My mom when I was seven or so bought from a friend or coworker an upright piano. They put it at the top of the stairs. I guess she learned how to play it when she was young. Sang in the choir. Was proud of her musical background and hoped, the idea was, to instill this in her kids. Shani, the eldest, was probably a lost cause, already into her teen years by then.
But Jenny and I, we ate it up. The piano came with a ton of instructional books in the bench, most of them from the early-to-middle part of the twentieth century. Our friends the Soltyses up the street had an upright, too, and their bench was filled with books that had sheet music for current TV theme songs. I learned to play the “Cheers” theme by myself, though I feel like Jenny learned it before I did and was better at mastering it.
At any rate, the first song I ever taught myself to play with both hands at once—and if you want your children to learn how to read music, put a bunch of early-level piano instruction manuals in your piano and keep those idiots bored to tears on summer afternoons—was this one, “Swans on the Lake”, from the John Thompson instruction manual. I’m pretty sure it’s Grade I of a V-grade series.
Here are the lyrics, which until I found them online had only sketchily been running through my head all day:
Stately as princes the swans part the lilies and glide,
under the willows.
Are they enchanted men soon to be free again here,
under the willows?
Oh how I would like to be
here when the fairy wand
touches the leader and
changes his looks!
Would he be handsome and brave as the heroes that live
hidden in my fairy books?
It’s a dumb song, right? But in many ways it’s my ur-song. And if you know me, go ahead and Freud-up the whole thing to say A-ha! No wonder! and we’ll call it a late-spring’s eve.
God, I’ve had this song running in my mind for over 65 years, having first undergone Ordeal by John Thompson in 1944. So it’s nice to meet a fellow sufferer.
Forrest Smith
You saved me! I couldn’t get the first verse and here it is!!! Thank you!
Piano class in the 1950’s. So many wonderful memories. ♥️
Everyday for years I have watched swans swimming on a lake in front of my condo. I sit on the balcony drinking coffee and him the time and use my fingers to play the song on a nonexistent piano. Today I decided to try to find the words to this song and am surprised that so many people have the same memory. The John Thompson book still sits in the piano bench of my mom’s old piano and my sister has offered to send it to me. Thanks for memories of 65 years ago
I, too have been tortured with the lyrics to this song and it’s been running through my head every morning. Thank you
WOW! I also had the lyrics to this song in my head for 30+ years!
Thanks! Never knew what the song was.
I couldn’t remember anything but the first two stanzas. Thanks for finishing it for my memories
This tune has been going around in my head for a week, rendered as a little two-handed piano ditty, and the words have been slowly emerging. By today I had all but two lines–more than enough to google with! I was amazed to get a hit. This was my first piano book, too, back in about 1953.
Yes, these are the words, but in my mind its always 3,5,4,3,5,4,3,5,4,3,2,1,2, Anyone else?
Yes!!! It’s about the only song I ever learned to play 😂
Wow! I googled the first line and got a direct hit! This was from my first piano book in 1976. I like the song.
I too am so happy to find this. It was the very first piece of music that I ever learned. I was trying to play it this evening to teach it to my grandson. Cute song!
My best friend played this when she was taking piano lessons in grade school. I taught it to myself from listening to her play. I’ve always loved the meolody and lyrics. Now I finally know where to get the music. Thanks for putting to rest a 45 year search
yes indeed. stately as princes. it was about 1971 for me. it still swims through my head, a permanent fixture.
There were four children in my family. My mother (high school assembly pianist) knew this piece so well she could call out corrections from the next room over.
“That’s a middle C, dear!” floating out from the kitchen.
My story is exactly the same as yours, I am now 47 years old, was singing this song today, and my search brought me right here. Unbelievable! It’s the ur-song, indeed.
I remember every word, it’s strange, and I can still play the song, even though after years of piano lessons its the only one I recall.
Is this the only words to this song ? Need help fast
Yes. In my head. John Thompson. I can rest now. : )
That was one of my favorite songs from the John Thompson series. The words may seem trivial (hey, it’s an introductory piano course book), but the melody was very dreamy. I have good memories of it.
I’ve always liked this song since I found it in an old piano book that belonged to my dad, even though I don’t really know what it is supposed to sound like, since I’ve never learned more than the super-basics of playing a piano. The memory of it was stuck in my head today, and I was regretting that the book had been given away, and that now I would never get to find out what it sounded like, but I did some searching and found the piano book on amazon, saw the title, and found this blog, and now I am sure that this is the song I was looking for. Thank you~ Now I’ll be able to hear it someday, since now I know the title.
