Games and Singing games – Nursery Rhymes

Stella Ella Ola

All Nursery Rhymes — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 06:52:39 +0000

Stella Ella Ola, often known as Quack Dilly Oso, is a children’s game involving chanting a simple rhyme while performing hand motions in a circle with friends. Stella Ella Ola is one of the most popular clapping games in the United States, along with Miss Mary Mack.

Stella Ella Ola Game:

Here’s how the game and rhyme go:

Players stand in a circle and hold hands. One person is chosen to be the leader and starts the chant by saying the lyrics:

Stella Ella Ola,
Clap, clap, clap.
The group responds:
Stella Ella Ola,
Clap, clap, clap.
The leader continues:
Oopsy, oopsy, bow wow wow,
Oopsy, oopsy, bow wow wow.
The group responds:
Oopsy, oopsy, bow wow wow,
Oopsy, oopsy, bow wow wow.

The leader then chooses a person in the circle to say the following line and perform the accompanying hand motion. The chosen person says:

My mother told me,
If I was goody,
That she would buy me,
A rubber dolly.

The chosen person then chooses the next person in the circle to say the following line, perform the next hand motion, and so on. Each person adds a new line and hand motion, building on the previous ones. The hand motions usually involve clapping, slapping one’s thighs, and pointing to different parts of the circle.

The game continues until everyone has had a turn and the rhyme has been completed. The game is often played for fun and entertainment and is a popular activity for children at parties or gatherings.

Stella Ella Ola Lyrics

Stella Ella Ola,
Clap, clap, clap
Singing es, chico, chico
Chico, chico, clap, clap
Es chico, chico
Baloney, baloney
Cheese and macaroni
Fire 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!

Stella Ella Ola Alternative Lyrics

Quack dilly oso,
Quack quack quack
Señorita,
rita rita rita,
flora, flora,
flora flora flora,
1, 2, 3, 4!

Ip Dip

All Nursery Rhymes — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 06:40:44 +0000

Ip Dip is often used to determine who will be “it” in a game of tag or other playground games. It is a simple and fun way for children to make decisions and assign roles in a group.

The exact origin of the rhyme “Ip Dip” is not well documented, but it appears to have originated in the United Kingdom and is believed to have been first played by children in the 19th century.

Over time, variations of the game have emerged, with different phrases and rules, but the basic concept of pointing at a group of people and counting to choose the next person to be “it” remains the same.

Ip Dip Lyrics

Ip dip, sky blue.
Who’s it? Not you.
Not because you’re dirty,
Not because you’re clean,
My mother says you’re the fairy queen.

Alternative Versions

Ip dip dip, my blue ship,
Sailing on the water,
Like a cup and saucer,
O – U – T spells out.

Ip dip do,
The cats got flu,
The dogs got chickenpox
So out goes YOU.

Hickety Pickety Bumblebee

All Nursery Rhymes — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 21:27:41 +0000

Hickety Pickety Bumblebee is a folk song that is designed to help people learn the names of others when in a group setting. It is popular in schools, Guides, Scouts, and other child-focused activities. The song is short in length and clarifies a name each time – the name of the person who is in the middle and then the group responds by repeating the name of the person to help make it more memorable.

Once one person has had a go, they swap for someone else and continue to go around the room until everyone has been able to take part and until every name has been successfully shared.

There are a number of alternative singing games like this that work on improving a child’s working memory whilst keeping them properly entertained and excited. You may also hear this song being referred to as Hickety Tickety Bumblebee which uses all the same lyrics but just swaps the word Pickety for Tickety.

Hickety Pickety Bumblebee Lyrics

Hickety pickety bumblebee,
Can you sing your name for me?
(One child) My name is “…”
(All together) Your name is “…”

Jenny Jenkins

All Nursery Rhymes — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 21:22:19 +0000

Another popular song in America, Jenny Jenkins has been used as a way for boys to ask girls that they like to dance with them. Boys were expected to choose a color and the girl they were talking to had to come up with a word that rhymes with that specific color. Should the girl be unable to choose a color that rhymed, she would then be expected to dance with the boy as a forfeit.

The origins of Jenny Jenkins are not well known but many experts claim that it would have been used as a song that was passed on from person to person by word of mouth, making it impossible to credit the original lyric writer.

