15 Popular English Nursery Rhymes with Lyrics Free Printable PDF 2022
- Twinkle, twinkle little Star
- I’m Letter Tea Pot
- London Bridge Falling down
- Mary Had a Little Lamb
- Humpty Dumpty
- Hey diddle diddle
- Johny johny Yes papa
- Baa baa black sheep
What is the oldest nursery rhyme?
The oldest children’s song of which we have records are lullabies, intended to help a child fall asleep. Lullabies can be found in every human culture.
A French poem, similar to “Thirty days hath september”, numbering the days of the month, was recorded in the 13th century. From the late middle Ages there are records of short children’s rhymes songs.
What are the most popular nursery rhymes?
Nursery rhymes form an important part of your baby’s cognitive development. The lyrics of these rhymes help your child to learn about alphabets, numbers, animals and various day-to-day elements. Nursery rhymes are a great way of helping your baby to know and learn a language.
As children, you must have heard a few rhymes from your parents, and your parents may, in turn, have heard from their parents. This means singing nursery rhymes lyrics to a baby has been in practice for generations, and this practice has proven helpful in many aspects. Here are some of the best nursery rhymes for babies and also the various benefits of singing rhymes to babies
more: Miss Polly Had a Dolly
15 Popular English Nursery Rhymes with Lyrics
1. Twinkle, twinkle little star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are,
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky, twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
2. I’m a Little Tea Pot
I’m a little teapot, short and stout
Here’s my handle (place hand on hip)
Here’s my spout (stick your other arm out straight)
When I get all steamed up, hear me shout
Just tip me over and pour me out (lean over with your spout arm)
3. London Bridge is Falling Down
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.
Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair lady.
Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away,
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair lady.
Build it up with iron and steel,
Iron and steel, iron and steel,
Build it up with iron and steel,
My fair lady.
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Bend and bow, bend and bow,
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
My fair lady.
Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold,
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair lady.
4. Mary Had a Little Lamb
Mary had a little lamb,
His fleece was white as snow,
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go
He followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule,
It made the children laugh and play,
To see a lamb at school.
And so the teacher turned him out,
But still he lingered near,
And waited patiently about,
Till Mary did appear.
“What makes the lamb love Mary so?”
The eager children cry;
“Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,”
The teacher did reply.
5. Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men,
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
6. Hey diddle diddle
Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such fun
And the dish ran away with the spoon!
7. Baa baa black sheep
Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!
One for the master, one for the dame,
And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.
8. One, two, three, four
One, two, three, four, five
Once I caught a fish alive.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten
Then I let it go again.
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on my right.
9. Jack and Jill
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.
Up Jack got, and home did trot,
As fast as he could caper,
He went to bed to mend his head,
With vinegar and brown paper.
10. This old man
This old man, he played one
He played knick-knack on my thumb
With a knick knack paddywhack give the dog a bone
This old man cam rolling home…
Two… on my shoe
Three… on my knee
Four… on my door
Five… on my hive
Six… on my sticks
Seven…up to heaven
Eight… on my gate
Nine… on my spine
Ten… once again
11. Round and round the garden
Round and round the garden, like a Teddy Bear (drawn a circle with your finger on baby’s palm)
One step, two step, (walk your finger up baby’s arm)
Tickle you under there! (tickle baby under the chin)
12. 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.
(Roll hands around each other)
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish;
Swish, swish, swish;
Swish, swish, swish.
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,
all through the town.
13. This little piggy
This little piggy went to market (touch baby’s biggest toe)
This little piggy stayed at home (touch the next toe)
This little piggy had roast beef (and the next)
This little piggy had none (and the next)
And this little piggy went…Wee wee wee all the way home… (touch the little toe and then run your hand up baby tickling gently as you go)
14. Polly put the kettle on
Polly put the kettle on,
Polly put the kettle on,
Polly put the kettle on,
We’ll all have tea.
Sukey take it off again,
Sukey take it off again,
Sukey take it off again,
They’ve all gone away.
15. Pop! Goes the weasel
Half a pound of tuppenny rice,
Half a pound of treacle,
That’s the way the money goes,
Pop! goes the weasel.
