– vocals, guitars, keyboard, tenor sax, programmed bass and drums, djembe, handclaps, vocal percussion, my infamous mouth drip sound, and my bathroom sink.

“Hands in the Water” was inspired in 2019 after a preschool music class. As the children got up from music to get ready for snack, I heard a teacher tell them it was time to put their hands in the water. While the song poured out acoustically the rest of the morning as a New Orleans funk, it translated into more of a soul funk in the studio. When Covid hit, this was the first song for which I recorded and released a home video for my G’Raph YouTube channel.

Hands in the Water  

by Raphael Groten

You put your hands in the water

You put your hands in the water

You put your hands in the water

and you wash ‘em

You put your hands in the water, put your hands in the water

And you wet ‘em, you wet ‘em

You put your hands in the water, put your hands in the water

And you wet ‘em, you wet ‘em

You gotta wet, wet, wet your fingers

And wet, wet, wet your palms

Wet, wet, wet the back of your hands

and then you wet your thumbs

You put the soap on your hands, put the soap on your hands

And you scrub ‘em, you scrub ‘em

You put the soap on your hands, put the soap on your hands

And you scrub ‘em, you scrub ‘em

You gotta scrub, scrub, scrub your fingers

And scrub, scrub, scrub your palms

Scrub, scrub, scrub the back of your hands

and then you scrub your thumbs

You put your hands in the water, put your hands in the water

And you rinse ‘em, you rinse ‘em

You put your hands in the water, put your hands in the water

And you rinse ‘em, you rinse ‘em

You gotta rinse, rinse, rinse your fingers

And rinse, rinse, rinse your palms

Rinse, rinse, rinse the back of your hands

and then you rinse your thumbs

You put your hands in the towel, put your hands in the towel

And you dry ‘em, you dry ‘em

You put your hands in the towel, put your hands in the towel

And you dry ‘em, you dry ‘em

You gotta dry, dry, dry your fingers

And dry, dry, dry your palms

Dry, dry, dry the back of your hands

Make sure you dry your thumbs

You put your hands in the water

You put your hands in the water

You put your hands in the water

and you wash ‘em

– vocals, steel string guitar, cavaquinho, kalimba, bass, djembe, cowbell, shaker, cajón, bells, gong, toaster, triangle, zinger toy, vocal hi-hat, my dishes & silverware

– featuring The Cluba Sisters: Binah and Torah’Yah

When I was growing up I didn’t eat my vegetables. Nevertheless, I was fed natural, wholesome foods and learned, eventually, to fully enjoy eating all the colors of the rainbow. I wrote this song as inspiration and encouragement for children to explore the various colors that they eat throughout the day. I specifically left blank spaces in the middle of the song for families at home to call out the different fruits and vegetables they eat!

“I Can Eat a Rainbow” features the Cluba Sisters: Binah and Torah’Yah (two of my homeschooled students and my “back-up kids”). Also featured is a chorus of G’Raph’s, my plates and silverware, my toaster (which just happened to be in the right tempo) and a triangle from my youth.

I Can Eat a Rainbow

by Raphael Groten

I can eat a rainbow

I can eat all the colors in the world

I can eat a rainbow

I can eat all the colors I am served

There’s red and orange and yellow and green

and blue and purple and something in between

Red and orange and yellow and green

and blue and purple and something in between

I can eat a rainbow

I can eat all the colors in the world

I can eat a rainbow

I can eat all the colors I am served

There’s red apples

And orange oranges

Yellow squash

And green cucumbers

Blue berries

And purple cabbages

All the colors in the world

Now you tell me… (kids and parents call out fruits and vegetables at home!)

