The lyrics of the song list all fifty states in alphabetical order, making it easier for children to memorize them. The catchy tune and repetitive nature of the song have made it a popular educational tool in classrooms across the United States.

“Fifty Nifty United States” Lyrics

Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies;
Fifty nifty stars in the flag that billows so beautif’ly in the breeze.
Each individual state contributes a quality that is great.
Each individual state deserves a bow, we salute them now.
Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies,
Shout ’em, scout ’em, Tell all about ’em,
One by one till we’ve given a day to ev’ry state in the U.S.A.
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut;
Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana;
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan;
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada;
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio;
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas;
Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
North, south, east, west, in our calm, objective opinion,
(Name of home state) is the best of the
Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies,
Shout ’em, scout ’em, Tell all about ’em,
One by one till we’ve given a day to ev’ry state in the good old
U_______S__________A_________.

It was originally written back in 1959 but Irving Gordon created puns in about fifteen different states. This was not Irving’s first attempt at a song inspired by America and he actually chose to write this one because of the popularity of his first attempt.

The song has received plenty of acclaim from other artists and was recorded by Perry Como in 1959, turning it into a popular hit with audiences from around the world. These days, the song’s copyright is owned by Sony which means that if you want to reproduce it then you need to seek permission from Sony before your decide to proceed.

What Did Delaware Lyrics

Oh, what did Delaware, boys? Oh, what did Delaware?
Oh, what did Delaware, boys? Oh, what did Delaware?
Oh, what did Delaware, boys? Oh, what did Delaware?
I ask you now as a personal friend, what did Delaware?

She wore her New Jersey, boys. She wore her New Jersey.
She wore her New Jersey, boys. She wore her New Jersey.
She wore her New Jersey, boys. She wore her New Jersey.
I tell you now as a personal friend, she wore her New Jersey.

Oh, what does Iowa? She weighs a Washington.
Oh, what does Idaho? She hoes her Maryland.
Oh, what does Tennessee? She sees what Arkansas.
Oh, where has Oregon? She’s gone to Oklahoma.
Oh, what did Massa-chew? She chewed her Connecti-cud.
Oh, how did Flori-die? She died in Missouri.

The version Nr.2 of the What Did Delaware

What did Delaware, boys?
What did Delaware?
What did Delaware, boys?
What did Delaware?
She wore a brand New Jersey,
She wore a brand New Jersey,
She wore a brand New Jersey,
That’s what she did wear.

Why did Cali-phone ya,
Why did Cali-phone?
Why did Cali-phone ya,
Was she all alone?
She phoned to say “Hawaii”
She phoned to say (“How-ah-yee”)
She phoned to say “Hawaii”
That’s why she did phone.

Where has Oregon, boys,
Where has Oregon?
If you want Alaska,
(I’ll-ask-a) where she’s gone.
She went to pay her Texas
She went to pay her Texas
She went to pay her Texas,
That’s where she has gone.

What did Mississip, boys,
What did Mississip?
What did Mississip, boys,
Through her pretty lips?
She sipped a Minna-soda,
She sipped a Minna-soda,
She sipped a Minna-soda,
That’s what she did sip.

How did Wiscon-sin, boys?
She stole a New-brass-key,
Too bad that Arkan-saw, boys,
And so did Tenna-see.
It made poor Flori-die, boys,
It made poor Flori-die, you see,
She died in Missouri, boys,
She died in Missouri!

As the song goes on, children are told what they should do to the leaves that fall, culminating in them jumping into the leaf pile and having lots of fun. The great thing about this rhyme is that there are no sinister messages, unlike other, traditional nursery rhymes.

This song is often sung in rounds to teach children about different parts of music. The bigger the group of children, the more rounds that can be sung and you can end up with an endless version that only stops when the last entrant to the round finishes their go.

Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down Lyrics

Autumn leaves are falling down
Falling down, falling down
Autumn leaves are falling down.
All around the town.
The wind will blow them round and round
Round and round, round and round.
The wind will blow them round and round
All around the town.
They’re drifting gently to the ground,
to the ground, to the ground.
They’re drifting gently to the ground.
All around the town.
Take a rake and rake them up,
Rake them up, rake them up.
Take a rake and rake them up
All around the town.

The song was recorded by one of the most well-known children’s singers, Raffi, in 1985 which brought Apples and Bananas to a wider audience and helped to significantly grow its popularity. It’s since been featured on Barney and Friends and The Wiggles, offering modern twists and giving children more opportunities to move and enjoy it all at the same time.

