Rescuing Ruby Reef
Developed by MicheLee Puppets, 2008
Lyrics by Rebekah Lane
Rescuing Ruby Reef was an original 45-minute production developed by MicheLee Puppets in 2008. The
target audience was elementary aged students. I was part of the creative team and took on the
responsibility of writing the songs for this musical puppet show. My goal was to incorporate key concepts
and vocabulary words within the songs so students might retain them better. Below you will find the lyrics
for two songs.
Web of Life
Simple percussion creeps into the awe inspiring music. Fish swim through: “mornin’! Morning! High
Fin, low tail!” We hear a high, rhythmic clink and notice a crab cleaning her shell. We hear a shaker and
see a cleaner fish cleaning a grouper. Etc.
Spotted Drum:
It’s a bright new day at Ruby Reef
Every body knows their part
In the morning I swim out here
And sing so we can start!
(Percussion accent)
We all live in harmony
In our rainforest of the sea
We each need the other
We live symbiotically
It’s the Web of Life
We work together
It’s the Web of Life
Livin’ and laughin’ each and every day
Web of Life
We can’t live without each other
We’re in the web of Life
(percussion – 4 drum beats syncopated)
(Conga rhythm and break down: )
Spotted Drum:
(spoken) Look! We have company!
(all the fish run and hide)
Here comes a grouper –
Grouper: I am the big fish
Spotted Drum: (School of Grunts enter) Hey! It’s the Grunts
Grouper: Looks like a nice dish! (swims after school of fish)
Basslets: (School peeks into a cave) Anybody in there?
Eel: ( Pops out of cave) Stay out of my nich
All Puppets: Web of Life!
Spotted Drum: Say it!
Audience and Puppets: Web of life!
Rescuing Ruby Reef
Developed by MicheLee Puppets, 2008
Lyrics by Rebekah Lane
Spotted Drum:
The zooxanthelea is an algae
that builds the coral up
They like living in the Polyps
Eel: Thanks for building my hut!
Jellyfish: The coral’s great for fishing!
Squirrel Fish: (as the tentacles draw him up to be eaten) (sigh) Just my luck
All Puppets: Web of life!
Spotted Drum: Everybody now!
Audience and Puppets: Web of Life!
Spotted Drum: It’s a bright new day at Ruby Reef
But we don’t have time for goofs
If you don’t watch your back you might be food
Snook: Not Food!
Snook: I’m (Tiger Grouper eats him) (gulp)
Tiger Grouper: Have you seen my lunch
Snook: (hiding, from under the coral) Let me know when he’s left!
Tiger Grouper: Can I get a bath?
Cleanerfish: (rush to clean the Grouper) My pleasure! Get set!
Tiger Grouper: You guys eaten today?
Cleanerfish: You’re the only dish yet!
All Puppets: Web of life (X2)
It’s the Web of Life
We work together
It’s the Web of Life
Livin’ and laughin each and every day
Web of Life
We’re in it together!
We’re in the web of Life
(Repeat until interrupted by Dooms Day)
Rescuing Ruby Reef
Developed by MicheLee Puppets, 2008
Lyrics by Rebekah Lane
The Ruby Reef Blues
Oh Fishes. Fishes gather round and let me tell you a story.
Verse:
Oh the water’s getting warmer F# A F# E D E D B
The pollution’s getting high
I’m not growing any stronger
If this keeps up I just might… Die
Chorus:
I got the Ruby Reef Blues
The pollution makes me sick
I’ve got the ruby reef blues
And it makes bad algae stick
There’s nothing I can do
Global Warming’s crushed my mood
I can’t help but have the Ruby Reef Blues
Verse:
Oh, the people leave their lights on
And they burn a lot of gas
When they don’t see it they think it’s gone (out of sight out of mind)
But it heats the earth up fast
The gasoline dripping from a car
Or the bug spray on your grass
All wash together in the ocean
That run-off coat is oh so vast
Chorus:
I got the Ruby Reef Blues
See my coral’s done been bleached
I got the Ruby Reef Blues
My zooxanthellae can’t be reached
I’m hurting more and more each day
The fishes can’t afford to stay
I’m all alone singing the ruby reef blues
Help me out
I’ve got the Ruby Reef Blues
Vocabulary Words:
Pollution
Algae
Global Warming
Run-off
Coral Bleaching
zooxanthellae