The song was first found in the Green Mountain Songster in 1823 and continues to be a popular choice for a playground rhyme in the USA, helping young people break the ice and get to know new people easier.

Jenny Jenkins Lyrics

Will you wear white, oh my dear, oh my dear,
Will you wear white, Jenny Jenkins?
No I won’t wear white, the color’s too bright.
I’ll buy me a fol-de-roldy, tilly-toldy, seek-a-double,
Use-a-cause-a roll to find me.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Will you wear green, oh my dear, oh my dear,
Will you wear green, Jenny Jenkins?
No I won’t wear green, it’s a shame to be seen.
I’ll buy me a fol-de-roldy, tilly-toldy, seek-a-double,
Use-a-cause-a roll to find me.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Will you wear blue, oh my dear, oh my dear,
Will you wear blue, Jenny Jenkins?
No I won’t wear blue, the color’s too true.
I’ll buy me a fol-de-roldy, tilly-toldy, seek-a-double,
Use-a-cause-a roll to find me.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Will you wear yellow, oh my dear, oh my dear,
Will you wear yellow, Jenny Jenkins?
No I won’t wear yellow, I’ll never get a fellow.
I’ll buy me a fol-de-roldy, tilly-toldy, seek-a-double,
Use-a-cause-a roll to find me.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Will you wear brown, oh my dear, oh my dear,
Will you wear brown, Jenny Jenkins?
No I won’t wear brown, cause I’d never get around.
I’ll buy me a fol-de-roldy, tilly-toldy, seek-a-double,
Use-a-cause-a roll to find me.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Will you wear beige, oh my dear, oh my dear,
Will you wear beige, Jenny Jenkins?
No I won’t wear beige, cause it shows my age.
I’ll buy me a fol-de-roldy, tilly-toldy, seek-a-double,
Use-a-cause-a roll to find me.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Will you wear orange, oh my dear, oh my dear,
Will you wear orange, Jenny Jenkins?
No orange I won’t wear, it rhymes so there.
I’ll buy me a foldy roldy tildy toldy, seek a double,
Use a causa roll to find me.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Will you wear black, oh my dear, oh my dear,
Will you wear black, Jenny Jenkins?
No I won’t wear black, it’s the color of my back.
I’ll buy me a foldy roldy tildy toldy, seek a double,
Use a causa roll to find me.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Will you wear red, oh my dear, oh my dear,
Will you wear red, Jenny Jenkins?
I won’t wear red, it’s the color of my head.
I’ll buy me a fol-de-roldy, tilly-toldy, seek-a-double,
Use-a-cause-a roll to find me.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Will you wear pink, oh my dear, oh my dear,
Will you wear pink, Jenny Jenkins?
Well, what do you think? I won’t wear pink.
I’ll buy me a foldy roldy, tildy toldy, seek a double,
Usa causa roll to find me.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Then what will you wear, oh my dear, oh my dear,
What will you wear, Jenny Jenkins?
Oh, what do you care, if I just go bare.
I’ll buy me a fol-de-roldy, tilly-toldy, seek-a-double,
Use-a-cause-a roll to find me.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.
Roll, Jenny Jenkins, roll.

Oats Peas Beans and Barley Grow

All Nursery Rhymes — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 21:03:55 +0000

Oats Peas Beans and Barley Grow is a popular rhyme with school-aged children who are taught to recite it along with a number of actions. One child is chosen as the farmer who listens to the rhyme and then acts out the lyrics for the other children to enjoy. When each verse ends, the farmer points to a different child and they switch places, producing a new farmer each time.

The rhyme was created as a folk song and was made popular in both Britain and America. The music that is used for the song was shared in the 1790 Fifier’s Companion book with no attached lyrics and was then later published again in 1894. The song was designed as a play song and has been a source of entertainment for children since its inception.

It is now believed that the first version of the song with words was shared in 1898 and it has continued to enjoy popular usage ever since.

Oats Peas Beans and Barley Grow Lyrics

(Chorus)
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,
Can you or I or anyone know
How oats, peas, beans, and barley grow?

First the farmer sows his seed,
Stands erect and takes his ease,
He stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns around to view his lands.

