Monty Harper Songbook

Hear this song and/or purchase it: CD Baby • iTunes

I perform this song with no instrument so my hands can be free to do the movements that go with it. I consider the movements to be a kind of musical accompaniment in and of themselves. See the video below if you'd like to learn them.

Here's another aid for learning the song - you can download this printable lead sheet:

The "Oklahoma Treasures" study guide includes ideas about using this song with kids.


The Wind Energy Song - song lyric

This is the sun shining down on Earth.

This is the warmth of the
sun shining down on Earth.

This is the air rising up through the
warmth of the
sun shining down on Earth.

This is the wind blowing in beneath the
air rising up through the
warmth of the
sun shining down on Earth.

This is the rotor spinning in the
wind blowing in beneath the
air rising up through the
warmth of the
sun shining down on Earth.

This is the generator running on the
rotor spinning in the
wind blowing in beneath the
air rising up through the
warmth of the
sun shining down on Earth.

This is electricity flowing from the
generator running on the
rotor spinning in the
wind blowing in beneath the
air rising up through the
warmth of the
sun shining down on Earth.

This is the light from the lamp I lit with
electricity flowing from the
generator running on the
rotor spinning in the
wind blowing in beneath the
air rising up through the
warmth of the
sun shining down on Earth.

This is the book I'm reading in the
light from the lamp I lit with
electricity flowing from the
generator running on the
rotor spinning in the
wind blowing in beneath the
air rising up through the
warmth of the
sun shining down on Earth.

What is the title of the
book I'm reading in the
light from the lamp I lit with
electricity flowing from the
generator running on the
rotor spinning in the
wind blowing in beneath the
air rising up through the
warmth of the
sun shining down on Earth?

This is the Sun Shining Down on Earth is the
title of the
book I'm reading in the
light from the lamp I lit with
electricity flowing from the
generator running on the
rotor spinning in the
wind blowing in beneath the
air rising up through the
warmth of the
sun shining down on Earth.

Lisa shot this video for me during a visit to my daughter's first grade classroom. I posted it to YouTube for those who would like to learn the motions that go with the song. Enjoy!

Show notes from 11/1/07:
One of the most striking songs in my Oklahoma program is "The Wind Energy Song." In this edition, find out what makes this song so unique, learn what creative leaps lead to its construction, and hear a version of the song recorded just for this podcast. You can also download the song, the video, the sheet music, and a study guide.

Click here to listen.

The Monty Harper Songcast

So far, this is my favorite Monty Harper song because it is a great song about science, and I am always looking for kids' songs on science, especially ones that involve movement. I especially liked the video and the sheet music, making it easy for me to learn, so that I can teach it. I may have other favorite Monty Harper songs after I learn them.

The Wind Energy Song - not just for kids anymore!
I love your Wind Energy Song and learned it in time to perform for Maine Interfaith Power and Light's 10 year celebration of climate action through clean power and energy efficiency. After warming them up with some other participatory songs, I saved this for near the end. There were over 100 adults in the audience and I got them all doing it! It's now part of my collection of "Songs and Stories for a Small Planet" and I'm looking forward to other opportunities to share it. I'll be opening and closing the family stage at VT's SolarFest on July 16, 2010 and I'm sure it'll be a megawatt hit! More information about my work is on http://www.jacksongillman.com

Now you can hear this song, along with the entire Songs From the Science Frontier CD, on the podcast Parenting Within Reason, episode 37. It's a free download via iTunes. Enjoy!

I really like this song as well and just blogged a bit about it
(http://singaboutscience.org/blog/2011/0 ... he-lyrics/).

This song is now available in the "Green Songbook" anthology published by Guitars In the Classroom. The book includes lyrics and simple guitar arrangements to 42 song arranged in various categories. Other authors include Tom Chapin, John Denver, Woody Guthrie, Jack Johnson, Joni Mitchell, Peter Alsop, the Banana Slug String Band, Pete Seeger, Nancy Schimmel, Sara Pirtle, and Michael Jackson. The book comes with a CD of all the songs to use for learning melodies. Check it out!!

The Green Songbook