Aim: How do the musical elements of modulation, verse and lyrics tell a story in “Five Feet High and Rising?”
Summary: Students are introduced to country music and recognize how modulation between verses is used to visualize lyrics in “Five Feet High and Rising.”
Materials: Musical Explorers online audio
Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.PR.3; ESGMK-2.RE.1; ESGMK-2.RE.2; ESGMK-2.RE.3; ESGMK-2.CN.1; ESGMK-2.CN.2 SC: MK-2GM.6 MK-2GM.9 MK-2GM.10
Vocabulary: modulation, verse
Discuss Country Music
- Ask students as a full class or in pairs:
- What can you tell me/each other about country music?
- Who are some country singers/bands/songs that you have heard of?
- If you are familiar with country music, how would you describe it? Where have you heard it/seen it?
- What kinds of instruments might Anders’ band play?
- Watch Anders perform “Five Feet High and Rising” below.
Explore the Lyrics in “Five Feet High and Rising”
- “Five Feet High and Rising” is the true story of a storm and the flooding thereafter. 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?
- “Five Feet High and Rising” is a ballad. Remind students that a ballad is a story that is set to music. Each verse of the song tells a different part of the story.
- Turn to a partner and explain in your own words what is happening in this song.
- Do you know any other songs that are based on a real event?
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. Play Track 2.1 and 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.
Track 2.1 – “Five Feet High and Rising” Song
- 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
“Five Feet High and Rising”
Verse 1
How high’s the water, mama?
Two feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, papa?
Two feet high and risin’
We can make it to the road in a homemade boat
That’s the only thing we got left that’ll float
It’s already over all the wheat and the oats,
Two feet high and risin’
Verse 2
How high’s the water, mama?
Three feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, papa?
Three feet high and risin’
Well, the hives are gone,
I’ve lost my bees
The chickens are sleepin’
In the willow trees
Cow’s in water up past her knees,
Three feet high and risin’
Verse 3
How high’s the water, mama?
Four feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, papa?
Four feet high and risin’
Hey, come look through the window pane,
The bus is comin’, gonna take us to the train
Looks like we’ll be blessed with a little more rain,
Four feet high and risin’
Verse 4
How high’s the water, mama?
Five feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, papa?
Five feet high and risin’
Well, the rails are washed out north of town
We gotta head for higher ground
We can’t come back till the water comes down,
Five feet high and risin’
Well, it’s five feet high and risin’
Creative Extension: Use Music to Create a Scene
Choose one of the weather scenes from SG 15, or create your own. Use the tune of “Five Feet High and Rising” when adding musical ideas. Recall how Anders used high & low to help set the scene in “Five Feet High and Rising.” Now it is your turn to try some musical opposites to see which ones help tell your weather story.
- Draw your weather scene and share while you sing/recite your new version of “Five Feet High and Rising.”
- How did listening to the music help you visualize the scene?
- Follow along with teaching artist Shanna in the video below.
Audio Tracks
Track 2.1 – “Five Feet High and Rising” Song
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