(Chorus)

Next the farmer waters the seed,
Stands erect and takes his ease,
He stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns around to view his lands.

(Chorus)

Next the farmer hoes the weeds,
Stands erect and takes his ease,
He stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns around to view his lands.

(Chorus)

Last the farmer harvests his seed,
Stands erect and takes his ease,
He stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns around to view his lands.

(Chorus)

The Lady with the Alligator Purse

All Nursery Rhymes — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 20:32:22 +0000

The Lady with the Alligator Purse has been a popular song in America for many years, with most children being able to recite the lines of the song with ease. The song tells us the tale of Miss Lucy who has a child that wants to eat everything and who the doctor can’t cure. Enter the lady with the alligator purse who offers some sage advice about feeding the child a pizza and the problem is solved!

This rhyme is most often used as part of a clapping game in the classroom that helps children to start understanding the basics of rhyme but it has also been used in skipping rope games too. There is also a ruder version of the song that is popular with children when they are not being supervised by adults.

The tune of the rhyme is the same as the Merry Go Round Broke Down which was used for the Looney Tunes theme tune!

The Lady with the Alligator Purse Lyrics

Miss Lucy had a baby, his name was Tiny Tim
She put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim
He drank up all the water, he ate up all the soap
He tried to eat the bathtub but it wouldn’t go down his throat
Miss Lucy called the doctor, Miss Lucy called the nurse
Miss Lucy called the lady with the alligator purse
In came the doctor, in came the nurse.
In came the lady with the alligator purse
“Chicken pox,” said the doctor, “Measles,” said the nurse
“Nonsense,” said the lady with the alligator purse
“Penicillin,” said the doctor, “Castor oil,” said the nurse
“Pizza,” said the lady with alligator purse

Lazy Mary

All Nursery Rhymes — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 20:26:40 +0000

Lazy Mary is a nursery rhyme that’s sung to the same tune as “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush”. It tells the story of Lazy Mary who’s not keen to get out of bed and her mother who’s trying to tempt her out with a bowl of bread and milk. Lazy Mary isn’t interested in getting up until her mother mentions a handsome gentleman!

This rhyme is sometimes associated with a game that involves one child lying in the middle of the circle and another child playing “Mother” who tries to rouse them as everyone sings the song. Once the child is finally roused, the song then starts again with a different child taking on the role of Lazy Mary and another playing her mother.

A similar rhyme called She Won’t Get Up from Alabama in the early 1900s may have provided inspiration for the lyrics that we know today.

Lazy Mary Lyrics

Lazy Mary will you get up,
Will you get up, will you get up.
Lazy Mary will you get up,
Will you get up today.

No, no mother I wont get up,
I wont get up, I wont get up.
No, no mother I wont get up,
I wont get up today.

Oh, dear Mary, you must get up,
You must get up, you must get up.
Oh, dear Mary, you must get up,
You must get up today.

Yes dear mother, I will get up,
I will get up, I will get up.
Yes dear mother I will get up,
I will get up today.

Concentration 64

All Nursery Rhymes — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 09:47:26 +0000

Concentration 64 is a fast-paced clapping game that is often played by children in the playground. However, the structure means that it can also be adapted for use as a learning activity or to spark discussion. As well as being known as Concentration 64, it can also be sung as Concentration 54.

The rhyme is simple and sets out the rules of the game which is for each player to be able to name items in the chosen category with no repetition or hesitation. If the players are too slow in naming an item in the category that hasn’t been saying before, they lose! Once someone has lost, you simply choose a new person to recite the rhyme and choose a brand-new category.

The origins of the rhyme aren’t known but it has been played in schools for many years as well as being enjoyed in community groups and extra-curricular groups across the world.

Concentration 64 Lyrics

Concentration (3x clap)
Sixty-four (3x clap)
No repeats (3x clap)
Or hesitations (3x clap)
I’ll go first (3x clap)
You’ll go last (3x clap)
Category is: (3x clap)

After these introductory lyrics kids choose a category such as Animals, Names, Countries etc.
After the category is named all kids will start naming things in the given category.