The original title of the song is believed to be “Oopples and Boo-noo-noos” and comes from North America, even though the author or composer is not known. This song continues to be a hugely popular choice and seems to be set to stay as a hit for kids.

Apples and Bananas Lyrics

I like to eat, eat, eat
Apples and bananas
I like to eat, eat, eat
Apples and bananas
Oh I like to ate, ate, ate
Aaples and bananays
I like to ate, ate, ate
Aaples and bananays
I like to eat, eat, eat
Eaples and beneneys
I like to eat, eat, eat
Eaples and beneneys
Oh, I like to ite, ite, ite
Iples and bininis
I like to ite, ite, ite
Iples and bininis
I like to ote, ote, ote
Oaples and bononos
I like to ote, ote, ote
Oaples and bononos
I like to ute, ute, ute
Uuples and bununus
I like to ute, ute, ute
Uuples and bununus

Going on a Bear Hunt lyrics illustrate the adventures and lessons learned of four children, a baby sister and their dog as they go on a bear hunt. Each action of the rhyme is accompanied by mimic and gesture-play.

Below are the lyrics and the song interpreted by Michael Rosen.

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt Lyrics

We’re goin’ on a bear hunt,
We’re going to catch a big one,
I’m not scared
What a beautiful day!
Oh look! It’s some long, wavy grass!
Can’t go over it,
Can’t go under it,
Can’t go around it,
Got to go through it!

We’re goin’ on a bear hunt,
We’re going to catch a big one,
I’m not scared
What a beautiful day!
Oh look! It’s a mushroom patch.
Can’t go over it,
Can’t go under it,
Can’t go around it,
Got to go through it!

We’re goin’ on a bear hunt,
We’re going to catch a big one,
I’m not scared
What a beautiful day!
Oh look! It’s a wide river.
Can’t go over it,
Can’t go under it,
Can’t go through it,
Got to swim across it.

We’re goin’ on a bear hunt,
We’re going to catch a big one,
I’m not scared
What a beautiful day!
Oh look! A deep, dark cave.
Can’t go over it,
Can’t go under it,
Can’t go through it,
Got to go in it.

Uh, oh! It’s dark in here.
I feel something,
It has lots of hair!
It has sharp teeth!
It’s a bear!

Hurry back through the river,
Back through the mushroom patch,
Back through the long grass
Run in the house and lock the door.
Phew! That was close!

I’m not afraid!

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Song

by Michael Rosen

The tune of the song is very similar to “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”. Johny Johny Yes Papa is a favourite of parents as it can be extended on spot with more verses by changing the lyrics from “eating sugar” to other variations such as “eating candies”.

“Johny Johny, Yes Papa” Lyrics

Johny, Johny,
Yes papa?
Eating sugar?
No papa.
Telling lies?
No papa.
Open your mouth
Ha ha ha!

Here are the lyrics of a contemporary and popular nursery rhyme, Clean Up Song.

Clean Up, Clean Up Lyrics

Clean up, clean up
Everybody, every where,
Clean up, clean up,
Everybody do your share!

Set in the tune of the popular “Finger Family” rhyme, this clean up song is an alternate version, teaching the importance of helping around the house. You’ll find the video below.

Clean Up Song Lyrics

Baby Eva, Brother Jack. Let’s Clean Up.
Here you go, Here you go, Put these away in there.

Let’s Clean Up, Let’s Clean Up, All of our toys
Here you go Here you go, Put these away in there.

Sister Peach, Brother Jack, Let’s Clean Up
Cleaning up together is so much fun.

Let’s put all the blocks away, where they belong.
Clean them up, put them away, For another day.

Sister Peach, Baby Eva, Let’s Clean Up
Cleaning up together is so much fun.

Baby Eva look at this, I found your favourite toy.
It’s your colourful teddy bear, The one that you call Roy.

Brother Jack I found a car, where does this go?
Don’t you worry Sister Peach, I’ll take it ‘cos I know!

It goes in the yellow box,
The one under the stairs.
It’s got Vans, Cars and bikes
I’ll go and put it there.

Brother Jack, Sister Peach.
La la la la la
Cleaning up together is so much fun.

When we finish cleaning up,
Shall we grab some food?
I would like some biscuits
and an orange squash too.

Clean Up song Video

The tune of the song is the same with the more popular “Wheels on the Bus”, so both kids and parents will be familiar with it.

“The sharing song” Lyrics

Baby Eva loves to play,
loves to play, loves to play
Baby Eva loves to play,
All day long.

Baby Eva loves to share,
all her toys, all her toys,
Baby Eva loves to share,
All her toys with Peach.

