Thank you for alerting me to Bill Harley's new songbook Do It Together. My son's third grade class took the song "You're Driving Me Crazy" and adapted it for their class: Teacher vs. students. It was a hit at the school talent show, especially as the kids really went all out memorizing the song and learning some blocking and movement to go with the lyrics. The marracca chorus even had a special rehearsal! Their teacher, Mrs. Walker, was a great sport and even at nine months pregnant! put her all into the song. We even got the principal to walk on stage and yell, "You kids are driving her CRAZY!" Then we used an overhead to flash the refrain on the gym wall and the school joined in for the last chorus. What fun!
Debbie (a mom from Kansas)
The Lyrics (with stage directions):
You’re Driving Me Crazy
By Bill Harley
Lyrics Adapted for Mrs. Walker’s 2006 Outstanding and Nutty 3rd Grade Class
Verse 1
Mrs. Walker: (spoken or sung)
I know that you hear me. (kids asleep, looking into space)
I know that you’re there.
But when I speak, you respond with those dull vacant stares.
(kids do dull vacant stares, heads to right
I’ve called out your names now, forty-eight times.
Tell me, what does it take?
Here goes forty-nine. (kids do dull vacant stares, heads to the left)
REFRAIN
Mrs. Walker: (sung)
You’re driving me crazy! You’re driving me mad.
I’ve lost all my marbles, the few that I had.
You’re driving me bonkers. What can I do?
Principal Hargrove: (spoken)
You kids are driving her CRAZY!
(Kids jump back in alarm)
Principal Hargrove and Teacher: (spoken)
So, we’ll do it to you.
(point with finger to kids)
Verse 2
KIDS: (sung)
If we were not here, how would you spend you’re hours?
(Hands out in a shrug)
Since you seem to enjoy lesson planning your life and ours!
(fold arms in front)
(point to teacher then selves)
Math meeting and D.E.A.R. time go on and on without end.
(roll head and eyes up)
KIDS #1 and 2:
(spoken in a whine)
“Not on the wall at Recess!”
KIDS: (sung)V
Again and again and again and AGAIN!
(start soft and grow louder each time)
You’re driving us CRAZY!
(Make crazy sign)
You’re driving us mad.
(hands on hips)
We’ve lost all our marbles, the few that we had.
You’re driving us bonkers.
(hands to side of head)
What can we do?
(Hands in a shrug)
You’re driving us crazy.
(make crazy sign)
So we’ll do it to YOU !
(point to teacher with straight arm)
Verse 3
Mrs. Walker: (spoken or sung)
You’re desks are a MESS! (3 kids throw up pile of papers)
You fall off your chairs. (5 kids fall off chairs)
If you’d raise your hands (teachers demonstrates raised hand)
I’d stop pulling out my hair. (Kids pull out hair/funny faces)
Your list of questions, go on and on without end…
KIDS # 3,4 and 5:
(spoken in a whine)
“Can I go to the baaathroom?!”
Mrs. Walker :(spoken or sung)
Again and again and again and AGAIN!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ZANY FLAMINCO DANCE BREAK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
with maracas, of course!
“ArrrrrivAAA !”
Verse 3
KIDS: (sung)
Somewhere there are teachers, always gentle and kind.
(kids pose angelically)
Teacher: (spoken or sung)
Somewhere there’s a school, where the students always mind!
(kids switch from angelic pose to crazy pose)
ALL: (sung)
You know they say that the apples
(Everyone face forward hands down at sides)
don’t fall too far from the tree.
I guess our class is just a fruitcake,
Filled with NUTS LIKE ME!
(wave crazy arms in the air)
ALL KIDS AND TEACHERS IN AUDIENCE JOIN IN: (words will be on overhead)
WE’RE driving YOU crazy.
WE’RE driving YOU mad.
YOU’VE lost all YOUR marbles, the few that YOU had.
WE’RE driving YOU bonkers.
What can WE do?
WE’RE driving YOU crazy.
“Oh, well.”
WE’RE CRAZY, too!
CHA CHA CHA