I remembered it clear as day that rather than ,’ in my fairy books,” it was , “under my fairy bush.” My adult misrememberings of childhood tend to try to make piano lessons more psychedelic.
Oh, my goodness! Thank you for putting these lyrics out there. My sister sang part of that song on a voice mail to me today and I could only remember part of it and I sure couldn’t remember the title. It was so much fun to play that song on the piano back in the day….circa 1970…I’m so glad you posted it! Thank you!
I can’t believe I found this after 60 years. My family could not afford piano lessons for me so after the kids across the street had their lessons I went over & they taught me what they had learned. I can only play with one hand but I learned “Swans on the Lake” & every time I get near a piano I try to play it. At age 69 I have decided to learn to play the piano & was shocked to find out I could purchase this music book from the 1950’s. I love the internet. Thanks for a trip down memory lane.
I, too, suddenly, had the tune revolving around my head. Thanks for those lyrics.
Under the willlll-owwww
Logged on this morning to my BING desktop. I just love my daily pictures from around the world.
Anyway, today, Nov 19, there is a lovely swan floating in the mist. No lillies but under the trees…I immediately flashed back to my Upright Wurlitzer in Bloomfield, CT playing this song by ear at age 7.
I had to remember the lyrics and found this forum.
BTW, I love the song….so perfect for the little princess girls like I was….oh! and still am. 😀
This song is special to me because every time my dearest friend came to visit, I would grab her and take her to the organ and plan this song for her. I never learned to read music and this is the only song I knew out of the John Thompson Music book. She is deceased now and I collect swans in remembrance of her. I was in High School then.
Now I am 80.
Woke up this morning and outside from my screened in patio I saw a black swan gliding over the lake. I thought of the melody “stately as princes the swans part the lilies and glide over the…ocean? river? I googled and voila’! I played the audio of it from YouTube and my 74 year old sister immediately started humming along. We had an upright piano and I’m number 7 of 9 kids so I learned it by ear before learning by instruction. Nostalgic!
Me, too! I’ve thought of this little tune/song often lately. There is a similar turn being used right now in some car ads that I also had learned to play (back in 1949). I’d kind of like to find it, too. (I’m 76 and still remember the words and the tune.)
Awww….this song has been one of my favorite favorite ones for as long as I can remember. I’ve just turned 38, so I’m sure I picked it up at my grandma’s piano. I used to sing this and a slightly personalized and modified version to my daughter when she was very small. I can still remember how to play it on the piano. She’s 15 now…I don’t sing to her now, unless she’s really sick. But when I do, it’s this song that is familiar and comfortable to her now too. <3 all the feels <3 I'd have never dreamed I wasn't the only one who this music made an impression on.
I was taught this song when i was a kid and it was my favourite piece.
I have had this song going around my head for the past few days. I tried to google it but I got no where. and then slowly, the words changing his looks came to me and then the words my fairy book came to me. I found this site and i’m so happy. I am still able to play this with out sheet music. I got mine in the mid 60s from my grandmother. Thank You!!!!!
Just like so many others this was one of the first songs I learned to play on the piano and it has always stuck with me. The melody has been playing in my head for the last 30 years and I realized now that I couldn’t remember the title of the song or the middle lyrics. Can’t believe I Googled it and found it on the second try. This song brings back a lot of fond memories and I’m happy to see that so many people enjoyed it as well.
Add me to the list! I wonder why it’s this song that sticks with us? There are a few others I recall, but this is the one that gets stuck in my head.
My girlfriend taught me to play piano back in the late 60’s. This was one of the songs in her book and I remember the words, and can still “Finger-play” it, even though I haven’t touched a piano since. Needless to say, it’s been with me for decades.
I “graduated” to this songbook in 1955 or so, after “mastering” “Teaching Little fingers to Play.” This song has been floating in and out of my head for more than 60 years. I forgot about the willows, that was what was missing! You’ve made my day! thanks for solving this mystery. Maybe my subconscious will find another tune for a while!