If All The Raindrops

All Nursery Rhymes — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 07:50:22 +0000

If A

If All The Raindrops is a song that first appeared in the eighth season, twelfth episode of Barney Goes To School, on the 15^th August 1990. Initially the song was shorter, but the producers of the show later added a third stanza which is a reprise of the first paragraph. If All The Raindrops has a whimsical feel keeping in mind that sweets and lemon drops couldn’t possibly fall from the sky. However, pretend play is integral to a child’s psyche and development. This rhyme taps into the parts of the brain responsible for imagination making the child dream of a world where it rains tasty treats!

Few modern kids songs are this new, it is very rare that a song this recent is passed down orally by kids and parents, thus If All The Raindrops is part of a select few songs that include The Rubber Duckie Song from Sesame Street among others.

As the children sing this lovely song, they will often take actions in sync with the words. For instance, they can sprinkle their fingers to symbolize the rain and falling snowflakes.

They will hold their arms up and out to accompany the line “Oh what a world it could be!”. It depicts bewilderment and astonishment at having gumdrops and candy bars falling out of the sky. The children also lift their hands and make big circles to symbolize the sunbeams warming the ground.

If All The Raindrops

If all the raindrops
Were lemon drops and gumdrops
So what a rain that would be

Standing outside with my mouth open wide
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

If all the raindrops
Were lemon drops and gumdrops
Oh, what a rain that would be

I can get working
Oh, look at that
He, hope he gets everybody
Oh, come on

If all the snowflakes
Were candy bars and milkshakes
Oh, what a snow that would be

Standing outside with my mouth open wide
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

If all the snowflakes
Were candy bars and milkshakes
Oh, what a snow that would be

Yum, this is more milky
Yeah

If all the raindrops
Were lemon drops and gumdrops
Oh, what a rain that would be
Everybody

Standing outside with my mouth open wide
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

If all the raindrops
Were lemon drops and gumdrops
Oh, what a rain that would be

I’d be outside all day, me too

Who Stole The Cookie From The Cookie Jar

All Nursery Rhymes — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 21:30:53 +0000

Who Stole The Cookie From The Cookie Jar also known as Who Took The Cookie From The Cookie Jar is a traditional American nursery rhyme that is great for both singing aloud as a group and playing a game.

There are some suggestions that it started out as an English song, using the word “biscuit” but was changed to cookie when it crossed the Atlantic to American school children. However, those rumors haven’t been proven either way.

The song lyrics are simple and repetitive but are perfect for playing a round-robin game. One person is nominated to be “it” during the first rendition of the song and when accused will say “Who, me?” The song continues with the next person playing the same role, and so on, until everyone has had a go at being accused.

Spoiler alert: you never do find out who took the cookies!

Who Took The Cookie From The Cookie Jar Lyrics

Who took the cookie from the cookie jar?
Number one took the cookie from the cookie jar!
Who me?
Yes, you!
Couldn’t be!
Then who took the cookie from the cookie jar?

Number two took the cookie from the cookie jar!
Who me?
Yes, you!
Couldn’t be!
Then who took the cookie from the cookie jar?

Number three took the cookie from the cookie jar!
Who me?
Yes, you!
Couldn’t be!
Then who took the cookie from the cookie jar?

Number four took the cookie from the cookie jar!
Who me?
Yes, you!
Couldn’t be!
Then who took the cookie from the cookie jar?

Number five took the cookie from the cookie jar!
And I ate it all up!
Ha, ha!

Lemonade, Crunchy Ice

All Nursery Rhymes — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 21:16:51 +0000

Lemonade Crunchy Ice isn’t as old as many of the other popular nursery rhymes and clapping songs, as it’s been around since the 1980s only.

How To Play Lemonade, Crunchy Ice Game

A fairly simple rhyme, it can be either used as a hand game with others or sung out loud. At the end of the song, the participants have to turn around, touch the ground, and then freeze in a pose. The first person to move loses.

The clapping game can either be done as a pair, or more children can do it together, sitting in a circle and clapping with their partner on either side. This is a lot more challenging as it’s quite tricky to clap with a different person to both the left and the right!

Slight wording variations can be found in different cities, but the chant remains the same overall. Today, this fun hand-clapping game is popular in America but across Asia too.