There’s red…

Orange…

Yellow…

Green…

Blue…

Purple…

All the colors in the world

– vocals, guitar, ukelele, kalimba, hand pan, cajón, guiro, cowbell, ride cymbal, kazoo, whistle, slide whistle, jaw harp, hand claps

– featuring The Cluba Sisters: Binah and Torah’Yah and Samson the cat

Happily Ever Now, the phrase, came to me in 2017 during a nightly meditation. It came as a remedy to the cultural conditioning of living happily ever after. As I sat and considered what we are taught growing up, I realized it was happily ever after… after the trials and accomplishments, after we grow up. I saw how this way of thinking creates in us an inability to be fully present with the moment we are in. As many sages and mystics have taught, only this moment exists. It was then that the phrase Happily Ever Now came to me and I began to practice being fully present with the capacity for joy and peace, regardless of my current situation. It was 3 years later, as I began working on my first kids album, that I decided to name it, Happily Ever Now. I did so to encourage perhaps the most important teaching of the album – to be present in each moment. Once I chose the name, I had to write the song! Fashioned after the folk story telling tradition, the lyrics carry the listener on a journey from my youth to adulthood into the realization of living “Happily Ever Now”.

Happily Ever Now

by Raphael Groten

When I was just a boy and the world was new

I wondered and I dreamt about the things that I would do

I thought that if I could accomplish everything I should

I’d have anything I need to set me up for good

So I believed that happiness was something up ahead

Until I learned this lesson and looked inside instead

And there I found a treasure had been waiting all along

It falls upon your lap as I sing to you this song

I’m living happily ever now

I can show you how

It takes practice as things do

But you can do it too

They told me that I could try harder and suppressed my laughter

I was taught to work towards goals of happily ever after

They said to put my head down and with no pain no gain

But now I see these teachings were driving me insane

I realized there is no need to wait until we’re done

With never ending lists of things to begin our fun

And so I turned my mind to living here and WOW

I started to experience the wonder in the now

I’m living happily ever now

Every moment holds a new adventure

I won’t wait until I’m done

Cuz getting there is all the fun

I don’t dream about the future or dwell upon the past

I focus on each moment as I watch them pass

Living happily ever now

We can show you how

Don’t wait until you’re done

Cuz being here is all the fun

We’re Living happily ever now

Every moment holds a new adventure

It took practice as things do

Now we can do it too

Living happily ever now

Means we find our joy here

We can show you how

To live happily ever now

– vocals, guitar, banjolele, wood blocks, cajón, crash cymbal, hand claps, my baby rattle, tenor sax, kazoo, vocal horns, slide whistle, record static

– featuring baby Ara Skye in his debut performance

I wrote “I Love You Baby” in 1999 as a lullaby to my first son, Oliver, when he was a newborn. I sang it to him a cappella while he fell asleep on my shoulder, in his stroller or swing. 20 years later, as I began to collect the songs for this album, I rediscovered it, wrote the chords and second bridge and brought it to life with an old time sound. This song pays homage to my love of old time jazz.

“I Love You Baby” features my dear friends’ baby, Ara Skye. I asked for some cooing and whimpering and he delivered! It also features banjolele, my baby rattle and my childhood wood blocks.

I Love You Baby

by Raphael Groten

I love you baby

yes you know that I do

I love you baby

yes you know that it’s true

I love you

little baby I do

I love when the moon and stars

are shining on us as we are a strollin’ together

I love you when the morning comes

you’re shining at me like the sun

Good morning to you, I’m smiling back too

I love you baby

yes you know that I do

I love you baby

yes you know that it’s true

I love you

little baby I do

And when the sun doesn’t shine

baby of mine

We can stay dry inside

And if I have to leave your side

don’t you cry

I will return as soon as I am able

I love you baby

yes you know that I do

I love you baby

yes you know that it’s true

I love you

little baby I do

– vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, tenor sax, programmed drums and strings, djembe, cowbell, chekere, bells, hand claps, duckies

– featuring The Cluba Sisters: Binah and Torah’Yah

“Don’t Pick Your Nose” was written in 2010 as an essential lesson while working as a traveling music teacher in several preschools. Indeed, 2010 seemed to be a prolific year for mucus, necessitating such an important teaching. Since its inception, hundreds of children across Vermont have avoided, at least temporarily, placing their fingers in their mouths and noses.