Playing together is so much fun,
So much fun, so much fun,
Playing together is so much fun
So much fun.

Sharing my toys is so much fun,
So much fun, So much fun
Sharing my toys is so much fun,
All day long.

I love it when Peach plays games with me,
games with me, games with me
I love it when Peach plays games with me,
All day long.
Sharing toys is so much fun,

So much fun, So much fun,
Sharing toys is so much fun
All day long.
La la la la la

Sharing Sharing all day long,
all day long, all day long!
Sharing Sharing all day long,
Sharing all day long.

Sharing my toys is so much fun,
So much fun, So much fun
Sharing my toys is so much fun,
All day long.

“The sharing song” Video

“The Fruits Song” Lyrics

I love oranges.
They’re orange and round I really love them.
They’re Juicy and sweet and so tasty!
Oranges are great for me!

Bananas, Bananas, Bananas!
They’re scrumptious and my favourite.
They’re curved and yellow with a very thick skin.
Bananas are great for me!

There are so many different kinds of fruit.
Can you name a few?
Bananas, Kiwis, Strawberries, Peaches, Apples.
So many different colours, shapes and sizes.
Cherries, Grapes, Melons, Pears, Pineapples and more!

Strawberries are really yummy.
They make me want to rub my tummy.
They’re red and juicy and so tasty!
Strawberries are great for me!

Grapes Grapes Grapes are in bunches!
They come in different colours, Black, Red or Green!
They’re very small and tasteful, An easy snack!
Grapes are great for me!

There are so many different kinds of fruit.
Can you name a few?
Bananas, Kiwis, Strawberries, Peaches, Apples.
So many different colours, shapes and sizes.
Cherries, Grapes, Melons, Pears, Pineapples and more!

I love watermelon. It’s the juciest fruit of all.
it’s green on the outside and red on the inside.
Watermelons great for me!

I love Pineapple pieces.
They’re delicious and sweet I really love them.
They’re yellow and unique and so tasty!
Pineapple is great for me!

There are so many different kinds of fruit.
Can you name a few?
Bananas, Kiwis, Strawberries, Peaches, Apples.
So many different colours, shapes and sizes.
Cherries, Grapes, Melons, Pears, Pineapples and more!

“The Fruits Song” Video

We are not sure of its exact origins but most probably it dates back to the 19th century. It was first mentioned by John D. Rockefeller at the beginning of the 20th century.

The owl in this nursery rhyme is believed to be a symbol of wisdom. It is a very simple rhyme to learn for children and it can a successful tool to teach children the virtue of silence.

“A Wise Old Owl” Lyrics

A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?

Besides the fact that “Wind the Bobbin Up” is an entertaining song and game it is also an educational tool to develop the vocabulary of younger children.

The object of the game is to identify some items and mimick some actions, that are told in each verse of the rhyme. For younger children you can play the game together with them, by holding their hands and mimic the actions together.

“Wind the Bobbin Up” Lyrics

Wind the bobbin up,
Wind the bobbin up,
Pull, pull, clap, clap, clap.
Wind it back again,
Wind it back again,
Pull, pull, clap, clap, clap,
Point to the ceiling,
Point to the floor,
Point to the window,
Point to the door,
Clap your hands together, 1, 2, 3,
Do a roly-poly, put your hands upon your knee.

The image of “a crooked man” who lives in “a little crooked house” is an expressive illustration of some social situations. It can be synonym with being different in anyway. It is about finding a identity. There is a place for anybody in this world.

But a crooked man can also be seen as a dishonest man who gets what he deserve – a crooked existence.

The origins of this song are unknown. Dating back to 19th century the song was first published in James Orchard Halliwell’s nursery rhymes collection in 1840.

According to the most common interpretations regarding the origin of this rhyme, the character “crooked man” could be Scottish General Sir Alexander Leslie. It is set in the early 17th century during the reign of Charles I of England when despite the animosities on the border between the English and the Scottish a peaceful coexistence was needed.

“There Was a Crooked Man” Lyrics

There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile.
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

Solomon Grundy poem was first recorded in 1842 by nursery rhyme and fairy-tale collector James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps. The song was translated in different languages including French, German or Italian. Being very easy to memorize, Solomon Grundy is used as a tool to teach kids the days of the week.

Solomon Grundy Poem Meaning

The song is telling the story of Solomon Grundy, a man who, metaphorically, lives and dies his entire life in one single week. Born on Monday, each day of the week he is growing older facing a different stage of his life, and his life ends on Saturday.

