Music by Dennis Westphall
The Calm-Down Song
Lyrics
CHORUS
When your heart is all a-flutter
And you’re panting like a dog
When your legs are feeling shaky
And your mind is in a fog
When you’re bursting with excitement
And you’re spinning like a top
When you’ve had a disappointment
And your special plan went flop
CHORUS
It’s time to
Put your hand on your tummy
Say “Calm down”
Take a deep breath
And count out loud—1, 2, 3, 4
Feel yourself calm down
CHORUS
When you’ve just been scared by something
There’s aching in your tummy
When you’re really sad or worried
And your body’s feeling crummy
Sign language illustrated
instructions on pages 2–3
Second Step Sing-Along Songs Supplement
© 2002 Committee for Children
continued on page 3
Verse 1
heart
dog
legs are feeling shaky
Trace a “heart” on left upper
chest with middle fingers.
Snap fingers, then pat right
thigh with RH twice.
Shake legs.
hand on your tummy
say “Calm down”
deep breath
count out loud
Place hand on tummy.
Say “Calm down” in time with
song.
Take a deep belly breath.
Count out loud in time with
song.
scared
ache
sad
body
Open 5 both hands, palms in,
tips facing. Move back and forth
several times, as if shaking in
fright.
One shape both hands, palms in,
tips facing. Move back and forth
toward one another. (Sometimes
make with H handshapes.)
Five shape both hands, palms
in, fingers slightly curved, LH a
little below RH. Hold in front of
face and drop slowly.
Open B shape both hands, palms
in, tips facing. Pat chest, then
stomach.
Chorus
Verse 2
2
Sign illustrations © 1983 Gallaudet University
Second Step Sing-Along Songs Supplement
© 2002 Committee for Children
Verse 3
excitement
spin
disappointment
flop
Five shape both hands, palms
in. Alternately brush tips of
middle fingers upward on chest.
Place right index finger, palm
down, over left index finger.
Rotate fingers quickly.
Place tip of right index on chin.
LH open B palm up, tips out.
Place tips of right V in left palm
then flip forward and out,
ending with palm up.
3
Sign illustrations © 1983 Gallaudet University
Second Step Sing-Along Songs Supplement
© 2002 Committee for Children
The Calm-Down Song
Rœ••y
Verse
¡
Bm
¡
¡
1.When your
2.When you've
3.When you're
2
¡
¡
heart
is
all
just been scared
burst - ing
with
F m
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
a - flut - ter
and you're
by some - thing, there's an
ex - cite - ment and you're
¡
¡
¡
7
¶ ¡K ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
Ì
¡
hand on your tum-my.
D
it's time to
molto rit.
K
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
G
”
” ” ¡K ¡ ,¡ ¡ Three
”
Four
” ”
(hand on your tum-my) Say, "calm down." (calm down)
‹
D
D/F ” ” One
A
put your...
¡ ¡K ¡ A
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
A
Take a big breath. (uh-huh) And count out loud:
16
¡ ¡ ¡
A7
RLœxv D
Chorus
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡K ¡
¡
¡
legs are feel - ing shak - y, and your
real - ly sad or wor - ried and your
had a dis - ap - point - ment and your
6
¡
¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡
¡
¡
mind
is
in
a
fog,
bo - dy's feel - ing crummy.
spec - ial plan went
flop,
10
¡
G
pant - ing like a
dog.
When your
ach - ing in your tummy. When you're
spin - ning like a
top.
When you've
4
¡
Two
D
¡
¡
Feel
your
-
¡
¡
Ì
self
calm
down.
4
Sign illustrations © 1983 Gallaudet University
Second Step Sing-Along Songs Supplement
© 2002 Committee for Children