Nursery rhymes are such a big part of childhood. With simple words and catchy melodies, they are often how babies, toddlers and children improve their language skills, and popular nursery rhymes for kids can stay in their memories for years and year.
What are some popular nursery rhymes for kids? Need a useful reference to the popular nursery rhymes’ lyrics and melodies? We’ve put together a useful list of nursery rhymes for your next sing-a-long session. We’ve also included the links to videos with the melodies so that they are easy to reference.
Popular Nursery Rhymes for Kids, Passed Down Through the Generations
The most popular nursery rhymes are timeless. You probably remember singing them back when you were a child growing up.
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These nursery rhymes may have been sung to you when you were were a kid and you can now also pass them on to your children.
The words of these nursery rhymes also help your child with his or her language development.
Children’s memory skills can be developed through teh nursery rhyme’s repetition and rhythm, helping them to remember information as they grow up.
As nursery rhymes frequently place a lot of emphasis on rhymes, this can also help kids with their phonemic awareness and allow them to learn to recognize and control individual sounds in words.
Nursery Rhymes with Lyrics & Music
Here are some popular nursery rhymes with lyrics and music references too.
A-Hunting We Will Go
This nursery rhyme was composed back in 1777 by the English composer Thomas Arne. It was also a popular folk song. Nowadays, the last line of its lyric has been updated to “And then we’ll let him go” whereas the original was “And never let him go”
A-hunting we will go,
A-hunting we will go
Heigh-ho, the derry-o,
A-hunting we will go.
A-hunting we will go,
A-hunting we will go
We’ll catch a fox and put him in a box
And then we’ll let him go
Alphabet Song (ABC or Now I Know My ABCs)
This song dates back to 1835 and we’re still singing it to this day! It is the same tune as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
A, B, C, D, E, F, G…
H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P…
Q, R, S…
T, U, V…
W… X…
Y and Z.
Now I know my ABCs.
Next time, won’t you sing with me?
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
This popular nursery rhyme dates back to around 1744. It was first printed in Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book, the oldest surviving collection of English language nursery rhymes.
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full.
One for my master,
One for my dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
Cock a doodle doo
This nursery rhyme is derived from the sound that a rooster makes.
Cock a doodle doo!
My dame has lost her shoe,
My master’s lost his fiddling stick
And knows not what to do.
Ding Dog Bell
This nursery rhyme may seem a bit shocking since the poor cat is thrown into the well but, thankfully, the most commonly sung version now has the little cat being rescued by Little Tommy Stout.
Ding dong bell
Pussy’s in the well
Who put her in?
Little Johnny thin
Who pulled her out?
Little Tommy Stout
What a naughty boy was that
To drown poor Pussycat.
Do Your Ears Hang Low?
This children’s song has a melody similar to “Turkey in the Straw”.
Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you toss them over your shoulder
Like a continental soldier
Do your ears hang low?
Yes, my ears hang low.
They can wobble to and fro.
I can tie them in a knot.
I can tie them in a bow.
I can toss them over my shoulder
Like a continental soldier
Yes, my ears hang low.
Five Little Monkeys
This is a folk song that captures the energy of little kids who love jumping on the bed.
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Four little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Three little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Two little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
One little monkey jumping on the bed,
He fell off and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“Put those monkeys to bed!”
Georgie Porgie
This nursery rhymes comes from England and appeared as far back as 1841.
Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry,
When the girls came out to play,
Georgie Porgie ran away.
Girls and Boys Come Out To Play
This is a nursery rhyme that dates back all the way to 1708!
Girls and boys, come out to play,
The moon doth shine as bright as day;
Leave your supper, and leave your sleep,
And come with your playfellows into the street.
Come with a whoop, come with a call,
Come with a good will or not at all.
Up the ladder and down the wall,
A penny roll will serve us all.
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
This is such a popular nursery rhymes and a great action song for those who want to move along.
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes.
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes.
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
This is another fun action song that kids can move along too.
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
So early in the morning.
This is the way we brush our teeth,
Brush our teeth, brush our teeth.
