about
Winter of 2021 I bought the bus. Over 4 months, we gutted the previous conversion and then rebuilt it into a wonderfully comfortable and safe traveling home for me and my two kids. It does not have proper plumbing but rather has a portable potty made with a bucket with toilet seat on top – lug a lou.
That first summer at Hicks with the bus, my dear friend Cailin MacRea was once again camping with us and her youngest – she went ahead and had a third child, while I called it quits after the first two. My bestie Judy Lea was also camping with us and her first Grandchild was in camp as well. These two children were about the same age and fell fast in love with each other.
They were two peas and were having so much fun making each other laugh. They asked to come into the bus and then immediately asked to sit on the bed. Fearless and without inhibitions, they made themselves at home. I went in with them to ensure the camp dirt did not also join them on my bed nor would anything be broken though exploration.
I took a seat on the lid of the potty as this was a good vantage point to chat with them. All the other seats had things pilled high with our bags stored on seats, leaving nowhere to sit.
I proclaimed to the 6 year old’s that I was sitting on my potty. They giggled. I launched into the song out of nowhere. ‘I have a potty on my bus, It’s just right for me.’ The girls laughed and I sang it again. Then they started clapping at the end of each of my phrases. I could see we were onto something.
They left the bus singing the song over and over, clapping their little hands as they went. Every time they saw me over the next few days they broke into the potty song and laughed. I loved it and got to work on figuring what other parts the song needed. It took a few more weeks but by the time I got to Hornby later that summer, I had a song. I went in to work with Marc Atkinson at The Barn Studio and brought the song to him. We had a lot of fun trying to find the right sounds for this song. Several versions later, we went with the country band sound, banjo, bass and guitar along with my vocals.
It is very important to me that all the songs on this record are comfortable for adults to listen to as well as kids. This song is def the silliest of the bunch, but I am happy with our final mix and it makes me smile thinking about underwear and having a favourite pair and all that. As a parent, the potty training years are some of the hardest years. If this song helps anyone navigate this topic with their littles, I will be so very happy.
lyrics
Potty on my Bus
I have a potty on my bus, It’s just right for me
I have a potty on my bus, I use it when I need to go pee
I have a potty on my bus, it makes me so happy
Do you have your very own potty?
You have a potty in your house, it’s just right for you
You have a potty in your house, some people call it the loo
You have a potty in your house, it makes you so happy
Staying dry all day long, using the potty
I wear underwear, there’re just right for me
I have a favourite pair, there’re so comfy
I love my underwear, they make me so happy
Staying dry all day long, using my potty
Do you wear underwear? Just like me!?!
You have a favourite pair! They’re so comfy!
We love underwear. They make us so happy
Staying dry all day long, using the potty
I have a potty on my bus, It’s just right for me
I have a potty on my bus, I use it when I need to go pee
I have a potty on my bus, it makes me so happy
Do you have your very own potty?
[tag]
1st ending: Staying dry all day long using my potty
2nd ending: Oh how I love, my potty
©️ Monica Lee 2023
credits
from
You, Me and the Moon,
released May 24, 2023
Potty On My Bus Lyrics and Music by Monica Lee ©️ 2023
Monica Lee - Vocals,
Marc Atkinson - Guitars, Banjo, Bass, Drums
Produced by Marc Atkinson
Recorded and mixed by Marc Atkinson at The Barn Studio on Hornby Island, BC
Mastered by Marc Atkinson
Cover art by Jenny Ritter
Album layout by Lyle Grant
Sequencing by Adrian Dolan
Made in Canada / Fabriqué au Canada
license
all rights reserved