Lemonade, Crunchy Ice Lyrics

See below the lyrics of the Lemonade, Crunchy Ice hand game

Lemonade (Up Down Clap)
(Triple Clap)
Crunchy ice (Up Down Clap)
(Triple Clap)
Sip it once (Up Down Clap)
(Triple Clap)
Sip it twice (Up Down Clap)
(Triple Clap)
Lemonade (Up Down Clap)
Crunchy Ice (Up Down Clap)
Made it once (Up Down Clap)
Made it twice (Up Down Clap)
Turn around (Turn around)
Touch the ground (Touch the ground)
Push your brother out of town!
And stomp! (Jump)

Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum In a Dish

All Nursery Rhymes — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 11:37:11 +0000

This simple counting-out rhyme originally from the United States is now popular all over the English speaking world. It is a fun game to play in kindergarten or preschool alike but older kids may enjoy it as well.

How to Play Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum in a Dish

All the kids in the group will put two fists out while one designated player will move inside the circle tapping the fists of the other kids in the group while singing the song. When the song reaches the verse “How many pieces do you wish”, the player whose hand was tapped will say a number, generally not bigger than 10 (larger groups of kids may say a number greater than 10).

After this the countdown begins. The kid in the middle of the circle will count clockwise the fists in the circle to the number indicated by the previous player and that fist will be “out”. When both fists of a player are “out” the player is out completely. The game continues until one fist is left.

Alternatively if the number is lower, you won’t count fists but players.

“Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum In a Dish” Lyrics

Bubble gum, bubble gum, in a dish,
How many pieces do you wish?
Five.
One, two, three, four, five.
And you must go out.

Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky

All Nursery Rhymes — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 12:32:45 +0000

Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky is a simple and fun song that is generally sung as part of a circle game.

As with most rhymes the origins of Hanky Panky are unclear but it most likely originated in the United States somewhere around the 19th century. In 1895, a similar rhyme was published in Virginia:

He came to the banks
Of the Pasquotank,
Where the bull-frogs jump
From bank to bank….

Currently there are more versions of the rhyme in circulation and more playground games are performed while singing it, most notably a circle game and a counting game.

How to Play Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky

The right hand of each player sits under the palm of the person on the right while the left hand of each player rests on top of the hand of the player to the left. When the song starts a designated player will tap with their left hand the hand of the person sitting on the left and that person will tap as well another person’s hand at the next beat and the clap is passed along the circle until the song ends when someone’s hand is being clapped when saying “Kerplop”. Then, the person whose hand was touched during that beat is out and the song starts again until only one player remains.

Down by the Banks Counting Game

To play a counting game, replace the first two words of the second line (Where the) with a random number (for example 10) and count backwards. An example:

Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky,
10 bullfrogs jump from bank to banky,
With a hip, hop, hippity, hop,
Leap off a lily pad and go KERPLOP!
Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky,
9 bullfrogs jump from bank to banky,
With a hip, hop, hippity, hop,
Leap off a lily pad and go KERPLOP!

And so on. You can either choose to stop counting at “One” or when no bullfrogs jump anymore.

“Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky” Lyrics

Down by the banks of the Hanky Panky,
Where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky,
With a hip, hop, hippity, hop,
Leap off a lily pad and go KERPLOP!

Down Down Baby

All Nursery Rhymes — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 21:51:53 +0000

Down Down Baby is a children’s song and a clapping game. It is a very simple game that can be played by either two or more players.

The origins of Down Down Baby are unclear but in the 1960s Little Anthony and the Imperials recorded Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop. Since then the song has been adapted by many artists such as Nelly, Simian Mobile Disco or Usher.

As with all clapping games, there are many variations both in the lyrics of the rhyme and in the way it is played. Below you can find the most common versions. Watch de video instruction below the lyrics.

“Down Down Baby” Lyrics

Down, down, baby
Down by the roller coaster
Sweet, sweet, baby
I’ll never let you go
Shimmy, Shimmy Ko Ko Bop
Shimmy Shimmy Pow
Shimmy, Shimmy Ko Ko Bop
Shimmy Shimmy Pow

“Down Down Baby” Alternate lyrics

Down down baby, down by the roller coaster
Sweet, sweet baby, I’ll never let you go,
Shimmy, shimmy cocoa pops,
Shimmy shimmy pow!
Shimmy, shimmy cocoa pops,
Shimmy shimmy pow!

