Alouette Alouette, one of the most popular French songs known worldwide, is about plucking the feathers of a lark. Alouette Song Origins Most probably Alouette song has French-Canadian origin as the first published version appeared in Montreal at McGill College where it was included in “A Pocket Song Book for the Use of Students and …
Sur le Pont d’Avignon is one of the most popular French nursery rhymes and dance songs. Its origins can be traced back to the 15th century and originally the song was about a dance under the bridge of Avignon (sous le pont d’Avignon) rather than on the bridge as it is performed currently (sur le …
The Spanish song “La Cucaracha” became popular during the Mexican revolution around 1910. With quite obscure Spanish origins, the song was modified over time by groups and individuals according to spontaneous situations, cultural and political events. We can therefore consider it a song of the people, a song of the street, a form of expression …
Frère Jacques is a French song for children the original version of the well-known nursery rhyme Brother John. Frère Jacques Meaning Contrary to the common beliefs “les matines” meaning Matins (or Mattins) which is a canonical hour of Christian liturgy. Because matin means morning in French the verse: Sonnez les matines! Sonnez les matines! was incorrectly translated as Morning bells are …
The Wheels on the Bus The Wheels on the Bus is a modern American folk song from the 1930’s written by Verna Hills in Boston, MA. The rhyme is based on the traditional nursery rhyme “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush,” sharing the same tune. It is a very simple and fun song to …
Mary Had a Little Lamb “Mary Had a Little Lamb” is a beautiful rhyme for kids telling the story of a girl who one day is taking her lamb to school. The lyrics belong to American writer Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1879) and the musical sheet was written by the composer Lowel Mason in the 1830s. …
Itsy Bitsy Spider “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “Incy Wincy Spider” is a modern nursery rhyme popular among children across the United States and the United Kingdom as well (where Incy Wincy is more commonly used). The origin of this song is not known, but it was first published in 1920, more as a song for adults …
The Fifth of November “Remember, remember the Fifth of November” or “Please to Remember” are variations of a nursery rhyme that commemorates the day in 1605 when a group of Roman Catholics, including Guy Fawkes, were caught in the act of trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder. When …
“Eeny, meeny, miny, moe” also known as “Eena, meena, mina, mo” is a popular counting rhyme and singing game. It is very hard to establish the exact origin of the song as it has so many accepted forms, in different languages and countries. Whilst there are versions of the first line of this rhyme in …
Hush, Little Baby Hush, Little Baby is a popular lullaby that most likely originated in the south of the USA. It has been covered and adapted by multiple artists across multiple genres including Regina Spektor, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield or Eminem. Often times, the song is known as “Mockingbird” based on the first …
There are many known versions of the alphabet song in different languages. Each of them follows the same pattern, helping children learn the order and the spelling of the alphabet letters. Together with the traditional Apple Pie ABC, The Alphabet Song also known as The ABC Song (see below), are some of the most popular songs …
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” or “1, 2 Buckle My Shoe” is a counting song dating back to late 18th century USA. It was heard for the first time around 1780 somewhere around Wrentham, Massachusetts. However the first published version of this traditional nursery rhyme is found in London in …
“The Muffin Man” is a traditional nursery rhyme and singing game dating back to early nineteenth-century, England. The rhyme, first recorded in 1820, tells the story of a muffin man from Drury Lane, an overpopulated area of London where poverty, brothels, gambling and criminality was abundant. A muffin man used to be the person who …
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep Like Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star or the Alphabet song, the English version of “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” has its origin in an old French song from 1761 “Ah, vous dirai-je, maman!” by Louis Le Maire, sharing the same tune. Although in the past the “Baa-Baa Black Sheep” rhyme was related to the Middle’s Ages wool industry …
Usually represented by an egg, “Humpty Dumpty” is a famous character in an English nursery rhyme. It also appears in literature works and other popular culture such as Through the Looking-Glass, by Lewis Carroll, Mother Goose in Prose by L. Frank Baum, The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin, and the Jasper …
“Hey Diddle Diddle”, “The Cat and the Fiddle” or “The Cow Jumped Over the Moon” are all different titles of the same song and they are part of its lyrics. 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 …
“London Bridge Is Falling Down” is a singing game and one of the most popular nursery rhymes, dating back to the 18th century England. It was first published in 1744 in the “Pretty Song Book” collection by Tommy Thumb. However, it is difficult to state the exact origin of its lyrics, but it can be …
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