The origin of this rhyme goes back in the 1609 when the first written version of the song was published by Thomas Ravenscroft in “Deuteromelia” or “The Seconde part of Musicks melodie”.

According to some claims the “three blind mice” are the three Protestants executed by Queen Mary I of England, in the Catholicism and Protestantism conflict. It is about the Oxford Martyrs who were tried for heresy and burnt at the stake in 1555.

The modern version of the song was first included in children’s literature much later, at the beginning of 19th century, and its lyrics are different than the original one.

“Three Blind Mice” Lyrics

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?

The word dell defines a small wooded valley.

The rhyme has been translated in different languages like English, French, Romanian or Thai, while the German version of the song “Es fuhr ein Bau’r ins Holz” is the original one, dating back to 1820s Germany.

“The Farmer in the Dell” as a game

The Farmer in the Dell is also a very popular singing game, being played by a group of children, usually nine. The game can be adapted by changing the number of the characters in the song.

How to play:

At the begining one children will be choosed to be the farmer and he wil stand up in the middle of a circle formed by the others. They will dance around him singing the first stanza of the song.

The farmer in the dell
The farmer in the dell
Heigh-ho,the derry-o
The farmer in the dell

At “The farmer takes a wife” verse the “farmer” will have to choose, without looking a “wife” from the group of dancing players. The two kids, the “farmer” and the “wife” will stay now together in the middle, holding hands and forming another circle.

The game continue singing the next stanza, the main circle of children dancing around the small circle.

The farmer takes a wife
The farmer takes a wife
Heigh-ho, the derry-o
The farmer takes a wife

At “The wife takes the child” verse the farmer and the wife will choose again another player as the “child” who will go together with them in the middle, forming a bigger circle.

The game finishes with “The cheese stands alone” verse when the last children will remain outside of the interiour circle. He will be the farmer in the next round of the game.

*Tip: When the interior circle will become larger than the exterior one, the children from outside can dance in a semicircle.

“The Farmer in the Dell” Lyrics

The farmer in the dell
The farmer in the dell
Heigh-ho,the derry-o
The farmer in the dell

The farmer takes a wife
The farmer takes a wife
Heigh-ho, the derry-o
The farmer takes a wife

The wife takes the child
The wife takes the child
Heigh-ho, the derry-o
The wife takes the child

The child takes the nurse
The child takes the nurse
Heigh-ho, the derry-o
The child takes the nurse

The nurse takes the cow
The nurse takes the cow
Heigh-ho, the derry-o
The nurse takes the cow

The cow takes the dog
The cow takes the dog
Heigh-ho, the derry-o
The cow takes the dog

The dog takes the cat
The cow takes the dog
Heigh-ho, the derry-o
The cow takes the dog

The cat takes the mouse
The cat takes the mouse
Heigh-ho, the derry-o
The cat takes the mouse

The mouse takes the cheese
The mouse takes the cheese
Heigh-ho, the derry-o
The mouse takes the cheese

The cheese stands alone
The cheese stands alone
Heigh-ho, the derry-o
The cheese stands alone

A similar version of this song called “Ohio (Old Macdougal Had a Farm) was first published in Tommy’s Tune collection, a compilation of songs dating back to the WWI era published in 1917. Some other different versions of the song were recorded even earlier than Tommy’s Tune book. Still it seems that this one is referred as first appropriate recorded variant.

An even older version of this song was discovered in 1908 in England, in “Workhouse Marylebone” a rest home in London”. The song was sung by an old lady, Mrs. Goodey and published in Cecil Sharp’s Collection of English Folk Songs.

The oldest known melody with an appropriate theme dating back to around 1719 is an opera piece, “The Kingdom of the Birds”, found in Thomas D’Urfey’s songs collection “Wit and Mirth: Or Pills to Purge Melancholy”

“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” Lyrics

Modern Version

Old MacDonald had a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O,
And on that farm he had a [animal name], EE-I-EE-I-O,
With a [animal noise twice] here and a [animal noise twice] there
Here a [animal noise], there a [animal noise], everywhere a [animal noise twice]
Old MacDonald had a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O.

Example: COW

Old MacDonald had a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O.
And on that farm he had a cow, EE-I-EE-I-O.
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo
Old MacDonald had a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O.

Or (removing the “with a” part)

Old MacDonald has a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O.
And on the farm he has a cow, EE-I-EE-I-O.
Moo moo here, moo moo there
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo
Old MacDonald has a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O.