Grandma grandma, sick in bed,
Called the doctor and the doctor said;
Let’s get the rhythm of the head – ding dong!
Let’s get the rhythm of the head – ding dong!
Let’s get the rhythm of the hands – clap, clap!
Let’s get the rhythm of the hands – clap, clap!
Let’s get the rhythm of the feet – stomp, stomp!
Let’s get the rhythm of the feet – stomp, stomp!
Let’s get the rhythm of the – hot dog
Let’s get the rhythm of the – hot dog!

Put it all together and what do you get?
Ding dong, clap clap, stomp stomp, hot dog!
Put it all backward and what do you get?
Hot dog, stomp stomp, clap clap, ding dong!

Down Down Baby Video

Clapping Game Instruction

Alle meine Entchen

All Nursery Rhymes — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 12:13:11 +0000

“Alle meine Entchen” (“All My ducklings” in English) is a song of German origin that has been translated into many languages and it is loved by children around the world. It is also a popular circle game among the little ones.

“Alle meine Entchen” (All My ducklings) Circle Game

The kids sing along while dancing and swimming like little ducks (moving their elbows like wings). On the last 2 verses of each stanza the children will touch the floor with their hands trying to move their tails up (bottom in the air).

“Alle meine Entchen” Lyrics

German song

Alle meine Entchen
Schwimmen auf dem See,
Schwimmen auf dem See,
Köpfchen in das Wasser,
Schwänzchen in die Höh.

Alle meine Täubchen
Sitzen auf dem Dach,
Sitzen auf dem Dach;
Klipper, klapper, klapp, klapp,
Fliegen übers Dach.

Alle meine Hühner
Scharren in dem Stroh,
Scharren in dem Stroh,
Finden sie ein Körnchen,
Sind sie alle froh.

Alle meine Gänschen
Watscheln durch den Grund,
Watscheln durch den Grund,
Suchen in dem Tümpel,
Werden kugelrund.

“All My Ducklings” Lyrics

English Translation

All my ducklings
Swimming on the lake,
Swimming on the lake,
Heads in the water,
Little tails up in the air!

All my little doves
Sitting on the roof,
Sitting on the roof;
Clipper, clapper, clap, clap,
They fly over the roof.

All my chickens
Scratching in the straw
Scratching in the straw
Find a little grain,
They’re all happy.

All my goslings
Waddle across the ground,
Waddle across the ground,
Search in the pond,
Become round like a ball.

Little Sally Walker

All Nursery Rhymes — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 10:52:44 +0000

Little Sally Walker is a circle game popular among kids, especially girls. Often times when boys play the same game in groups, the lyrics are changed to Willy Wally Walker.

All the players are dancing in a circle, one of them is Sally Walker and stays in the middle. The kids are dancing and clapping while singing the lyrics. On the verse “So she stopped in front of me” Sally Walker, the player in the middle will stop in front of someone.

On the verse “So she stopped in front of me” the “Sally walker” player will stop in front of someone in the circle and while saying: “Hey girl (boy) do your thing /Do your thing and switch!” they switch places and they repeat the verse dancing face to face. Then the new Sally walker goes in the middle and the dance continues until the next “switch”.

In march 2019 a song based on this rhyme was recorded by Australain rapper Iggy Azalea.

“Little Sally Walker” Lyrics

Little Sally Walker
Walking down the street.
She didn’t know what to do
So she stopped in front of me.
She said, “Hey girl, do your thing,
Do your thing and switch!
Hey girl do your thing
Do your thing and switch!”

Miss Susie Had a Steamboat

All Nursery Rhymes — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 08:42:36 +0000

“Miss Susie had a steamboat” (or Lucy, Mary and other names) is an old jump-rope song.
Nowadays the song is more widely associated with a clapping game.

It shares its tune with another popular jump rope song called “Miss Lucy had a baby”, that’s why they are very often confused with each other.

In “Miss Susie had a steamboat” each verse insinuates an inappropriate word or situation that will be revealed in the next sentence, but which will be replaced by an innocent expression. Thus the lyrics were subjected to many improvisations and different versions appeared over time.