I was thinking today, about getting rid of our piano. Then, I remembered this…It was 1964. I was 10 and just stopped biting my nails. Joseph Snarich, my piano teacher, made me cut my nails! I believe my parents paid him $2 a lesson. I learned to play this song and have never forgotten it. Every time I see a piano, I feel compelled to play this beautiful and innocent song. I have a six month old granddaughter. I can’t wait to teach Elizabeth to play this piece. Memories are one of God’s most incredible gifts!
My goodness! After 20 yrs, I finally have the name of that song. Like you, it was also the first song I played on the piano with both hands, not forgetting some “Would a woodchuck wood chuck wood? How much wood would he chuck?” song or something like that. Thanks for the memory.
Does anyone remember the Tiresome Woodpecker? It was close to the Swan song in the red piano book.
I love this song!! I, also, remembered most of the lyrics, but upon googling “Swans on the Lake” found this. This and Heart and Soul are the two songs I can play on the piano. I taught myself to play with the finger numbering in the John Thompson book (older sister had lessons long before). Thanks!
What a beautiful memory for me. I learned this piece also while taking piano lessons. My mom is an accomplished pianist and encouraged me. I didn’t continue but this song has lived in my heart ever since. I am 70. My Mom still plays. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Every day I pass a lake with swans, and this song rubs through my head. So I googled to remember what the lyrics were and found this post! This was my first piano book and I will never forget it.
Oh my, did anyone here have Marcy Alderson from Strawberry Point, IA, for a teacher?
Oh boy oh boy did I ever! He was my 1st teacher, and I loved the guy! He was a kindly man, and was considered to
be “the” piano teacher in 1940s Elkader Iowa. I am now teaching kids to play, and I often think of him.
I did, 1945-49. He was a great guy!
Yay I e remembered this from when I was 8 or so but never heard it a y where else! Thankyou
I used to play this too as a child. It was always my favourite piece as well. Thanks so much for the wonderful lyrics. I don’t agree at all – I think the lyrics are lovely.
So nostalgic….1988 piano lessons. This song has slowly been reemerging from the recesses. I finally googled the lyrics and to my delight there are so many who relate. Had to chime in.
So happy to find this. It’s only one of a few piano songs I know. Swans on the Lake and When the Saints Go Marching In. My friend taught me Swans on the Lake when I was 14 in 1964.
🥰
Not dumb or trivial at all. This song brings back good memories. #childhood
Bless you for this. You have dine somuch good!
Over many years this tune would pop up in my head. I could always remember the first line. I had to Google the first line and so happy to have found the whole song! My ear worm can now be complete! This is the first song I remember my piano teacher giving me.
Same for me! I’ve sometimes have this tune stuck in my head, and the lyrics too. I must have learned in in the late 60’s or early 70’s. Wish I could clear out some nonsense like this and keep some more important info! Thanks for posting, so I know I’m not crazy
Oh my, my; this Sunday I pulled out this piano song book, that I played from in the 1960’s. OH HOW I remember it well, those piano lessons with a wonderful young teacher. She was newly graduated from Kansas University and a new bride. She was going to earn money working from home. I loved and admired her. They lived only a block from our house in Lawrence, KS. After a couple of years with my piano lessons, the teacher moved away. I cried. I have always hoped she has had a good life. I remember well the day she did a duet with me, using, “Swans on the Lake” during my recital. I love this song, maybe I can teach my granddaughter.
Oh My Gosh, this song came to me today and ran ’round in my head all day remembering how magical it was that my fingers could follow the notes – and there was something so gently lyrical and magical about the swans, the lillies, and the willows that touches my heart 70 years later !
I just opened the John Thompson modern course for the piano book from when I was a child. I played Swans on the lake. I’m trying to play as written. Mf pp p etc. it would be nice to hear what it supposed to sound like. So I did google search and landed here.
First song I learned on the piano in 1962. I never forgot the tune or the lyrics. It still rings in my head. I no longer have a piano, but I can still move my fingers to this exactly like I did all those years ago. Glad I googled it.
I learned this song when I was 12 to prove to my parents that piano lessons wouldn’t be wasted. I never got those lessons. But I never forgot how to play this song! I’ve decided that at 52 it’s not too late to learn piano and I’ve started my first lessons today. This song was floating around in my head so I decided to Google the “would he be handsome and brave” song and by some miracle landed here! Thank you for this post!
