it. So for a distraction
I'd stomp the floor and he'd stomp the foot rest on the highchair and we'd both clap
clap clap and sing sing sing and eventually he'd chew chew chew.
He didn't really start talking early, but once he started, he jumped in head-first. I was
amazed that he learned to count to 10 so quickly ( yes, you'll have to indulge me some
"he's SO amazing!" stories) so I added words to our little clapping song about a boy who
was so tiny, but could already count so big. He recorded the counting parts (English
AND Spanish) before he turned 2. By the time I finished it- about 4 months later- he
could sing the entire song, so he got added to the choruses.
The other lovely kid voices on this one are my good friend and piano student, Maya
Rubio (with the wonderful espanish accent) and the Horseman girls. Lynn & Shawn are
dear friends of ours, and their daughters, Kenzie and Chloe, are terrific friends to Felix.
Particularly Chloe, who is always looking for an excuse to hang out with him. She's a
pretty special 8-yr-old to make time for a boring little 2-yr-old.
It was Chloe & Felix singing along to an early version of Nopalito from the back seat on
our way to Crafty Plaster one day that gave me the idea to add kid voices in the first
place.
NOPALITO
V1
Nopa was a little little boy. Nopa came from a little town.
Nopa had a little little voice, but he did not let his little get him
down.
CHORUS:
Nopa, Nopa, Nopa, Nopalito, Nopa, Nopa, Nopa, Nopalito
Nopa, Nopa, Nopa, Nopalito, Nopa, Nopa, Nopa, Nopalito
V2
There were 10 little words that he could say, 10 little words to sing
outloud.
10 little words to make him feel like the biggest little little boy
around:
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten!
CHORUS
Felix: Ha ha- I did it!
Chloe: Good job, Felix. That was great!
Felix: Thanks Chloe!
V3
Nopa sleeps in a little bed, he prays the Lord his soul to keep.
And when he lays down his little head you can hear him count
himself to sleep
Uno, Dos, Tres, Quatro, Cinco, Sies, Siete, Ocho, Nueve, Dies!
CHORUS
Felix: Yay!
Maya: Muy bien, Felix
Felix: Thanks, Maya. Muchas gracias!
V4
Nopa raises up his little head. Nopa stretches his little arms out.
Nopa stands up tall and he says with the biggest little little voice
around:
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten!
Last Chorus:
There were 10 little words that he could say
Nopa, Nopa, Nopa, Nopalito
10 little words to sing outloud
Nopa, Nopa, Nopa, Nopalito
10 little words to make him feel
Nopa, Nopa, Nopa, Nopalito
Like the biggest little little boy around
Nopa, Nopa, Nopa, Nopalito
Shawn: Awesome!
Felix: We did it!
Chloe: You were good.
Felix: Yay Chloe!
Kenzie: Good job, Chloe.
Chloe: Awesome, Mackenzie!
Felix: Good job, Kenzie! Maya rocks!
Cecilia: Ffff! Fffff!
Felix: CC is so happy for me!
Cecilia: Happy!
Felix: Yay Cecilia! I'm so proud.