Solomon Grundy born on a Monday, became a character of urban legends and comics. To scare children who are not wise, it is said that Solomon Grundy will return on Monday, in a similar way to a bogeyman.

There are many suggestions that Solomon Grundy phonetically derived from the food with the same name which is a pickled fish pâté, with salad and eggs.

The word for the English dish comes from the Salmagundi, an ingredient used in Solomon Grundy, originally a Jamaican mix of meat and salad, adapted into French Cuisine around the 17th century and then English cuisine around the 18th century.

Solomon Grundy Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

Solomon Grundy,
Born on a Monday,
Christened on Tuesday,
Married on Wednesday,
Took ill on Thursday,
Grew worse on Friday,
Died on Saturday,
Buried on Sunday.
That was the end,
Of Solomon Grundy.

It is an educational song and also an interactive singing game for kids. It can be played at home by parents and children or in kindergartens. While singing the lyrics, the kids must be sitting down face to face holding their hands, leaning to the front and to the back imitating the dance of a boat.

It also can be a good game to play in the pool to make the kids more confident in water. You can have your baby sitting on a mat in front of you while you are cradling him singing “Row, Row, Row your boat”. You can also hold their hands to give them more confidence.

The lyrics of this song can be used by teachers and parents to explain the children the importance of a positive attitude in life. Row, Row, Row Your Boat’s meaning is to not quit, keep going with your life no matter how many difficulties or duties you are meeting.

The origin of the song is uncertain. Similar lyrics were first published in 1852 and the version of the song as known today have been republished later in The Franklin Square Song Collection without any reference about the author.

“Row, Row, Row Your Boat” Lyrics

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

This behavior is upsetting the Good Fairy who blames him for his actions and gives him three chances to change. As a punishment the little rabbit will be transformed into a goon. “Little Bunney Foo Foo” is a moral theme song, and it is sung accompanied by hand gestures.

The song has many known version, sometimes it is called “Little Rabbit Floo Floo” or some version spell it Flu Flu instead of Floo Floo.

Even the end of the story varies from one version to another, the most popular one ends with the rabbit punished, becoming a goon!

The song ends with the moral say: “HARE TODAY, GOON TOMORROW”

The story of Little Bunny Foo Foo is a very popular tale and is the subject of some illustrated books for kids. It also appears in the “Lenore, The Cute Little Dead Girl” a series of black comedy written by Roman Dirge.

A version of “Little Bunny Floo Floo” was sung in South Park, season 4 by Butters Stotch as” Something You Can Do with Your Finger”

“Little Bunny Foo Foo” Lyrics

Little Bunny Foo Foo
Hopping through the forest,
Scooping up the field mice
And bopping them on the head.
And down, down, down came the Good Fairy, and said:
“Little Bunny Foo Foo
I don’t want to see you
Scooping up the field mice
And bopping them on the head.
I’m going to give you three chances,
And if you don’t behave,
And then, I’m going to turn you into a…GOOOOOON!”
Little Bunny Foo Foo
Hopping through the forest,
Scooping up the field mice
And bopping them on the head.
And down, down, down came the Good Fairy, and said:
“Little Bunny Foo Foo
I don’t want to see you
Scooping up the field mice
And bopping them on the head.
I’m going to give you two more chances,
And if you don’t behave,
And then, I am going to turn you into a…GOOOOOON!”
Little Bunny Foo Foo
Hopping through the forest,
Scooping up the field mice
And bopping them on the head.
And down, down, down came the Good Fairy, and said:
“Little Bunny Foo Foo
I don’t like your attitude
Scooping up the field mice
And bopping them on the head.
I’m going to give you one more chance,
And if you don’t behave,
And then, I am definitely going to turn you into a…GOOOOOON!
And it won’t be pretty!”
Little Bunny Foo Foo
Hopping through the forest,
Scooping up the field mice
And bopping them on the head.
“That’s it.”
Then the Good Fairy came down,
And then she turned Little Bunny Foo Foo into a…GOOOOOON!
And the moral of the story is:
“HARE TODAY, GOON TOMORROW”.

The first line was discovered in an old manuscript from 1805, and published around 1810, with additional lyrics in Gammer Gurton’s Garland or “The Nursery Parnassus” a collection of lyrics for amusement.

However, there are references about the existence of a game for kids, named Bo-Peep, also found in Shakespeare’s King Lear.

Little Bo Peep is a nursery rhyme with a moral purpose, about a little sheep-keeper who lost one of her sheep because she fell asleep.

