A Song for Grandma and Grandpa
Encyclopedia
"A Song for Grandma and Grandpa" is a song written and recorded by singer-songwriter
Johnny Prill
.
Lyrics:
Chorus:
Oh Grandma, Grandpa, you know that I love you
I love all those little things that you say and do
A walk through the park, a trip to the zoo
Oh Grandma, Grandpa I love you
Verse One:
Going to a ball game, fishing on the lake
Eating Grandma's cookies, boy they sure taste great
Going to the circus when it comes to town
Eating cotton candy and laughing at the clowns
Chorus
Verse Two:
Spending time together, talking on the phone
Happy birthday presents, chocolate ice cream cones
Photographs and memories, picnics and parades
Saying that you love me in so many ways
Chorus
In 2004, the National Grandparents Day Council of Chula Vista, CA announced that "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa" would be the official song of the U.S. National Grandparents Day holiday.
The National Grandparents Day Council presented Prill with the National Songwriter's Award in recognition of his highly popular composition "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa."
The Council announced Prill's award early in order that schools, churches and other groups who wish to perform his song for Grandparents Day will have time to acquire and rehearse the song. The song was chosen because "Grandparents Day gives grandchildren across the nation the opportunity to show love and appreciation for their grandparents. Johnny Prill's A Song for Grandma and Grandpa is exemplary of such appreciation."
United States Senator Debbie Stabenow
told Prill: "It is wonderful that A Song for Grandma and Grandpa was chosen as the official song of National Grandparents Day. What a special tribute to your talent as a songwriter. You have put into words the unique relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren."
American folk singer Pete Seeger
stated, "Here's to Johnny Prill and his song for National Grandparents Day. May his song spread around the world and be translated into many languages!"
. It was originally released as "Grandma And Grandpa Polka" by the John Prill Orchestra. In 1991, the title was changed to "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa" and the artist name changed to Johnny Prill
. It was featured on the compilation album
, "America, This Song's For You." In 1996, Prill released a country and western and an easy listening
version of the song, and in 2004, the song was included on Prill's "The Polka Beat" CD. In 2005, Prill re-recorded “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa” and featured a Children's Choir singing the song to a calypso music
beat. This version was included on Prill's “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa” CD which was released in 2005. The CD included two karaoke
tracks and sheet music
for the song.
In a 2008 interview, Prill stated, "I believe that grandparents have the ability to look at a situation from all angles. Their wisdom is always supportive and reassuring, especially in difficult times."
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Johnny Prill
Johnny Prill
Johnny Prill is a singer-songwriter, accordionist, record producer, publisher, and the author of “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa,” the official song of the U.S. National Grandparents Day holiday.-Early years:...
.
Lyrics:
Chorus:
Oh Grandma, Grandpa, you know that I love you
I love all those little things that you say and do
A walk through the park, a trip to the zoo
Oh Grandma, Grandpa I love you
Verse One:
Going to a ball game, fishing on the lake
Eating Grandma's cookies, boy they sure taste great
Going to the circus when it comes to town
Eating cotton candy and laughing at the clowns
Chorus
Verse Two:
Spending time together, talking on the phone
Happy birthday presents, chocolate ice cream cones
Photographs and memories, picnics and parades
Saying that you love me in so many ways
Chorus
In 2004, the National Grandparents Day Council of Chula Vista, CA announced that "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa" would be the official song of the U.S. National Grandparents Day holiday.
The National Grandparents Day Council presented Prill with the National Songwriter's Award in recognition of his highly popular composition "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa."
The Council announced Prill's award early in order that schools, churches and other groups who wish to perform his song for Grandparents Day will have time to acquire and rehearse the song. The song was chosen because "Grandparents Day gives grandchildren across the nation the opportunity to show love and appreciation for their grandparents. Johnny Prill's A Song for Grandma and Grandpa is exemplary of such appreciation."
United States Senator Debbie Stabenow
Debbie Stabenow
Deborah Ann Greer "Debbie" Stabenow is the junior United States Senator from Michigan and a member of the Democratic Party. Before her election to the U.S. Senate, she was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Michigan's 8th congressional district from 1997 to 2001...
told Prill: "It is wonderful that A Song for Grandma and Grandpa was chosen as the official song of National Grandparents Day. What a special tribute to your talent as a songwriter. You have put into words the unique relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren."
American folk singer Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
stated, "Here's to Johnny Prill and his song for National Grandparents Day. May his song spread around the world and be translated into many languages!"
Song History
"A Song for Grandma and Grandpa" was first recorded in 1982 and was the A side on a 45 RPM released on K & R Records, an independent record labelIndependent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
. It was originally released as "Grandma And Grandpa Polka" by the John Prill Orchestra. In 1991, the title was changed to "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa" and the artist name changed to Johnny Prill
Johnny Prill
Johnny Prill is a singer-songwriter, accordionist, record producer, publisher, and the author of “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa,” the official song of the U.S. National Grandparents Day holiday.-Early years:...
. It was featured on the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, "America, This Song's For You." In 1996, Prill released a country and western and an easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
version of the song, and in 2004, the song was included on Prill's "The Polka Beat" CD. In 2005, Prill re-recorded “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa” and featured a Children's Choir singing the song to a calypso music
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
beat. This version was included on Prill's “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa” CD which was released in 2005. The CD included two karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
tracks and sheet music
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
for the song.
In a 2008 interview, Prill stated, "I believe that grandparents have the ability to look at a situation from all angles. Their wisdom is always supportive and reassuring, especially in difficult times."
Track Listing
- "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa" The National Grandparents Day Song featuring a Children's ChoirChoirA choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
(Johnny PrillJohnny PrillJohnny Prill is a singer-songwriter, accordionist, record producer, publisher, and the author of “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa,” the official song of the U.S. National Grandparents Day holiday.-Early years:...
) – 3:44 - “Heartbeat" (Johnny Prill) – 3:16
- “A Picture In A Frame” (Johnny Prill) – 4:08
- “Maria, My Sweet Rose” (Johnny Prill) – 4:00
- “That Won't Stop The Pain” (Johnny Prill) – 3:13
- “I Never Knew” (Johnny Prill) – 4:27
- “House Of Blues" B.B. King Tribute (Johnny Prill) – 2:49
- “I Love” (Johnny Prill) – 2:57
- “The King Of Las Vegas" Wayne NewtonWayne NewtonWayne Newton is an American singer and entertainer based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He performed over 30,000 solo shows in Las Vegas over a period of over 40 years, earning him the nicknames The Midnight Idol, Mr. Las Vegas and Mr. Entertainment...
Tribute (Johnny Prill) – 3:32 - “The Old Toy" (Johnny Prill) – 3:17
- “What Is Christmas” (Johnny Prill) – 3:59
- “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa” Bonus InstrumentalInstrumentalAn instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
Version (Johnny Prill) – 3:21 - “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa” Bonus Version Without Intro (Johnny Prill) – 3:24
- “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa” Bonus Long KaraokeKaraokeis a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
Version (Johnny Prill) – 3:21 - “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa” Bonus Short KaraokeKaraokeis a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
Version (Johnny Prill) – 1:56