Up and down the City road,
In and out the Eagle,
That’s the way the money goes,
Pop! goes the weasel.
15 Popular English Nursery Rhymes with Lyrics
Nursery rhymes are much more than mere verses sung to lull children to sleep; they represent cultural artifacts that convey both tradition and learning within a melodic framework. Each rhyme is imbued with simple yet profound narratives, often drawing from childhood experiences, nature, or whimsical imaginings. Popular nursery rhymes such as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “Humpty Dumpty” not only entertain but also introduce young listeners to rhythm, rhyme schemes, and linguistic patterns essential for language development. Furthermore, the repetition and predictability found in these songs foster early reading skills while establishing a comforting structure in a child’s life. Research indicates that these seemingly playful lyrics can help nurture cognitive skills and emotional bonding when shared between adults and children. From various sources, we accumulate a list of timeless nursery rhymes—echoing through generations—that provide a rich repository of knowledge, rhythm, and joy.
1. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
This universal classic captures the wonder of the night sky, inviting children to dream and ponder their gaze upwards. Its soothing melody forms a perfect lullaby for sleepy heads.
2. Humpty Dumpty
A tale of precariousness and inevitability, “Humpty Dumpty” transcends its simplicity. The imagery of a fragile figure on a wall may harbinger lessons about balance and consequences intertwined with humor.
3. Wheels on the Bus
With its repetitive verses exploring the sounds of the bus, this rhyme invokes collective imagery of adventure and the bustling environment of travel that resonates even with adults.
4. Old MacDonald Had a Farm
An engaging celebration of rural life, this rhyme invites children to mimic animal sounds, thus blending playfulness with early learning about animals and their habitats, fostering curiosity about nature.
5. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Alluding to the serenity of a gentle stream, this rhyme folds in themes of harmony and tranquility while promoting the idea of perseverance—with its lyrics encouraging one to “merrily” navigate towards dreams.
6. Baa, Baa Black Sheep
While it may appear simplistic, “Baa, Baa Black Sheep” introduces concepts of sharing and the economy, stirring thoughts around trade and value, all within a whimsical narrative involving sheep.
7. This Old Man
The imaginative adventures of an old man who “played one” before concluding his humorous journey reflect the wisdom of age accompanied by childlike charm, highlighting the beauty of life’s stages.
8. Hey Diddle Diddle
Rich with surreal imagery, this nursery rhyme encourages imagination and play, merging reality with fantasy—a cat playing a fiddle? Such whimsical depictions evoke laughter and creativity.
9. Hickory Dickory Dock
Incorporating clocks and mice into its poetic tick-tock dance, this rhyme is an excellent tool for introducing children to time, organically weaving education into entertainment.
10. Ring a Ring o’ Roses
Though it carries darker historical implications, its playful spinning and falling remind us of the human experience, transforming a narrative steeped in past realities into joyful group play today.
11. Five Little Ducks
As this rhyme recounts the adventures of five little ducks—and their eventual returns—children learn concepts of counting while experiencing the adventures of being lost and finding home.
12. Little Miss Muffet
Fostering dialogues on fears and surprises, this rhyme encapsulates the experience of meeting the unexpected—a spider! Advocating feelings, it broadens conversations about comfort zones.
13. Incy Wincy Spider
This song details the indomitable spirit of a little spider facing challenges under rain, representing resilience, making it a favorite among parents aiming to inspire their children.
14. London Bridge is Falling Down
A traditional game song, its rhythmic charm encourages teamwork while presenting a metaphor for human interactions among communities and fortifications created through cooperation.
15. Itsy Bitsy Spider
Mirroring the tale of resilience found in “Incy Wincy Spider,” this version focuses on survival through tough times, imparting lessons on determination despite setbacks—a vital life lesson embedded within playful lyrics.
Throughout these selections, we observe nursery rhymes serving dual purposes: they provide musical enjoyment while embedding foundational literacy and social values. As children engage with them, they traverse a landscape rich with learning opportunities—social structures, moral lessons, and the joys of language discovery—all enveloped in delightful melodies.
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