Children's songs and nursery rhymes basically get seared into our brains from singing them over and over again as kids.
However, you might not have the full picture. Many of those nursery rhymes and fun little songs have second verses, third verses, and even alternate choruses. Often, kids these days don't learn all of these words because these extra lyrics can sometimes stray to the dark side. It's a wonder how a few of these little ditty's ended up as children's songs in the first place!
These 10 nursery rhymes and children's song lyrics may come to you as quite the surprise. Whether the words come from earlier versions of the song, before they were even meant for children, or if the song simply goes on for much, much longer than you thought, these are all so interesting to read!
Did you ever learn all of these words when you were little?
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Thumbnail Photo: Flickr / Emma Paperclip
1. "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"
When the blazing sun is gone
When there’s nothing he shines upon
Then you show your little light
Twinkle, twinkle, through the night
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you areIn the dark blue sky so deep
Through my curtains often peep
For you never close your eyes
’Til the morning sun does rise
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
The American Grandparents Association shared these extra lyrics. I never knew exactly how much "wondering" was going on in this song before!
2. "A Tisket, A Tasket"
Yes on the way I dropped it
A little girlie picked it up
And put it in her pocket
She was truckin’ on down the avenue
Not a single thing to do
She went peck peck pecking all around
When she spied it on the ground
She took it
She took it
My little yellow basket
And if she doesn’t bring it back I think that I will die
Who knew there was so much more to the story of the little yellow basket? Ella Fitzgerald’s version of the song goes on to tell the tale of thievery, according to AZ Lyrics.
3. "B-I-N-G-O"
Thys Franklyn, syrs, he brewed goode ayle,
And he called it Rare good Styngo!
S, T, Y, N, G, O!
He call’d it Rare goode Styngo
This verse hails from a much earlier version of the children’s song, a time when it was actually a drinking song, according to In Praise of Ale: Or, Songs, Ballads, Epigrams, & Anecdotes Relating to Beer.
4. "You Are My Sunshine"
I’ll always love you and make you happy
if you will only say the same
but if you leave me to love another
you’ll regret it all some day
The American Grandparents Association also shares these lyrics, and I’m loving the sass in this verse!
5. "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep"
Baa, baa, white sheep,
have you any wool?
yes sir, yes sir,
three needles full…Baa, baa, grey sheep,
have you any wool?
yes sir yes sir ,
three bags full.one for the kitten,
one for the cats,
and one for the owner,
to knit some woolly hats.Baa, Baa, brown sheep,
have you any wool?
yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.One for the mammy,
One for the daddy
and one for the little baby
Who lives down the lane.Baa, baa, bare sheep,
have you any wool?
No sir, no sir, no bags full.None for the master,
none for the dame,
and none for the little boy
who lives down the lane.Baa, baa bare sheep,
have you any wool?
No sir, no sir,
no bags full…
According to MetroLyrics, there are many more sheep to be shorn than the iconic baa-baa-ing black sheep. White sheep, grey sheep, all kinds of sheep!
6. "Do Your Ears Hang Low"
Do your ears flip-flop?
Can you use them for a mop?
Are they stringy at the bottom?
Are they curly at the top?
Can you use them for a swatter?
Can you use them for a blotter?
Do your ears flip-flop?
I fear for the well-being of anyone whose ears are “stringy at the bottom,” in these words shared by Songdrops. I prefer the “hang low” verse of this song, mostly because I can picture a sweet basset hound instead.
7. "My Darling Clementine"
Drove she ducklings to the water
Every morning just at nine,
Hit her foot against a splinter
Fell into the foaming brine.Ruby lips above the water,
Blowing bubbles soft and fine,
But alas, I was no swimmer,
So I lost my Clementine.Then the miner, forty-niner,
Soon began to peak and pine,
Thought he oughter join his daughter,
Now he's with his Clementine.In the church yard in the canyon
Where the myrtle doth entwine
There grows roses and other posies
Fertilized by Clementine.How I missed her, how I missed her, how I missed my Clementine!
Til' I kissed her little sister, and forgot my Clementine.
As MetroLyrics has it, "My Darling Clementine" doesn't end so nicely! Poor Clementine.
8. "Skip To My Lou"
I’ll find another one prettier than you
I’ll find another one prettier than you
I’ll find another one prettier than you
Go to another party
The Judy Garland version of this song, according to Google Play, has this salty verse in there!
9. "My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean"
Last night as I lay on my pillow
Last night as I lay on my bed
Last night as I lay on my pillow
I dreamt that my Bonnie was dead
I can see why this grim verse has flown under the radar all this time, but according to Genius, they’re very real lyrics! The images of the sea are much more palatable.
10. "London Bridge"
This one's a doozy, are you ready? After the verse we all know, we have this:
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 bricks and mortar,
Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar,
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
My fair Lady.Bricks and mortar will not stay,
Will not stay, will not stay,
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
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.Silver and gold will be stolen away,
Stolen away, stolen away,
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
My fair Lady.Set a man to watch all night,
Watch all night, watch all night,
Set a man to watch all night,
My fair Lady.Suppose the man should fall asleep,
Fall asleep, fall asleep,
Suppose the man should fall asleep?
My fair Lady.Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
Smoke all night, smoke all night,
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
My fair Lady.
According to Rhymes.org, the saga of the bridge falling down goes on and on. My, my, who knew the whole thing could be solved simply by giving a man a pipe to smoke?
Were you aware of any of these lesser-known verses and words to these children's songs? Please SHARE with family and friends on Facebook.
