Welcome Visitor, Fri, Sep 3, 2010, 04:38 CST, 157 Rampers Online, Login
 
Back to Open Mic

I've received quite a lot of email from teachers regarding my song with Alex Stangl, "Pluto's Not a Planet Anymore." One teacher requested that I put together lyrics about Newton's Laws of Motion. This was quite a challenge!

This is another song from Sergio Wals' 2008 CD "Michael Closed the Bathroom Door." Tracks from the CD can be downloaded by clicking here. And you can purchase the whole CD here.

*Note: This song was #1 on the Songramp most-played chart (sometimes alternating with "Pluto's Not a Planet Any More") from August 4 to August 17, 2008, and again January 14-20, 2010 and March 11-17, 2010. Thanks for listening!

The National Youth Choir of Scotland performs another version of "Laying Down the Laws of Motion," one in which acclaimed composer John Hearne wrote choral music to accompany my lyric. 

Laying Down the Laws of Motion

Words by Jeff Mondak
Music by Sergio Wals
Performed by Sergio Wals and Alex Stangl (spoken intro by Jeff Mondak) Engineered and Produced by Alex Stangl

The physicist will not insist
You learn the wizard’s potion
But minds will grow if students know
Of Newton’s Laws of Motion

Isaac Newton studied forces
Forces make things start and stop
Students taking science courses
Learn these laws to stay on top

Things in motion stay in motion
Things at rest will stay at rest
Inertia’s our initial notion
Know it and you’ll past the test

We’re laying down the law
We’re laying down the law
We’re laying down the laws
Of motion

The next law’s also worth a mention
So wisdom will accelerate
Although I sense your apprehension
A speedy lesson is your fate

With your elbow, wrist and shoulder
Here is how you must proceed
Throw a ball and throw a boulder
Greater mass means lesser speed

We’re laying down the law
We’re laying down the law
We’re laying down the laws
Of motion

One last law we’ll be explaining
Says forces always come in pairs
Newton’s law will leave you straining
When you’re climbing up the stairs

Each step you take is called an action
Push a wall, it pushes back
When you act, expect reaction
Equal and opposite, that’s a fact

We’re laying down the law
We’re laying down the law
We’re laying down the laws
Of motion
Details:
 Uploaded: Aug 1, 2008
 Genre: Kids/Family
 hifi Size: 2747 KB
 lofi Size: 859 KB

Statistics:
 Plays: 1275
 Reviews: 27
 Favored: 22

Member Review
telebob
2008-08-01
Wow! A robust rockin' interpretation of Newton natterings on motion. Love the chorus - it's VeRy sing-along-able. Strong instrumentation to back a hard-to-write lyric. I think y'all succeeded! Voted fave. Cheers/Twangs! T-Bob
AlanSanders
2008-08-01
this is cool. I think it takes more talent to write about a subject as this than the usual love song! :)
RJC
2008-08-01
Great work from all three of ya...kudos to all!
Tromminator
2008-08-01
Kids need songs with a certain gravity.

Nice work!

What kind of reaction have you gotten?

;)

Mike. {:~)
rhallcne
2008-08-01
Now that's talent! I wish I could write on demand. Great lyric, Love that guitar, Great vocal. Thanks for sharing.....rick hall
GrumpHarmony
2008-08-01
Thoroughly enjoyed this Jeff. As much from a musical perspective as a science perspective. Clever and cool creation guys. Loved it!
jbthegeezer
2008-08-02
This is what cool, like The Electric Co my kids used to watch, I enjoyed this is sounds a bit like Warren Zevon.
jb
UnclePhil
2008-08-02
Wow! Wall of Voodoo is alive and well! This is really wonderful and very very fun. Great collab, my friends. Peace, -PHil
teleman58
2008-08-02
Cool stuff guys. It's great to hear all 3 influences in this song.
rittmo
2008-08-03
Exceptional song!!!

held my attention from the get go...(is get go, a Newton Law?)

signature Alex guitar!

rittmo'
JAS
2008-08-03
What a cool song! I bet you are the coolest teacher in school! Entertaining collab, so I must give credit to your cohorts as well, including Newton ~
poorandneedy
2008-08-03
Wonderful! Two great pleasures...music and learning. A school house rocker...Thanks--Greg
Rard
2008-08-04
always dig the 'Alex' vibe. Sergio's voc/melody delivery give it an international flare that is both scary (in a Boris Karloff kinda way) and soothing. this could fit well into the 3-6th grade ciriculum.
HeidiHeidiHeidi
2008-08-04
Fun production, and a great physics lesson!
teecee
2008-08-05
Cool, fun piece Jeff, and love Sergio's work here too.
OK, now there's a whole world for you to go at here - next up should be Pythagoras' theory, then you've got the whole Relativity thing, and let's not forget Murphy's Law either!
:)))
T
dillon
2008-08-06
I'd say your project was a success. The tune is catchy and they lyrics are a must read.
Beeswing
2008-08-06
This is a sheer delight! Oh so clever lyric from Jeff....cute vocal from Sergio...and some signature Alex music and production! Excellent!
lps45s8tracks
2008-08-06
(;LOVE DA SPOKEN INTRO;)(;U DA MAN JEFF;)What a team.Enjoyed the listen.Love it.Your Songramp Bro.~(;Yrral Mallik;)
rustyblake
2008-08-07
Delightful and clever words performed in a most flawless way...your actions got very good reactions from me.

Rusty
MathSciGuy
2008-08-11
It moved me!
LittleHippie
2008-08-12
a fantastic idea!! Layin' down the law baby! cleverly done and what a great way to make learning fun. excellent. thanks! Mary
RonMadore
2008-08-16
Very cool! Nice work by all.....such a difficult subject to write upon....pulled it off perfectly! Hmmmm is that push or pull...lol...enjoyed! - Ron
geediane
2008-08-17
Great writing! Fun music! Awesome!!
Jerwolf
2008-09-02
More great ideas from you & your collabers. very cool.. makes me want to go back to school!
manatthewindow
2008-09-02
What a brilliant response to a very demanding challenge! I'm hugely impressed by your ability not only to convey the salient information so concisely but also to sugar the pill with so many rhymes. Tremendous writing, Jeff.
JahLove; ~GerryMATW
Brendand
2008-09-20
Jeff..this is certainly another great write and production..You have a real knack for lyrics!!...and I can't imagine any child not loving these songs(OR GROWN_UPS)...they are so fresh and the music is not kiddy...Great job everyone!..hugs..Bren
LoanShark
2008-10-22
Very cool Jeff...I would like anything with a beat like this...really catchy. Nice write and perfect for Sergio. -Jerry