I can’t believe it! I learned this as a kid and have been searching for the song title!! It’s probably the only piece I learned as a child that I can recall whenever I approach a piano. So great ful for your post. 🙂
Just saw two swans go by on the river outside my window and thought of this song. Googled it because I couldn’t remember a couple of words. Loved that book. Was that the same one that had a song about Mexican jumping beans? Something like
In the land of let’s pretend
There live some little jumping beans that
Hop and wiggle to and fro
Until they’re all worn out
In these beans are tiny bugs that
Make for all the leaps and wiggles
When the bugs die
Then the beans won’t
Hop or jump at all.
Anyone remember that?
Ear wormed me all day yesterday, even in my dreamslast night. Now that I have all the lyrics maybe it will stop!
The first song I ever learned on the piano – was in kindergarten or 1st grade? Thanks so much for your post!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeLpP2FUvTg
This is awesome! Thank you. As with you, this also was the first song I ever played with both hands. (Except I learned it on a small table top organ in the mid 60’s. I was about 7 or so. I learned it by finger numbers and opted out of the chord buttons to play all the notes. I also learned another by number with my right hand in the key of C. 321-21135 4-688-76-5432-123…. 321-21135-4-688-76-5832121 Can’t for the life of me remember that song. It was a hymn though. BUT, thank you for the words to Swans on the Lake! All these years, I thought it was about swans , and one ugly one that got touched by the magic of a wand. I always liked it. I was telling my husband about it tonight and decided to google it, as the words were still kinda unclear. I always remember the stately part, and then the line:
“Oh how I would like to be
here when the fairy wand
touches the leader and
changes his looks!”
Mom couldn’t afford to give us all piano lessons. I taught myself this song by watching my younger sister play it. 1963 or so. Never forgot it.
I learned this song in the 1960’s. Wow, what a blast from the past!!
Thank you for posting this. I have been looking for this song to teach my children, but could not remember the name. I remember the lyrics and searched on those. Thanks again for your post.
Thank you ever so much for posting these lyrics. Like so many others, the song has been rattling around in my head with bits and snatches of the lyrics. I had forgotten about the John Thompson piano book but now recall how I very much preferred to play the fun little songs from it, rather than the assignments I was given each week from the Royal Conservatory of Music books and the dreaded Hanon finger exercises. I was always nervous before my weekly piano lesson because I knew I hadn’t been practicing what I was assigned. It was a pleasure to finally fill in the blanks of the lyrics and to read all the comments, stories like my own.
I too learned this song during my piano lessons when I was 7. I still play today and always end my practice with this simple, pleasurable song.
I liked it too!… words and music. It’s one of the few pieces I can still play and I learned it in the late 50’s. I couldn’t remember all the words but googled a few as I remembered them and I landed here😊.
So happy!
I was taking piano lessons back in the early 1960s, about the same time I received a fairy tale book which included the story of the Seven Swan Brothers. The seven brothers had been turned into swans, and their little sister had to weave sweaters from nettles (picked at night in graveyards!) in order to turn them back to their human form. She didn’t quite finish one sweater, so one brother had a wing instead of an arm.
I loved this song because of the connection!
1960 – the first piano piece I played with both hands. In my 7-year-old mind, I was a princess/virtuoso!
2023 – at my grandchild’s school event, I hear it again, but can only remember fragments of lines. And presto! Google Magic brings it all back and I’m a Princess/Virtuoso once again.
Somehow the lyrics began running through my mind this afternoon and I couldn’t get beyond the first line. So glad to find this. Guess it comes from listening to my grandson practice the piano during his thanksgiving visit. (he was not playing anything from the Thompson series.
Ohhh this was my favourite song to play! My top three were this one, Song of the Volga Boatmen, and From a Wigwam.
This is one of the earliest songs I remember learning on the piano. Recently it started going through my head again. I could never remember the last couple lines. Thank you for saving my frustrated brain.
I have found my people. I learned this at 6 or 7, more than 60 years ago, and have gone through life thinking “354, 354, 354, 321….” My great-aunt’s 1928 Chickering just came to me, so I googled and found sheet music but no words. I knew it was missing the section that goes “Oh, I would like to be here when the fairy wand touches the leader and changes his looks,” so I googled again and found that. Finally found the lyrics here. The John Thompson music book arrives tomorrow.
Yes! Thank you! My friend’s son is learning piano and 38 yrs after learning this song, it came right back to mind for me…but I was missing some of the lyrics. Thank you!