“Miss Susie had a steamboat” Lyrics

Miss Susie had a steamboat,
The steamboat had a bell,
Miss Susie went to heaven,
The steamboat went to…

Hello Operator,
Please dial Number 9,
And if you disconnect me,
I’ll kick you from…

Behind the ‘frigerator,
There lay a piece of glass,
Miss Susie sat upon it,
And cut her little…

Ask me no more questions,
Tell me no more lies,
The boys are in the bathroom,
Pulling down their…

Flies are in the backyard,
The bees are in the park,
Miss Susie and her boyfriend are kissing
In the dark, dark dark

Miss Lucy had a steam boat

Version 2

Miss Lucy had a steam boat,
The steam boat had a bell, (Toot! Toot!)
Miss Lucy went to heaven,
And the steam boat went to
Hello operator, give me #9 and,
If you disconnect me, I will chop off your
Behind the refrigerator, there was a piece of glass,
Miss Lucy sat upon it, and broke her big fat
Ask me no more questions, tell me no more lies
The boys are in the bathroom, pulling down their
Flies are in the country, bees are in their hives
Miss Lucy and her boy friend
Are kissing in the D-A-R-K (spell out)
D-A-R-K
D-A-R-K
Dark! Dark! Dark!

“Mary had a steamboat”

Version 3

Mary had a steamboat
The steamboat had a bell
Mary went to Heaven
And the steamboat went Toot Toot

Skip to My Lou

All Nursery Rhymes — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 12:07:07 +0000

“Skip to My Lou” is a singing-game and dance, famous since the 1840s.
Searching for the origins of this partner-stealing game, musician Stephen Frederick Starr recalls its resemblance to the African-American dance “Lolotte Pov’piti Lolotte”. The meaning of the word Lou, however, comes from the Scottish word for love, loo.

Skip to My Loo Singing Game

How to play

The game associated with this dance is a classic partner-stealing game. Everyone who plays (should be an odd number) must form couples and then the couples form a circle, or a square dance. The person who remains unaccompanied goes in the middle.

While singing or listening to the song the couples will skip hand in hand around in a ring. After the verse “Lost my partner, what’ll I do?” the middle person will choose a partner from the existing couples, when they have their hands free, saying “I’ll get another one just like you” or “better than you”. If they cannot catch one they will try for another round. The person left without a partner will continue the game in the same manner. If you like funny rhymes Hey, Diddle Diddle is another popular and silly one to try.

“Skip to My Lou” Lyrics

Chorus
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.

Lost my partner, what’ll I do?
Lost my partner, what’ll I do?
Lost my partner, what’ll I do?
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Chorus

I’ll get another one, prettier than you,
I’ll get another one, prettier than you,
I’ll get another one, prettier than you,
Skip to my Lou, my darling
Chorus

Little red wagon painted blue,
Little red wagon painted blue,
Little red wagon painted blue,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Chorus

Can’t get a red bird, jay bird’ll do,
Can’t get a red bird, jay bird’ll do,
Can’t get a red bird, jay bird’ll do,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Chorus

Fly’s in the buttermilk, shoo, fly, shoo,
Fly’s in the buttermilk, shoo, fly, shoo,
Fly’s in the buttermilk, shoo, fly, shoo,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Chorus

Fly’s in the sugar bowl, shoo, shoo, shoo,
Fly’s in the sugar bowl, shoo, shoo, shoo,
Fly’s in the sugar bowl, shoo, shoo, shoo,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Chorus

Cow’s in the barnyard, moo, moo, moo,
Cow’s in the barnyard, moo, moo, moo,
Cow’s in the barnyard, moo, moo, moo,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Chorus

Cat’s in the cream jar, ooh, ooh, ooh,
Cat’s in the cream jar, ooh, ooh, ooh,
Cat’s in the cream jar, ooh, ooh, ooh,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Chorus

Off to Texas, two by two,
Off to Texas, two by two,
Off to Texas, two by two,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Chorus

Guess What? Chicken Butt!

All Nursery Rhymes — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 10:07:58 +0000

“Guess What?” “Chicken Butt!” is a beloved playground song we can easily use to cheer up our kids as it makes everybody laugh and the little ones just adore the spontaneity of the dialogue. They also love the use of words like butt and poo.