Don’t Pick Your Nose

by Raphael Groten

Don’t pick your nose

and then wipe it on your clothes

Don’t put your fingers in your mouth

but if you do then take ‘em out

And then go and wash your hands

and come back and join the band

We can rock and we can roll

and keep our germs under control

Everyone gets sick sometimes

and has to lay in bed

Achy bones and itchy eyes

and stuffies in the head

But if we keep our fingers

away from our mouths and noses

We can wake up bright and fresh

and go out and smell the roses

So don’t pick your nose

and then wipe it on your clothes

Don’t put your fingers in your mouth

but if you do then take ‘em out

And then go and wash your hands

and come back and join the band

We can rock and we can roll

and keep our germs under control

Tissues, tissues, we all need tissues

Tissues, tissues, we all need tissues

Tissues, tissues, we all need tissues

Tissues, tissues, we all need tissues sometimes

– vocals, guitar, the wee me

– featuring The Cluba Sisters: Binah and Torah’Yah

I wrote “The Minor ABC’s” as a call and response while teaching in preschools. I also use it as a teaching tool for tempo, dynamics and major/minor chords. Fashioned after a G’Raph classroom experience with just my voice and guitar, it gives the listener a window into my teaching style.

The Minor ABC’s

A-B-C-D-E-F-G

H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P

Q-R-S

T-U-V

W-X-Y-Z

– vocals, guitar, cajón

– featuring the Coyotes of Pine Forest Children’s Center

One day while taking requests from a preschool class, one boy called out, “Monster Truck!”. I responded that I didn’t know a song about a monster truck, but that we could write one. To the delight of us all, “Monster Truck” was born instantly. A natural freeze dance, it continues to be a most popular request among children and adults.

“Monster Truck” was the first song I produced for the album in March 2020. When I completed it, it felt empty without the children’s voices. With a bit of tempo luck and studio magic, I was able to pull from two classroom “field” recordings to add the children. 

Monster Truck

by Raphael Groten

Monster truck

Monster truck

Monster truck

Monster truck

Monster truck goes Rooooooooooaaaaarrrr

Monster truck

Stuck in the muck

He’s out of luck

That monster truck

Monster truck

Monster truck

Monster truck

Monster truck

– vocals, guitar, banjolele, harmonica, guiro, horse sounds

“I’m Not pErfect” honors my roots in folk/country music, while teaching the essential childhood lesson of imperfection and humility. I wrote it during production of the album so as to include this important message.

I’m Not pErfect

by Raphael Groten

I’m not perfect, no I’m not

Sometimes I get it all wrong

I sing the wrong chords and play the wrong words

especially when learning a new song

I’m not perfect, no I’m not

But whoever said we could be

I make mistakes, like everyone else

but that doesn’t mean I’m not less than I should be

I’m not perfect, no I’m not

Even when I practice a lot

So I’ll do my best

and I can rest

knowing perfect I’m not

I’m perfectly imperfect

And I forgive my mistakes

I have no use for an excuse

when I discover the err of my ways

I’m not perfect, no I’m not

But whoever thought one could be

As we make mistakes, we learn new things

and we can become so much more than we would be

I’m not perfect, no I’m not

Even when I practice a lot

So I’ll do my best

and I can rest

knowing perfect I’m not

– vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, programmed drums, djembe, vocal percussion, finger snaps, tenor sax, slide whistle, recorder, whistle, kazoo, jaw harp, zinger toy and my grandfather’s boat whistle,

– featuring The Cluba Sisters: Binah and Torah’Yah

“No! No!” was written the same day as “Monster Truck”. On this fateful day, as I was walking into a preschool, one of my 3-year-old student’s mother said to me, “Silas wrote his first song today! It’s about our relationship…it’s called No! No!”. I empathized with them both and reinforced to Silas how sometimes we all have to say no. The main hook and chorus wrote itself that morning and we worked on the verses in class.

No! No!

by Raphael Groten

When I wake up in the morning and I go to get dressed

can I put my socks on my hands?

No! No!

When I wake up in the morning and I go to get dressed

can I wear my shirt as my pants?

No! No!

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, nooo

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

No! No!

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, nooo

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

No! No!

When I go downstairs to have my breakfast

can I please have some chocolate cake?

No! No!

When I need a glass of water instead of gettin’ it from the faucet

can I just get it from the lake?

No! No!

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, nooo

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

No! No!

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, nooo

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

No! No!

When I go in the bathroom to brush my teeth

can I just brush my ears?

No! No!

And when I need to take a bath or I need to take a shower

can I just take it once a year?

No! No!

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, nooo

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

No! No!

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, nooo

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

No! No!

