The Quiet Evenings Here
A Some folks go to movies
B Gunshots, chases, screams of fear
C We've never been that kind of folks
D We'd rather stay right here.
AB Grandma rockin'
CD Clock tick-tockin'
ABCD We've just always been the sort who like the quiet evenings here.
A Some folks love the speedway
B Roarin' engines, Grindin' gears
C We've never been that kind of folks
D We'd rather stay right here.
AB Grandma rockin'
CD Clock tick tockin'
AB Sister hummin'
CD Grandpa Strummin'
ABCD We've always been the sort who like the quiet evenings here.
A Some folks like opera
B Singers screechin' in your ears
A Grandma rockin'
B Grandma rockin'
C We've never been that kind of folks
D We'd rather stay right here.
C Clock tick-tockin'
D Clock tick-tockin'
A Sister hummin'
B Sister hummin'
C Grandpa strummin'
D Grandpa strummin'
A Raindrops rappin'
B Raindrops rappin
C Toes a tappin'
D Toes a tappin'
ABCD We've just always been the sort who like the quiet evenings here.
A Some folks like their wrestling
B Bones a breakin', shouts and jeers
C We've never beent hat kind of folks
D We'd rather stay right here
A Grandma rockin'
B Grandma rockin'
C Clock tick-tockin'
D Clock tick-tockin'
A Sister hummin'
B Sister hummin'
C Grandpa Strummin'
D Grandpa Strummin'
A Raindrops rappin'
B Raindrops rappin'
C Toes a-tappin'
D Toes a-tappin'
A Roof-leak droppin'
B Roof-leak droppin'
C Fire a-poppin'
D Fire a-poppin'
ABCD We've just always been teh sort who like the quiet evenings here.
A Some folks go out dancin
B Band a-blarin, whoops and cheers
C We've never been that kind of folks
D We'd rather stay right here
AB Grandma rockin'
CD Clock tick-tockin'
AB Sister hummin'
CD Grandpa Strummin
AB Raindrops rappin'
CD Toes a-tappin'
AB Roof-leak droppin'
CD Fire a-poppin'
AB Uncle Fiddlin'
CD Brother whittlin'
ABCD We've just always been the sort who like the quiet evenings here.
A Living in the city's
B Just too loud for country ears
C We've never been that kind of folks
D We'd rather stay right here.
AB Grandma rockin'
CD Clock tick-tockin'
AB Sister hummin'
CD Grandpa strummin'
AB Raindrops rappin'
CD Toes a-tappin'
AB Roof-leak droppin'
CD Fire a-poppin'
AB Uncle Fiddlin'
CD Brother Whittlin'
AB Crickets chirpin'
CD Bullfrogs brupin'
ABCD We've just always been the sort who like the
A tranquil
B soothin
C peaceful
D placid
ABCD quiet evenings here.
Fleischman, Paul. 2000. Big Talk: Poems for four voices. Illustrated by Beppe Giacobbe. Cambridge:
Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763606367.
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Extension
Spend some time talking about the rhythm of this poem and the atmosphere and mood it creates.
Allow the students to talk about how the poem makes them feel when they hear it, what memories it brings, and what the poem
is saying. Don't approach this in a stiff way - relax and just talk about the music the poem creates and the people
reading it create. Some students may want to take turns reading it or try reading it several times.
