Posts Tagged ‘traditional song’

Frere Jacques

(French Traditional Song
English version: “Are You Sleeping?“)

Frere Jacques,
Frere Jacques,
Dormez-vous?
Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines!
Sonnez les matines!
Din, dan, don.
Din, dan, don.

Are You Sleeping?

(English Version of “Frere Jaques“)

Are you sleeping?
Are you sleeping?
Brother John?
Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing.
Morning bells are ringing.
Ding, ding, dong.
Ding, ding, dong.

The Wheels on the Bus

The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town.

Additional Verses:
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish
The driver on the bus goes “Move on back”
The people on the bus go up and down
The money on the bus goes clink, clink, clink
The babies on the bus go waa, waa, waa
The mommies on the bus go shh, shh, shh
The daddies on the bus go “I love you!”

Sing a Song of Sixpence

Sing a song of sixpence
A pocket full of rye
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie!

When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing
Wasn’t that a dainty dish
To set before the king?

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb
Its fleece was white as snow
And everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day
That was against the rule.
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out,
But still it lingered near;
And waited patiently about
Till Mary did appear.

“Why does the lamb love Mary so?”
The eager children cry.
“Why Mary loves the lamb, you know!”
The teacher did reply.

Rock-a-bye Baby

Rock-a-bye, Baby
In the tree top
When the wind blows
The cradle will rock
When the bough breaks
The cradle will fall
And down will come baby,
Cradle and all.

This is traditionally a lullaby although the words aren’t that comforting!

Other rhymes that use this song:

Here is the Beehive

I’m a Little Teapot

I’m a little teapot short and stout {Stand with knees bent and arms at your side}
Here is my handle. Here is my spout. {Put one hand on your waist. Put the other in the air with arm bent upwards}
When I get all steamed up then I shout {Rock back and forth}
Tip me over and pour me out. {Bent over to one side}

5 Little Squirrels in a Tree

Five little squirrels are sitting in a tree
The first squirrel said, “These nuts are for me.”
The second squirrel said, “I like to eat!”
The third squirrel said, “Nuts are a treat.”
The fourth squirrel said, “Do you want some?”
The fifth squirrel said, “You may have one.”

The five little squirrels went bob, bob, bob.
{jump}
The five little squirrels went nod, nod, nod.
{nod head}
The five little squirrels went patter, patter, patter.
{wiggle}
The five little squirrels went chatter, chatter, chatter.
{open and close fingers in a talking motion}
The five little squirrels scolded you and me
{shake head and wag finger}
As they sat and ate the nuts on the big, tall tree.
{pretend to eat nuts}

The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.

Thanks to this site for helping me remember the last couple of verses.

The Eensy Weensy Spider

The eensy weensy spider crawled up the water spout
{Walk fingers up your little one’s arm}
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
{Fingers wiggle down from above and then spread hands apart from center}
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
{Make a circle with arms overhead to represent the sun}
Then the eensy weensy spider climbed up the spout again
{Climb fingers back up your little one’s arm}

This song is also known as the Itsy Bitsy Spider, Incy Wincy Spider, Ipsy Wipsy Spider.
For newborns or infants, lay them in your lap and do the actions for them to see. You can hold their arms for the rain and sun.
For toddlers and preschoolers, they can use their own fingers to climb the spider and do the other actions themselves.