This is the way we brush our teeth
So early in the morning.
This is the way we wash our face,
Wash our face, wash our face.
This is the way we wash our face
So early in the morning.
This is the way we comb our hair,
Comb our hair, comb our hair.
This is the way we comb our hair
So early in the morning.
This is the way we go to school,
go to school, go to school.
This is the way we go to school
So early in the morning.
Hey Diddle Diddle
This popular nursery rhyme is sometimes also referred to as The Cat and the Fiddle or The Cow Jumped Over the Moon.
Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon;
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.
Hickory Dickory Dock
This popular English nursery rhyme was first published in London in 1744.
Hickory dickory dock.
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory dickory dock.
Hickory dickory dock.
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck two,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory dickory dock.
Hickory dickory dock.
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck three,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory dickory dock.
Hickory dickory dock.
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck four,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory dickory dock.
Hokey Pokey
The Hokey Pokey is such a classic fun song for everyone to get involved and moving about.
Put your right arm in, take your right arm out.
Put your right arm in, and you shake it all about.
Do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around, that’s what it’s all about!
Put your left arm in, take your left arm out.
Put your left arm in, and you shake it all about.
Do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around, that’s what it’s all about!
Put your right foot in, take your right foot out.
Put your right foot in, and you shake it all about.
Do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around, that’s what it’s all about!
Put your left foot in, take your left foot out.
Put your left foot in, and you shake it all about.
Do the Hokey and Pokey and you turn yourself around, that’s what it’s all about!
Put your whole self in, take your whole self out.
Put your whole self in, and you shake it all a-bout.
Do the Hokey and Pokey and you turn yourself around, that’s what it’s all about!
Hot Cross Buns
Hot cross buns.
Hot cross buns.
One a penny, two a penny.
Hot cross buns.
Hot cross buns.
Hot cross buns.
One a penny, two a penny.
Hot cross buns.
Give them to your daughters.
Give them to your sons.
One a penny, two a penny.
Hot cross buns.
Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
Hush, Little Baby
Hush little baby don’t say a word,
Mama’s going to buy you a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird don’t sing,
Mama’s going to buy you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns to brass,
Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat.
And if that billy goat gets cross,
Mama’s gonna buy you a rocking horse.
And if that rocking horse turns over,
Mama’s gonna buy you a dog named Rover.
And if that dog named Rover won’t bark,
Mama’s gonna buy you a horse and cart.
And if that horse and cart fall down,
you’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
If You’re Happy and You Know It
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (Clap-clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (Clap-clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (Clap-clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet. (Stomp stomp)
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet. (Stomp stomp)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet. (Stomp stomp)
If you’re happy and you know it, shout “Hooray!” (Hoo-ray!)
If you’re happy and you know it, shout “Hooray!” (Hoo-ray!)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, shout “Hooray!” (Hoo-ray!)
If you’re happy and you know it, do all three (clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!)
If you’re happy and you know it, do all three (clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, do all three. (clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!)
I’m a Little Teapot
I’m a little teapot
Short and stout
Here is my handle
Here is my spout
When I get all steamed up
I just shout
Tip me over and pour me out
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
It’s raining, it’s pouring,
The old man is snoring,
He bumped his head and went to bed,
And couldn’t get up in the morning.
Itsy Bitsy Spider
The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the waterspout.
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out.
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.
Jack and Jill
Jack and Jill went up the hill
to fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
and Jill came tumbling after
Jack Be Nimble
Jack be nimble.
Jack be quick.
Jack jump over the candlestick.
Jack be nimble.
Jack be spry.
Jack jump over the apple pie.
Jack be nimble.
Jack jump high.
Jack fly up into the sky.
Little Bo Peep
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep
And doesn’t know where to find them.
Leave them alone
And they’ll come home,
Wagging their tails behind them.
Little Boy Blue
Little boy blue
Come blow your horn
The sheep’s in the meadow
The cow’s in the corn
But where is the boy
Who looks after the sheep
He’s under the haystack
He’s fast asleep
Little Jack Horner
Little Jack Horner sat in a corner,
eating his Christmas pie.
