When I Get Mad
Credit: words & music by Sandy Greenberg, Rose Vaughan and Lisa Connier, (c) 2004
Album: Family Album
Lyrics: We learned this song from Sandy at a Children’s Music Network gathering in Wisconsin, and we knew right away that we had to learn it. It is a wonderful song about how anger can escalate, and it seems to apply to couples and countries, as well as kids. We had fun recording this song as a klezmer-tango hybrid ("klango").
(Chorus:)
When I get mad (when I get mad)
You get madder (you get madder)
And when I yell (and when I yell)
You yell louder (you yell louder)
I’m afraid you’ll hit (I’m afraid you’ll hit)
And I’ll hit back (and I’ll hit back)
We’ve got to stop - before it gets to that!
You wouldn’t let me play with you
You even took my ball
You said you didn’t like me anymore.
First I was sad, then I got mad
Wanted to even up the score.
But (Chorus)
And when I asked you "why?" you said,
"You called me names,
and when we were playing games, you left me out."
I’m sorry that I hurt you
I’m glad you told me so
It’s better when we talk instead of shout.
'Cuz (Chorus)
(Bridge:)
If I listen to you, and you listen to me,
with an open heart,
Do you think, we could be friends again
ready for a new start?
'Cuz (Chorus)
(Chorus:)
When I get mad (when I get mad)
You get madder (you get madder)
And when I yell (and when I yell)
You yell louder (you yell louder)
I’m afraid you’ll hit (I’m afraid you’ll hit)
And I’ll hit back (and I’ll hit back)
We’ve got to stop - before it gets to that!
You wouldn’t let me play with you
You even took my ball
You said you didn’t like me anymore.
First I was sad, then I got mad
Wanted to even up the score.
But (Chorus)
And when I asked you "why?" you said,
"You called me names,
and when we were playing games, you left me out."
I’m sorry that I hurt you
I’m glad you told me so
It’s better when we talk instead of shout.
'Cuz (Chorus)
(Bridge:)
If I listen to you, and you listen to me,
with an open heart,
Do you think, we could be friends again
ready for a new start?
'Cuz (Chorus)