Malvina Reynolds: Song Lyrics and Poems  

I've Got a Song

Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1965 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1993. a.k.a. "Judy's Song." This song was inspired by Limeliter Lou Gottlieb’s then small daughter Judy, who wanted to be in the conversation among the grown-ups, so she said “I’ve got a song!” But when Malvina asked her to sing it, Judy said, “I forgot.” It was thus first known as “Judy’s Song.”

I've got a song,
It's about so high,
It's about this big around,
It's got a wonderful sound,
But I can't sing it.

I've got a song,
It's a shade of green,
Embroidered all over with birds,
But I don't know the words,
So I can't sing it.

Some day I'll get on a mountaintop
And open up my mouth,
And this great big song
Will come rolling out
And echo North and South.

I've got a song,
It's three miles long,
It's bitter and strong and gay,
And I'll sing it some day,
And I'll sing it some day.

Malvina Reynolds songbook(s) in which the music to this song appears:
---- The Muse of Parker Street [as "Judy's Song"]
---- Cheerful Tunes for Lutes and Spoons: Youngish Songs
---- There's Music in the Air: Songs for the Middle-Young

Malvina Reynolds recording(s) on which this song is performed:
---- Magical Songs

Recordings by other artists on which this song is performed:
---- Bayou Seco: Songs of New Mexico and Beyond (Ubik Sound, 1991)
---- Jan Hammarlund: [title in Swedish] (Silence SRS 4649, 1978)
---- Jonathan, David & Elbert: 3 Guys With New Ideas About Singing [as "Judy's Song"] (Philips PHS 600-166, 1964)
---- Sandy and Caroline Paton: I've Got a Song (Folk-Legacy Records FSK-52, 1975)
---- Sally Rogers: Peace by Peace (Kid's Records KRPL-1042, 1988)