(Sample) Week #47 SONGS ANDY GRIFFITH COVERED

Author

Lisa Peterson
November 16, 2025

Week #47

Songs Andy Griffith Covered

This is week 47 of the year and we will be celebrating Songs Andy Griffith Covered, by delving into the songs and applying concepts to create more joy and connection during caregiving routines with music.

The songs are:

  • Crawdad Song

  • Down in the Valley

  • House of the Rising Sun

  • In the Garden

  • Just a Closer Walk With Thee

  • Midnight Special

  • Old Rugged Cross, The

  • Whispering Hope

  • Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Access the material here!

Featured Song

CRAWDAD SONG

“Crawdad” is a North American folk song with roots in African American blues and the tradition of play parties, using clapping accompaniment and simple game patterns to get around religious communities’ restrictions on dancing. The song may have first been sung by workers building levees on the Mississippi river. This song’s melody is also shared with the songs “This Train Is Bound for Glory” (in this book) and “Mama Don’t ‘Llow”.

  • Is this melody familiar to you?

  • Are the words familiar?

  • Did you find yourself humming along?

  • How did it affect you? Did your awareness change? Your breath? Your focus? Your mood?

  • Would you feel comfortable playing this in the background and allow yourself to hum or sing along? By yourself and/or with the one(s) you care for?

The Crawdad Song Here is Andy and Opie’s version (from the Andy Griffith show) of The Crawdad Song. I hope you enjoy it!

Creative Ideas

HOW TO USE THE MUSIC

  • Try humming or singing along with the provided recording, or one of your choosing for increased feeling of ______.

  • Listen to a recording to create a shared experience.

  • Listen while engaged in daily routines, to add a feeling of familiarity and comfort (if the song is known and loved)

  • Try reminiscing with the song history, or singers of the song. Look at pictures famous singers who performed the song.

SELF-CARE TIPS

Use Your Vowels!

Making the sounds of the vowels (ah, eh, oh, oo, ee) for 60 seconds can decrease stress and help to regulate challenging feelings.

Try this:

  1. Pick a vowel sound (ah, eh, oh, oo, or ee)

  2. Breathe in

  3. On your out-breathe, sound (on whatever note comes out) your chosen vowel sound

  4. Continue the sound, until you run out of breath

  5. Repeat steps 2-4 on each vowel sound

  6. Take a minute to notice how you are feeling

Benefits You Might Notice:

  1. Shift in your attention and focus

  2. Deeper breathing

  3. Clearer mind

  4. Decrease in racing thoughts

  5. More hopeful thoughts

  6. Gentler attitude towards yourself

Share if you have any self-care tips or stories from this week at [email protected] 
Twilight hour from Copenhagen’s Strandvejen
Picaflor

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