“Little Bo Peep” Lyrics

Little Bo peep has lost her sheep
And doesn’t know where to find them.
Leave them alone and they’ll come home,
Bringing their tails behind them.
Little Bo peep fell fast asleep
And dreamt she heard them bleating,
But when she awoke, she found it a joke,
For they were all still fleeting.
Then up she took her little crook
Determined for to find them.
She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed,
For they left their tails behind them.
It happened one day, as Bo peep did stray
Into a meadow hard by,
There she espied their tails side by side
All hung on a tree to dry.
She heaved a sigh, and wiped her eye,
And over the hillocks went rambling,
And tried what she could,
As a shepherdess should.

The meaning of the proverb is that it is not enough to wish upon something, you have to take action if you want it to happen.

A similar proverb was first recorded in the “Remaines of a Greater Worke, Concerning Britaine” published by William Camden (1551–1623) “If wishes were thrushes beggers would eat”. The first version of the proverb, closed to the modern version, was published in the Scottish Proverbs, Collected and Arranged by James Kelly, in 1721.

The rhyme as it is known today was published in James Orchard Halliwell’s English Nursery Rhymes collection around 1840s. It had a different last line, meant to encourage the children working more and questioning less:” If if’s and and’s were pots and pans, there’d surely be dishes to do”

“If wishes were horses” Lyrics

If wishes were horses
Beggars would ride:
If turnips were watches
I would wear one by my side.
And if if’s and an’s were pots and pans,
The tinker would never work!

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush Origin and Game

Its exact origins are quite unclear. James Orchard Halliwell, who first published the song in the 1840s also refers to a similar singing game “Here we go round the bramble bush” that might be an old version of it.

“Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” is a very popular game with equivalent versions in Dutch and Scandinavian languages.

The game is very easy to play. At first everybody is holding the hands singing the first verse and moving around in a circle. When singing the next verse they have to stop and imitate the right actions, according to the lyrics.

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush Lyrics

Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we wash our face,
Wash our face,
Wash our face.
This is the way we wash our face
On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we comb our hair,
Comb our hair,
Comb our hair.
This is the way we comb our hair
On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we brush our teeth,
Brush our teeth,
Brush our teeth.
This is the way we brush our teeth
On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we put on our clothes,
Put on our clothes,
Put on our clothes.
This is the way we put on our clothes
On a cold and frosty morning.

Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
On a cold and frosty morning.

The last verse is often sung as:

This is the way we get dressed up, get dressed up, get dressed up,
This is the way we get dressed up, so early Sunday morning.

The structure of the rhyme allows for endless variation within the same framework, and as such lets children add their own everyday activities. It is also a good exercise for the little ones to remember the day of the week.

Its origin dates back to the 16th century England. The Ding Dong Bell rhyme was first recorded in 1580 by the organist of Winchester Cathedral, John Lant.

The expression Ding Dong Bell was used by Shakespeare in several of his plays. However most of those works were published only in 1623 in the First Folio (years after his death) and the exact use or meaning of this rhyme is uncertain.

The song was later converted for children, as they tend to take the words explicitly and there was concern they may be tempted to put the cats in the wells, or they could be affected by the violence of the word “killed”.

“Ding Dong Bell” Lyrics

Recommended version for kids:

Ding dong bell,
Pussy’s at the well.
Who took her there?
Little Johnny Hare.
Who’ll bring her in?
Little Tommy Thin.
What a jolly boy was that
To get some milk for pussy cat,
Who ne’er did any harm,
But played with the mice in his father’s barn

“Ding Dong Bell” Modern Version

Ding, dong, bell,
Pussy’s in the well.
Who put her in?
Little Johnny Green.
Who pulled her out?
Little Tommy Stout.
What a naughty boy was that,
To try to drown poor pussy cat,
Who ne’er did him any harm,
But killed all the mice in the farmer’s barn

“Ding Dong Bell” Original Version

First recorded version:
Jacke boy, ho boy newes,
the cat is in the well,
let us ring now for her Knell,
ding dong ding dong Bell

Although in the past the “Baa-Baa Black Sheep” rhyme was related to the Middle’s Ages wool industry and festivity, today its purpose is more an educational one, the children being able not only to learn about life in the countryside but also to imitate the sound made by sheep.

“Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” Lyrics

Modern version

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.
One for the master,
One for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane

Original Version

The original version of “Baa, Baa, Black sheep”, dating back to 1744 was first published in Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book

Bah, Bah a black Sheep,
Have you any Wool?
Yes merry have I,
Three Bags full,
One for my master,
One for my Dame,
One for the little Boy
That lives down the lane.