– vocals, guitars, cajón, scat, kazoo, my baby rattle

– featuring baby Ara Skye

“Baby Blues” arrived half way through the album production as I assessed the missing genres and realized I needed to represent the blues. While the humor and double entendre in this song is aimed towards the parents, no one can resist relating to baby Are Skye’s timeless performance. I asked for wailing and I got it!

“Baby Blues” features several guitars, including my 12 string Breedlove acoustic, 1965 Gibson ES125 and 1974 Gibson Marauder.

Baby Blues

by Raphael Groten

It’s been nearly one hour since I had a drink

I spit up my last one and my diaper stinks

There’s pain in my belly, a hunger inside

If I don’t get some milk, I think I might cry

I got the baby blues

way down to my baby shoes

I got the baby blues

but first I think I’ll take a snooze

All I do is mumble when I try to talk

My mouth is so dry from eating chalk

I can’t hold myself up, can't barely crawl cross the floor

I can’t go down stairs or open this door

I got the baby blues

way down to my baby shoes

I got the baby blues

but first I think I’ll take a snooze

So tired I’m cranky, to stubborn to nap

Unless you hold me, let me sit in your lap

Up all night in my crib with bars all around

I’m kept in this prison with no love to be found

I got the baby blues

way down to my baby shoes

I got the baby blues

and still I haven’t got a clue

I lost my rattle but I found my feet

I got no paddle but I’m up a creek

I don’t know peace, can’t get no relief

I’ll eat these mashed peas until I cut teeth

Got my dirty laundry, there’s stains on my shirts

My pants no longer fit me and I need to be burped

I got the baby blues

way down to my baby shoes

I got the baby blues

I got nothin’ to lose

They try to pacify me but I throw it down

In less than half a second turn my smile to a frown

Got no more to say, but you can tell me your tale

Though I might get distracted and I surely will wail

I got the baby blues

way down to my bronzed baby shoes

I got the baby blues

I think I’ll take a snooze

– vocals, guitar, bass, cavaquinho, bamboo flute, berimbau, whistle, shaker, cowbell, zen tube, vocal quića, cajón, clave, chekere, bass drum, tambourine, guiro, triangle and a host of creature sounds.

“The Only Me” filled two voids on the album, the necessity for a counting song and the highlighting of my love for Brazilian music. Increasing in tempo from a Bossa Nova to a Samba and continuously adding layers of instrumentation and voices, as well as fun animal sounds, made this song a creative joy to produce in the studio.

“The Only Me” features cavaquinho (the Brazilian relative of the ukulele), as well as bamboo flute, berimbau, puppy, kitty, unicorn, pegasus, and dinosaur sounds.

The Only Me

by Raphael Groten

1

I’m the only me there is

2

What I get when I’m with you

3

You, your puppy dog and me

4

Add a friend and then add more

5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

1

I’m the only me there is

2

What I get when I’m with you

3

You, your kitty cat and me

4

Add a friend and then add more

5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

1

I’m the only me there is

2

What I get when I’m with you

3

You, your unicorn and me

4

Add a friend and then add more

5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

1

I’m the only me there is

2

What I get when I’m with you

3

You, your pegasus and me

4

Add a friend and then add more

5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

1

I’m the only me there is

2

What I get when I’m with you

3

You, your dinosaur and me

4

Add a friend and then add more

5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

– vocals, guitar, crystal bowl, kalimba, hand pan, bell, medicine drum and rattle,   rainstick, ocean drum, Koshi and Zephyr chimes, owl sounds

I wrote “Quiet Time” in preschools as a deep listening song with which to calm the children down after an often lively music class. Rooted in the folk tradition, this song offers the experience of meditative states through connecting with our bodies and the natural world. 

“Quiet Time” introduces sound healing instruments such as medicine drum, rattles, ocean drum and chimes.

Quiet Time

by Raphael Groten

Quiet bodies

Quiet minds

Quiet ears

Quiet times

Quiet eyes

Quiet voices

Quiet room

Quiet choices

Quiet mountains

Quiet seas

Quiet love

Quiet peace

Quiet song

Quiet heart

Quiet sky

Quiet stars

Quiet days

Quiet lights

Quiet bed

Quiet night