“Old MacDonald Had a Farm”
Original Version

Old Macdougal had a farm in Ohio-i-o,
And on that farm he had some dogs in Ohio-i-o,
With a bow-wow here, and a bow-wow there,
Here a bow, there a wow, everywhere a bow-wow.

“Old MacDonald Had a Farm”
Video

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”.

“Little Boy Blue” has a similar theme and origin as Little Bo Peep. One of the oldest references to Little Boy Blue lyrics can be found in the King Lear play by W. Shakespeare. Edgar appears disguisedly as Mad Tom and says:

“Sleepest or wakest thou, jolly shepheard?
Thy sheepe be in the corne;
And for one blast of thy minikin mouth
Thy sheepe shall take no harme”

The Little Boy Blue character was attributed to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the arrogant son of an Ipswich rich man who was a butcher. Wolsey was a very unpopular person among English people, nicknamed the “Boy Bachelor” after he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree at Oxford University at only 15 years old. He was quickly promoted in different positions, becoming one of the best employers in the King’s administrative and diplomatic services. He was also the creator of the imperious Hampton Court Palace, a medieval manor house until that time.

However, this supposition was never confirmed with sufficient evidence. Old Mother Hubbard was also related to the character.

“Little Boy Blue” Lyrics

Little Boy Blue come blow your horn,
The sheep’s in the meadow the cow’s in the corn.
But where’s the boy who looks after the sheep?
He’s under a haystack fast asleep.
Will you wake him? No, not I – for if I do, he’s sure to cry.

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.

Ladybugs, referred as ladybirds in the UK, have been always loved by little children, and not only. These red or yellow colored insects with black dots are very useful bugs for the farmers, as they save many plants from damages eating the aphids. They are also good fire alarms, running away from a place when it starts burning. Ladybirds have also become subject to superstitions, especially for kids.

The children are singing the rhyme when a ladybird lands on them, in order to make it fly away, as they believe that if they make a wish and the bug will fly away, the wish will become true. And also, there is a belief that to kill a ladybug brings you bad luck, so they sing this song to make the bug return home. This might have been an educational purpose of the song to teach children to protect the little bugs and not to harm or kill them.

The first recorded version of “Ladybird Ladybird” rhyme dates back to 1744, published in an English nursery rhymes collection. There are many accepted versions of the song, both in the USA and in the UK.

Below is a modern version of the song, published in the Helen Ferris’s collection “Favorite Poems Old and New, Selected for boys and girls” from 1957:

“Ladybird Ladybird” Lyrics

Lady-bird, Lady-bird, fly away home
the field mouse is gone to her nest
the daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes
and the birds and the bees are at rest
Lady-bird, Lady-bird, fly away home
the glow worm is lighting her lamp
the dew’s falling fast, and your fine speckled wings
will flag with the close clinging damp
Lady-bird, Lady-bird, fly away home
the fairy bells tinkle afar
make haste or they’ll catch you and harness you fast
with a cobweb to Oberon’s star.

“Ladybird Ladybird” Modern Version

The most common modern version of the song is:

Ladybird, ladybird fly away home,
Your house is on fire and your children are gone,
All except one,
And her name is Ann,
And she hid under the baking pan

This traditional nursery rhyme dates back to the 18th century England. We don’t know the exact origins of ”Hey Diddle Diddle” but the first known version of the song was published in 1765 under the title “High Diddle Diddle”.

It is impossible to determine the exact meaning or origin of the term “diddle”. The expression “hey diddle diddle” was found in some Shakespeare’s works, and there is a connection of it with “hey nonny no” used in old English folk songs.

The lyrics of this song are very imaginative and hilarious, having a very positive impact over the children: It will make them laugh a lot and will also stimulate their imagination.

“Hey Diddle Diddle” Lyrics

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

The rhyme first appeared in 1548 titled “The frog came to the myl dur” (Scots language) in Wedderburn’s Complaynt of Scotland. The song was first recorded by Thomas Ravenscroft in 1611.

Also known as “Frog Went A Courtin”, “Froggy Went A Courtin” tells the story of Mr Frog who is asking Miss Mouse to marry him.

There are a couple of versions of this song, all of them telling roughly the same story.

Probably the most popular version that is popular with kids is the one that finishes with the marriage between Frog and Miss Mouse.

