Chinese Zodiac Song

Ms. Christina and her special assistant perform her original song on ukulele.

Ms. Christina lived in China and celebrated Lunar New Year there many times. She hopes this song makes you want to learn more about the Chinese Zodiac and Lunar New Year.

*Special thanks to Min Xiong — journalist, teacher, and cultural ambassador — for being a native-speaker consultant on this song!*

Lyrics and Chords: View as a Printable Doc

1. [G] A very very very long [C] time ago

The [D7] emperor held a swimming [G] race

And the [G] CLEVER RAT [C] came in [D7] first [G] place.

 

2. [G] A very very very long [C] time ago

The [D7] emperor held a swimming [G] race

[D] In second place: the STEADY OX

And the [G] clever rat [C] came in [D7] first [G] place.

 

3. [G] A very very very long [C] time ago

The [D7] emperor held a swimming [G] race

[D] In third place: [D] the BRAVE TIGER

[D] Second: the ox

And the [G] clever rat [C] came in [D7] first [G] place.

 

4. [G] A very very very long [C] time ago

The [D7] emperor held a swimming [G] race

[D] In fourth place: the SWIFT RABBIT

[D] Third: the tiger

[D] Second: the ox

And the [G] clever rat [C] came in [D7] first [G] place.

 

5. [G] A very very very long [C] time ago

The [D7] emperor held a swimming [G] race

In [D] fifth place [G] came the [Em] DAZZLING [A7] DRAGON

[D] Fourth: the rabbit

[D] Third: the tiger

[D] Second: the ox

And the [G] clever rat [C] came in [D7] first [G] place.

 

6. [G] A very very very long [C] time ago

The [D7] emperor held a swimming [G] race

[D] In sixth place: the WATCHFUL SNAKE

In [D] fifth place [G] came the [Em] dazzling [A7] dragon

[D] Fourth: the rabbit

[D] Third: the tiger

[D] Second: the ox

And the [G] clever rat [C] came in [D7] first [G] place.

 

7. [G] A very very very long [C] time ago

The [D7] emperor held a swimming [G] race

[D] In seventh place: the LIVELY HORSE

[D] Sixth: the snake

In [D] fifth place [G] came the [EM] dazzling [A7] dragon

[D] Fourth: the rabbit

[D] Third: the tiger

[D] Second: the ox

And the [G] clever rat [C] came in [D7] first [G] place.

 

8. [G] A very very very long [C] time ago

The [D7] emperor held a swimming [G] race

[D] In eighth came the KIND GOAT

[D] Seventh: the horse

[D] Sixth: the snake

In [D] fifth place [G] came the [Em] dazzling [A7] dragon

[D] Fourth: the rabbit

[D] Third: the tiger

[D] Second: the ox

And the [G] clever rat [C] came in [D7] first [G] place.

 

9. [G] A very very very long [C] time ago

The [D7] emperor held a swimming [G] race

[D] In ninth came the JUMPY MONKEY

[D] Eighth: the goat

[D] Seventh: the horse

[D] Sixth: the snake

In [D] fifth place [G] came the [Em] dazzling [A7] dragon

[D] Fourth: the rabbit

[D] Third: the tiger

[D] Second: the ox

And the [G] clever rat [C] came in [D7] first [G] place.

 

10. [G] A very very very long [C] time ago

The [D7] emperor held a swimming [G] race

[D] In tenth came the [D] BOLD ROOSTER

[D] Ninth: the monkey

[D] Eighth: the goat

[D] Seventh: the horse

[D] Sixth: the snake

In [D] fifth place [G] came the [Em] dazzling [A7] dragon

[D] Fourth: the rabbit

[D] Third: the tiger

[D] Second: the ox

And the [G] clever rat [C] came in [D7] first [G] place.

 

11. [G] A very very very long [C] time ago

The [D7] emperor held a swimming [G] race

[D] In eleventh came [D] the HONEST DOG

[D] Tenth: the rooster

[D] Ninth: the monkey

[D] Eighth: the goat

[D] Seventh: the horse

[D] Sixth: the snake

In [D] fifth place [G] came the [Em] dazzling [A7] dragon

[D] Fourth: the rabbit

[D] Third: the tiger

[D] Second: the ox

And the [G] clever rat [C] came in [D7] first [G] place.

 

12. [G] A very very very long [C] time ago

The [D7] emperor held a swimming [G] race

[D] In twelfth came the HAPPY PIG

[D] Eleventh: the dog

[D] Tenth: the rooster

[D] Ninth: the monkey

[D] Eighth: the goat

[D] Seventh: the horse

[D] Sixth: the snake

In [D] fifth place [G] came the [Em] dazzling [A7] dragon

[D] Fourth: the rabbit

[D] Third: the tiger

[D] Second: the ox

And the [G] clever rat [C] came in [D7] first [G] place.

Skills and benefits:

Phonological awareness, animal identification, sequencing, ordinal numbers, cultural awareness, learn about holidays, Chinese Zodiac, Lunar New Year.

Origins:

Lyrics and tune by Ms. Christina.

Copyright: Ms. Christina — permission given for educational use.