How to play:

It starts with the trick question “Guess What?” to make the others curious and when they ask back “What?” the answer will surprise: “Chicken Butt!”. The game continues in the same manner with the following lyrics:

“Guess What? Chicken Butt!” Game’s Lyrics

Guess what?
What?
Chicken butt!

Guess why?
Why?
Chicken thigh!

Guess where?
Where?
Chicken hair!

Guess when?
When?
Chicken hen!

Guess who?
Who?
Chicken poo!

Beans Beans The Magical Fruit

playground songs

Beans, Beans, the Magical Fruit, also sometimes referred to as Beans, Beans, the Musical Fruit…

Draw a Pail of Water

All Nursery Rhymes — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 16:42:39 +0000

Draw a Pail of Water (known in the USA as “Draw a bucket of water”) is an traditional nursery rhyme that first appeared published in “The Nursery Rhymes of England: Obtained Principally from Oral Tradition” by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps in 1843.

There is also a simple game associated with the song, the instructions are described below:

Game Instructions

Chiildren stand in a row holding hands. A child who is the leader sits in front of them. Another pair of children hold their hands lifted up in the air to form an arch. The leader will walk under the arch followed by all the other children, all while singing the song. The last child from the group will be captured by the two children forming an arch.

The process is repeated, the song is sung again until all the children are captured by the two forming the arch.

“Draw a Pail of Water” Lyrics

Draw a pail of water,
For my lady’s daughter;
My father’s a king, and my mother’s a queen,
My two little sisters are dressed in green,
Stamping grass and parsley,
Marigold leaves and daisies.
One rush! two rush!
Pray thee, fine lady, come under my bush.

Draw a Bucket of Water Lyrics
Draw a bucket of water
For my lady’s daughter.
One in a rush and
Two in a rush
And the first old lady pops under.

Draw a bucket of water
For my lady’s daughter.
One in a rush and
Two in a rush
And the second old lady pops under.

Draw a bucket of water
For my lady’s daughter.
One in a rush and
Two in a rush
And the third old lady pops under.

Draw a bucket of water
For my lady’s daughter.
One in a rush and
Two in a rush
And the fourth old lady pops under.

Draw a bucket of water
For my lady’s daughter.
One in a rush and
Two in a rush
And we all pop out!

Alice The Camel

All Nursery Rhymes — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 15:43:07 +0000

Alice the Camel or sometimes known as Sally the Camel is a classic nursery rhyme that teaches kids to count down.

To make the song more interactive, kids can show the number of fingers on their hand with each new verse. Each time they sing “So, go, Alice, go” kids can pretend running while during the last line “Boom, boom, boom, boom” they can jump as high as loud as they can.

“Alice The Camel” Lyrics

Alice the camel has five humps.
Alice the camel has five humps.
Alice the camel has five humps.
So go, Alice, go!
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has four humps.
Alice the camel has four humps.
Alice the camel has four humps.
So go, Alice, go!
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has three humps.
Alice the camel has three humps.
Alice the camel has three humps.
So go, Alice, go!
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has two humps.
Alice the camel has two humps.
Alice the camel has two humps.
So go, Alice, go!
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has one hump.
Alice the camel has one hump.
Alice the camel has one hump.
So go, Alice, go!
Boom, boom, boom, boom!

Alice the camel has no humps.
Alice the camel has no humps.
Alice the camel has no humps.
‘Cause Alice is a horse, of course!

Here We Go Looby Loo

All Nursery Rhymes — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 15:29:24 +0000

Here We Go Looby Loo or simply Looby Loo is a fun action song that can be performed by many kids at once. Its very simple moves and catchy tune make it a favorite of very youngs too!

Dance Instructions

The Looby Loo dance is very similar to Hokey Cokey. First kids need to sit in a circle holding hands. If not all kids know the dance before, it is best to demonstrate first by singing the song and showing the moves.

The first part of the song is the chorus where kids will hold hands and dance in a circle. The next parts are the action parts where each kid individually moves his/her body parts according to the song’s lyrics. As you can see here, the lyrics are very similar to Hokey Cokey.

To make things more interesting you can change “looby-loo” each time to something else like “dooby-doo” or “dooby-daah”.