He put in his thumb
and pulled out a plum,
and said, “What a good boy am I!”
Little Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet,
Eating some curds and whey.
Along came a spider
Who sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet away.
London Bridge
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.
Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair lady.
Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away,
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair lady.
Build it up with sticks and stones.
Sticks and stones, sticks and stones,
Build it up with sticks and stones.
My fair Lady.
Sticks and stones will all fall down,
All fall down, all fall down,
Sticks and stones will all fall down,
My fair Lady.
Build it up with iron and steel,
Iron and steel, iron and steel,
Build it up with iron and steel,
My fair lady.
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Bend and bow, bend and bow,
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
My fair lady.
Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold,
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair lady.
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
Stolen away, stolen away,
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
My fair lady.
Build it up with bricks of shaw,
Bricks of shaw, bricks of shaw,
Build it up with bricks of shaw,
My fair Lady.
It will stand for evermore,
Ever more, evermore,
It will stand for evermore,
My fair Lady.
Mary had a little lamb
Mary had a little lamb,
Little lamb, little lamb,
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow.
Everywhere that Mary went,
Mary went, Mary went,
Everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockleshells
And pretty maids all in a row.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With honey bees and cherry trees,
Sunflowers under rainbows.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
Where do you long to go?
To meet a friend and Fun
Your whole world is a rose.
Monday’s Child
Monday’s child is fair of face,
Tuesday’s child is full of grace,
Wednesday’s child is full of woe,
Thursday’s child has far to go,
Friday’s child is loving and giving,
Saturday’s child works hard for a living,
But the child who is born on the Sabbath day
Is fair and wise and good in every way
Old King Cole
Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he;
He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl
And he called for his fiddlers three.
Every fiddler he had a fiddle,
And a very fine fiddle had he;
Oh there’s none so rare, as can compare
With King Cole and his fiddlers three.
Old MacDonald had a Farm
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
And on that farm he had a pig. E-I-E-I-O.
With an oink oink here.
And an oink oink there.
Here an oink.
There an oink.
Everywhere an oink oink.
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
And on that farm he had a duck. E-I-E-I-O.
With a quack quack here.
And a quack quack there.
And an oink oink here.
And an oink oink there.
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
And on that farm he had a horse. E-I-E-I-O.
With a neigh neigh here.
And a neigh neigh there.
And a quack quack here.
And a quack quack there.
And an oink oink here.
And an oink oink there.
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
And on that farm he had a sheep. E-I-E-I-O.
With a baaa baaa here.
And a baaa baaa there.
And a neigh neigh here.
And a neigh neigh there.
And a quack quack here.
And a quack quack there.
And an oink oink here.
And an oink oink there.
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
And on that farm he had a cow. E-I-E-I-O.
With a moo moo here.
And a moo moo there.
And a baaa baaa here.
And a baaa baaa there.
And a neigh neigh here.
And a neigh neigh there.
And a quack quack here.
And a quack quack there.
And an oink oink here.
And an oink oink there.
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
Old Mother Hubbard
Old Mother Hubbard
Went to her cupboard
To give her poor dog a bone.
But when she got there,
The cupboard was bare.
And so the poor dog had none,
And so the poor dog had none.
One Potato
One potato
Two potatoes
Three potatoes
Four
Five potatoes
Six potatoes
Seven potatoes
More
One Two Buckle My Shoe
One, two, buckle my shoe.
Three, four, open the door.
Five, six, pick up sticks.
Seven, eight, lay them straight.
Nine, ten, do it again.
Pat-a-Cake
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll it, and pat it, and mark it with a “C”
Put it in the oven for Carlos and me!
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll it, and pat it, and mark it with a “A”
Put it in the oven for Amy and me!
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll it, and pat it, and mark it with a “K”
Put it in the oven for Kayla and me!
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll it, and pat it, and mark it with a “E”
Put it in the oven for Evan and me!
Polly, Put the Kettle On
Polly put the kettle on,
Polly put the kettle on,
Polly put the kettle on,
We’ll all have tea.
