Comments on: “Swans on the Lake”

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 02:50:40 +0000

This evening, the “Swans on the Lake” melody started playing in my head for the first time in decades. The only portion of the lyrics, however, that surfaced was, “and changes his looks.” The rest of it was all piano-only. I knew it was “Swans on the Lake” and I knew that it was from a John Thompson piano book. I wanted to find the rest of the lyrics. So I went to search for “john thompson swans on the lake” (without the quotes). Out of the search results, I chose this site, thinking that there was an odd but slight chance that I could be coming to the website of the actor who portrayed The Partridge Family’s Reuben Kincaid.

I used to play “Swans on the Lake” as a boy taking piano lessons. I thought it was a pretty song, but paid little attention to the lyrics. In my years of studying piano, I went through the entire John Thompson series and beyond.

The one song that has stayed with me all these years from the Thompson books is “Long, Long Ago” from the same book. I can still sit down and play that one from memory even today after not touching the keyboard in ages.

Thank you for this post about “Swans on the Lake”. It fortified some distant fond memories for me. I also enjoyed reading everyone’s comments about the song and the Thompson piano books.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 23:21:51 +0000

In reply to Forrest Smith.

Ah, me too. Fondly remembering those silly but sweet lyrics prompted me just now to “do a search” to see if others still alive remembered them as well.

My family bought a piano when I was 6 or 7, and I taught myself to play piano using that book. That John Thompson book with its illustrations for finger placement plus knowing where Middle C was were all you needed. It felt so empowering!

It’s a pivotal memory in my long life.

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 01:12:55 +0000

Yes, thank you. I actually like this song.
I’m a quilter, and I have a tendency to have a song running through my head that coordinates with the quilt I’m working on. I’m currently working on a baby girl’s quilt with swans on it, so I’m sure you can guess what song has been going through my head, but I wasn’t quite sure of all the words.
Thanks for sharing.

By: Maryann King

Maryann King — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 15:10:07 +0000

In reply to Harold. The only piece I remember from that book! I am now 75 years young and the last phrase still repeats in my head frequently. What a great earworm! I love it that others remember and enjoy it.

By: Lara

Lara — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 18:44:10 +0000

When I was 16,?I started piano lessons, my mom bought us a piano and I started free classes with my brother. My teacher changes 2 times. New ones made our group starting from the beginning 🤐… I didnt graduated from basic classes. At home I have a blue piano book. This songs still alive in my memories. My mom take me out of classes and I started myself playing from that blue book I cant remember his name. I started all songs and stopped at this. My mon sold the piano and the book goes with it 😭. I bought a used piano, my 2 boys use to play it when visit me. Today Song tuns in my memory. only remember part of lyric. I found it here. I hope surfing I reach the musical tones. By the way… Im 63 and this melody (when I play it) transported me to another world… is a magical song

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 04:02:14 +0000

Me too! I am 83 and couldn’t remember what the swans were stately as…princesses came to mind but too many sylables…Princes, of course!

By: Sandra Gallagher

Sandra Gallagher — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:01:19 +0000

In reply to danny english. The first and only song I learned to play with two hands…about 60 years ago….and I STILL remembered the lyrics!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 13:29:35 +0000

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!

By: Knothead

Knothead — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 20:40:36 +0000

In reply to Forrest Smith. I couldn't remember anything but the first two stanzas. Thanks for finishing it for my memories

By: Gene Stowe

Gene Stowe — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:04:33 +0000

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.