“Froggy Went A Courtin” Lyrics

Froggy went a courtin’ and he did ride, uh-huh
Froggy went a courtin’ and he did ride, uh-huh
Froggy went a courtin’ and he did ride
With a sword and a pistol by his side, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.

He rode right up to Miss Mousie’s door, uh-huh
He rode right up to Miss Mousie’s door, uh-huh
He rode right up to Miss Mousie’s door
Gave three loud raps, and a very big roar, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

He said, “Miss Mouse, will you marry me? uh-huh
He said, “Miss Mouse, will you marry me? uh-huh
He said, “Miss Mouse, will you marry me?
And oh so happy we will be, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.

“Not without Uncle Rat’s consent”, uh-huh
“Not without Uncle Rat’s consent”, uh-huh
“Not without Uncle Rat’s consent”
“Would I marry the President,” uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.

Uncle Rat, he went downtown, uh-huh
Uncle Rat, he went downtown, uh-huh
Uncle Rat, he went downtown
To buy his niece a wedding gown, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.

Where shall the wedding supper be? uh-huh
Where shall the wedding supper be? uh-huh
Where shall the wedding supper be?
Way down yonder in the hollow tree, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.

The first to come in was a bumble bee, uh-huh
The first to come in was a bumble bee, uh-huh
The first to come in was a bumble bee
With a big bass fiddle on his knee, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.

Next to come in was the big black snake, uh-huh
Next to come in was the big black snake, uh-huh
Next to come in was the big black snake
He gobbled down the wedding cake, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.

Little bit of biscuit on the shelf, uh-huh
Little bit of biscuit on the shelf, uh-huh
Little bit of biscuit on the shelf
If you want anymore you can sing it yourself, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh.

There are no many evidences about its origins and author.

Similar with the “Ten Green Bottles” each verse of the song is repeated: one by one all little frogs jump in the pool until none remains. It is a very entertaining song for the kids and it is sometimes used in conjunction with swimming lessons.

“Five Little Speckled Frogs” Lyrics

Five little speckled frogs
FIVE little speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs
Yum Yum.

One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Then there were FOUR speckled frogs (OR) Now there are how many frogs? FOUR!
Glug Glug.

FOUR little speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs
Yum Yum.

One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Then there were THREE speckled frogs (OR) Now there are how many frogs? THREE!
Glug Glug.

THREE little speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs
Yum Yum.

One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Then there were TWO speckled frogs (OR) Now there are how many frogs? TWO!
Glug Glug.

TWO little speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs
Yum Yum.

One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Then there was ONE speckled frog (OR) Now there are how many frogs? ONE!
Glug Glug.

ONE little speckled frog
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs
Yum Yum.

He jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Then there were NO speckled frogs (OR) Now there are how many frogs? NONE!
Glug Glug.

However, its lyrics originated in a similar story called “Phyllyp Sparowe” written and published by John Skelton around the early 1500s.

“Who Killed Cock Robin” Lyrics

Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the Sparrow,
with my bow and arrow,
I killed Cock Robin.
Who saw him die?
I, said the Fly,
with my little eye,
I saw him die.
Who caught his blood?
I, said the Fish,
with my little dish,
I caught his blood.
Who’ll make the shroud?
I, said the Beetle,
with my thread and needle,
I’ll make the shroud.
Who’ll dig his grave?
I, said the Owl,
with my little trowel,
I’ll dig his grave.
Who’ll be the parson?
I, said the Rook,
with my little book,
I’ll be the parson.
Who’ll be the clerk?
I, said the Lark,
if it’s not in the dark,
I’ll be the clerk.
Who’ll carry the link?
I, said the Linnet,
I’ll fetch it in a minute,
I’ll carry the link.
Who’ll be chief mourner?
I, said the Dove,
I mourn for my love,
I’ll be chief mourner.
Who’ll carry the coffin?
I, said the Kite,
if it’s not through the night,
I’ll carry the coffin.
Who’ll bear the pall?
We, said the Wren,
both the cock and the hen,
We’ll bear the pall.
Who’ll sing a psalm?
I, said the Thrush,
as she sat on a bush,
I’ll sing a psalm.
Who’ll toll the bell?
I said the Bull,
because I can pull,
I’ll toll the bell.
All the birds of the air
fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
when they heard the bell toll
for poor Cock Robin.