Similar to Ten in the bed, “Ten Green Bottles” is a counting song and singing game with repetitive lyrics. It is more popular in United Kingdom with different versions circulating, some of them vulgar or satirical.
“Ten Green Bottles” singing game
Ten green bottles is an easy and fun way for kids to learn to count down. Here is how to play:
Draw each number on separate cards, starting with the number 1 and ending with the number of children available to play, and hang them on each children so they all can see it.
The children will dance in a circle, holding hands singing the lyrics of the song. They will have to fall down one by one until all of them will lay down, each time they say the verse: “And if one green bottle should accidentally fall”. The children will have to point who is the one who will fall down, based on their numbers.
Later, after the kids know better how to count, the game can move to the next level: instead of drawing the cards, each child will have to memorize a number to know when it is their turn to fall down.
The word “hanging” is sometimes replaced by “sitting” or “standing”.
“Ten Green Bottles” Lyrics
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.
Nine green bottles hanging on the wall,
Nine green bottles hanging on the wall,
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be eight green bottles hanging on the wall.
Eight green bottles hanging on the wall,
Eight green bottles hanging on the wall,
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be seven green bottles hanging on the wall.
Seven green bottles hanging on the wall,
Seven green bottles hanging on the wall,
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be six green bottles hanging on the wall.
Six green bottles hanging on the wall,
Six green bottles hanging on the wall,
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be five green bottles hanging on the wall.
Five green bottles hanging on the wall,
Five green bottles hanging on the wall,
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be four green bottles hanging on the wall.
Four green bottles hanging on the wall,
Four green bottles hanging on the wall,
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be three green bottles hanging on the wall.
Three green bottles hanging on the wall,
Three green bottles hanging on the wall,
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be two green bottles hanging on the wall.
Two green bottles hanging on the wall,
Two green bottles hanging on the wall,
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be one green bottles hanging on the wall.
One green bottles hanging on the wall,
One green bottles hanging on the wall,
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be zero green hanging hanging on the wall.