Nursery rhymes encourage children to enjoy music. In addition, specific actions, motions, or dances are often associated with particular songs.
Old MacDonald had a Farm
Tells the story of MacDonald, a farmer, and the different animals on his farm. Each verse of the song changes its animal name and noise.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.
And on that farm he had a [animal name], E-I-E-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, E-I-E-I-O.
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
Mary, Mary,
quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.
Roses are Red
Considered more as a poem than a nursery rhyme.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet;
And so are you
Rock-a-bye Baby
A nursery rhyme and lullaby to sing your little one to sleep.
Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop,
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
A song that is often sung in rounds.
Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.
This Little Piggy
The rhyme is usually counted out on a child's toes, each line corresponding to a different toe, starting with the big toe. A foot tickle is usually added during the "Wee... all the way home" section of the last line.
This little piggy went to market.
This little piggy stayed at home.
This little piggy had roast beef,
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy went "Wee! Wee! Wee!" all the way 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
She cut off their tails with a carving knife.
Did you ever see such a thing in your life
As three blind mice.
Little Bo Peep
Bo Peep is a shepherdess who loses her sheep and receives advice on how to get them back.
Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep
And can't tell where to find them.
Leave them alone, And they'll come home,
Wagging their tails behind them
Jack Be Nimble
Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jump over the candlestick.
Jack jumped high,
Jack jumped low,
Jack jumped over and burned his toe.
Ten Little Indians
One little, two little, three little Indians
Four little, five little, six little Indians
Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians
Ten little Indian boys.
Ten little, nine little, eight little Indians
Seven little, six little, five little Indians
Four little, three little, two little Indians
One little Indian boy.
