4th Grade Program SONGBOOK

Regions of Virginia Rap Jamestown

Refrain: In sixteen hundred seven, Regions of Virginia, five we have to know Three ships had sailed the sea – Tidewater, Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains, GO! The Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. Valley and Ridge, Appalachian Plateau The landed in Virginia to start a colony. From east to west those landforms show! They came to seek their fortune and opportunity.

East of the Fall Line lies the Coastal Plains. Refrain Next to the Atlantic and the Chesapeake Bay. Jamestown, Jamestown, The Tidewater Region has very flat land. Nestled by the bay. And the Eastern Shore is in the plan. Jamestown, Jamestown, Your story lives today, West of the Fall line is region number two. Your story lives today. Piedmont is home to me and you At the foot of the mountains you’ll find these They hoped that gold and silver rolling hills. Would lie upon the ground. And the Piedmont is the largest region still. But land was dense with forests And wild game all around. Refrain They settled on a river and named it for their king. They built a fort to save them from what the world The Blue Ridge Mountains are number three. might bring. These old, rounded mountains are a sight to see. Part of the Appalachian and the rivers start here Refrain Fisherman smile from ear to ear! The early days of Jamestown Were filled with pain and strife. The Valley and Ridge are Appalachian too. Starvation, war, and sickness became a way of life. The Great Valley of Virginia is here, it’s true. If not for those with vision to overcome its plight, Valleys down low, and the ridges up top, It often seemed that Jamestown Luray caverns below are worth a stop! Would not survive the fight.

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Last but not least, Appalachian Plateau. Despite its harsh beginnings, the colony still grew. Mountainous and small that’s what we know As time went on more settlers The land is elevated and flat. Began their life anew. And don’t forget the Cumberland Gap! As hist’ry knows, the story goes, That Jamestown was the one Refrain Whose legacy ensured that our country was begun.

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Page 1 of 2 4th Grade Program SONGBOOK

Follow the Drinking Gourd Reconstruction Blues

[REFRAIN] Well, it’s eighteen hundred sixty-five Follow the drinking gourd The south was weak, but still alive Follow the drinking gourd We need RE-CON-STRUC-TION For the old man is a waitin’ For to carry you to freedom Because the civil war messed up the land If you follow the drinking gourd Buildings burned that once were grand We need RE-CON-STRUC-TION When the sun comes back And the first quail calls Now after so many fights, Follow the drinking gourd the Freedmen all will get their rights For the old man is a waiting Because it is RE-CON-STRUC-TION For to carry you to freedom If you follow the drinking gourd h h ’w ’qqqq’w} The river bank makes a very good road, G G G B G B A G The dead trees will show you the way Left foot, peg foot, traveling on Follow the drinking gourd h h ’h h’qqqq’w ” [REFRAIN] A A G G B G B A G Play it again! Then, Go back to the beginning of the The river ends between two hills song! Follow the drinking gourd There’s another river on the other side Our Great Virginia Follow the drinking gourd You'll always be our great Virginia. [REFRAIN] You're the birthplace of the nation: Where history was changed forever. Today, your glory stays, as we build tomorrow.

I fill with pride at all you give us— Rolling hills, majestic mountains, From the Shenandoah to the Atlantic, Rivers wide and forests tall, all in one Virginia.

For each of us here in Virginia, From farm to city dweller, All of us, we stand together. We're yours, we all are yours— Across our great Virginia.

You'll always be our great Virginia.

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