Pong Dang Pong Dang (퐁당퐁당)
This is a Korean children's song about the simple pleasure of throwing pebbles into a stream and watching the ripples in the water -- while your sibling is on the other shore washing vegetables! I am joined by the power duo of Dan Zanes and Barbara Brousal, who transform the song into a rhyme in english. Jean Cook joins me on harmony, and Min Xiao Fen adds pipa.
See full lyric video playlist on YouTube
Learn & Create
A quick guide to skipping stones:
1. Pick a good stone – one that is flat, not too thick or thin (or too heavy), and that can fit easily in your hand.
2. Hold the stone between your thumb and the side of your middle finger, with your thumb on top and your index finger along the edge.
3. Make sure no one is in the water in front of you! Stand facing the water at a slight angle, and pull your arm back like you’re going to throw a sidearm pitch, so the rock is even with the water.
4. As you throw, bend your wrist back. Right before you release, flick your wrist forward.
5. Throw the stone forward and down at the same time, trying to hit the water at a 20 degree angle (with the front of the stone facing upward).
6.Have fun!
What are your favorite summertime activities? Write or draw about them on the downloadable sheet below.
Lyrics
Lyrics by Seokjung Yoon, Composed by Nanpa Hong
Translation/Arrangement by Elena Moon Park
(download)
Poong dang poong dang dhol-eul donji-ja
퐁당퐁당 돌을 던지자
Noona mool-eh doh-leul donji-ja
누나 몰래 돌을 더지자
Nhet mool-ah, puh-jyuh-la, moh-li moh-li puh-jyuh-la
냇물아 퍼져라, 멀리멀리 퍼져라
Go-uhn noh pyun-eh ahn-jah-suh
건너편에 앉아서
na-meul eul-shi nun
나물을 씻는
Oori noona sohn dung-eul, gan-ji-luh joo-uh-la
우리 누나 손등을, 간질어 주어라
Skip, skip, skipping stones
Rippling and making waves
Counting down our summer days
Secretly beside a stream
While we're washing sprouts and beans
Skip, skip, skipping stones
(pong dang pong dang, doh-leul donji-ja)
Split a rock, and make a stone
Split a stone, and make a pebble
Throw the pebble into a stream
Close your eyes, while we dream
Little circles ripple wide
Turn away to run and hide
Skip, skip, skipping stones
(pong dang pong dang, doh-leul donji-ja)
Musicians
Dan Zanes, acoustic guitar, vocals
Barbara Brousal, vocals
Jean Cook, vocals
Min Xiao Fen, pipa
Yoshi Waki, upright bass
David Cossin, percussion
Elena Moon Park, mandolin, vocals
