Lesson 2: Exploring “Five Feet High and Rising”

Explore the Lyrics in “Five Feet High and Rising”

• “Five Feet High and Rising” is the story of a storm and the flooding thereafter. Listen to “Five Feet High and Rising,” Track 9.
• Discuss the lyrics with your students.
  • What kind of place is Anders singing about? Is it in the city or country? How can you tell?
  • What happens when there is a storm in the area where you live?
• “Five Feet High and Rising” is a ballad. A ballad is a story that is set to music. Each verse of the song tells a different part of the story.

Sesame Street: Johnny Cash And Biff Sing Five Feet High

Explore Modulation in “Five Feet High and Rising”

• There are four verses in this song. The verses tell the story of a song. Each verse has the same melody but different lyrics.
• In “Five Feet High and Rising” there is a musical change between each verse. Ask your students if they can hear the musical change.
  • What change do you hear in the music?
  • We are going to listen to the song again. When you hear the change, raise both hands over your head.
• The song is getting higher with each verse. When all of the notes of a song get higher or lower, that is called modulation.
• Listen to the song again and use body movements to show all the modulations:
  • First verse: Students put their hands on their knees.
  • Second verse: Hands on hips
  • Third verse: Hands on shoulders
  • Fourth verse: Arms stretched overhead

Create Your Own Ballad

• Using SG17, write your own ballad about what happens in your community when it rains. This can be completed as a class or in small groups.

Musical Word Wall

Add ballad, modulation, and verse to the Musical Word Wall.

PDF Downloads

SG17 ↓ Download File

Musical Explorers Audio Tracks

Go to Country Music Unit Music Assessment