Pop Goes the Weasel
Round and round the cobbler’s bench,
The monkey chased the weasel.
The monkey thought it was all in fun.
Pop goes the weasel.
Rain, Rain Go Away
Rain, rain go away.
Come again some other day
Little Suzy want to play
So, rain, rain go away.
Ring-a-Ring o’ Roses
Ring-a-ring o’ roses,
A pocket full of posies.
A-tishoo! A-tishoo!
We all fall down!
Rock-a-bye Baby
Rock a bye baby on the tree top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock,
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream
Rub-a-dub-dub
Rub-a-dub-dub,
Three men in a tub,
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker,
And all of them out to sea.
Sing a Song of Sixpence
Sing a Song of Sixpence,
A bag full of Rye,
Four and twenty Naughty Boys,
Baked in a Pye.
Star Light, Star Bright
Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight;
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight.
Ten Green Bottles
Ten green bottles hanging on the wall,
Ten green bottles hanging on the wall,
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be nine green bottles hanging on the wall.
The Farmer in the Dell
The farmer in the dell.
The farmer in the dell.
Hi-ho, the derry-o!
The farmer in the dell.
The farmer takes a wife.
The farmer takes a wife.
Hi-ho, the derry-o!
The farmer takes a wife.
The Grand Old Duke of York
Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.
When they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only halfway up,
They were neither up nor down.
The More We Get Together
The more we get together,
Together, together,
The more we get together,
The happier we’ll be.
For your friends are my friends
And my friends are your friends.
The more we get together,
The happier we’ll be.
The Muffin Man
Do you know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man.
Do you know the muffin man,
Who lives on Drury Lane?
Yes, I know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Yes, I know the muffin man,
Who lives on Drury Lane.
The Wheels on the Bus
The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round
Round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town
This Old Man
This old man, he played one,
He played knick-knack on my thumb;
With a knick-knack paddy whack
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played two,
He played knick-knack on my shoe;
With a knick-knack paddy whack
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played three,
He played knick-knack on my knee;
With a knick-knack paddy whack
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played four,
He played knick-knack on the floor;
With a knick-knack paddy whack
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played five,
He played knick-knack
On my hive;
With a knick-knack paddy whack
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played six,
He played knick-knack on some sticks;
With a knick-knack paddy whack
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played seven,
He played knick-knack up in heaven;
With a knick-knack paddy whack
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played eight,
He played knick-knack at my gate;
With a knick-knack paddy whack
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played nine,
He played knick-knack on my spine;
With a knick-knack paddy whack
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played ten,
He played knick-knack once again;
With a knick-knack paddy whack
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
Three Blind Mice
Three blind mice. Three blind mice.
See how they run. See how they run.
They all ran after the farmer’s wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife.
Did you ever see such a sight in your life
As three blind mice?
To Market, To Market
To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jog.
To market, to market to buy a plum cake,
Home again, home again, market is late.
To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again, market is done.
To market, to market to buy a fat dog,
Home again, home again, jiggety jog.
To market, to market to buy a small chick,
Home again, home again, jiggety jig.
Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son
Tom, Tom, the piper’s son,
Stole a pig, and away did run;
The pig was eat
And Tom was beat,
And Tom went [or “which sent him”] crying [or “roaring”, or “howling”, in some versions]
Down the street.
This Little Piggy
This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed home,
This little piggy had roast beef,
This little piggy had none,
This little piggy cried “Wee! Wee! Wee!” all the way home.
Tweedledum and Tweeedledee
Tweedledum and Tweeedledee,
Agreed to have a battle,
For Twedledum said Tweedledee,
Had spoiled his nice new rattle.
Just then flew down a monstrous crow,
As black as a tar barrel,
Which frightened both the heroes so,
They quite forgot their quarrel.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Yankee Doodle
Yankee Doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony,
Stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle keep it up,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step,
And with the girls be handy.
If you found this list of nursery rhymes useful, you may also appreciate this list of counting rhymes for kids, animal nursery rhymes, or this one with a printable for the popular Peter Piper tongue twister.
