List of Nursery Rhymes (A-Z) You Can Listen to or Download

This list of nursery rhymes is the perfect resource for parents and educators alike.

Welcome to the index page for Nursery Rhymes, where you will find a collection of classic and modern rhymes that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Nursery rhymes are an important part of early childhood development as they help children learn language and improve their memory skills.

In this index page, you will find everything you need to know about these songs for kids. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or educator, this index page is the perfect resource for anyone looking to explore the magical world of nursery rhymes.

Discover the enchanting universe of nursery rhymes, where language and memory skills are boosted in young tots. Let this index page be your guide, whether you’re a proud parent, loving grandparent, or passionate educator. Here, you’ll uncover everything you need to know about these wonderful songs for kids that play a crucial role in early childhood development. Get ready to immerse yourself in the captivating world of nursery rhymes!

Table of Contents

• What is a Nursery Rhyme? A definition
• Characteristics of Nursery Rhymes
• Why Teach Nursery Rhymes to a child?
• List of Nursery rhymes [mp3 Download]
• List of Nursery Rhymes in English
  • Lyrics for Nursery Rhymes
  • Nursery rhyme Albums
    • Songs with Vocals
    • Karaoke Albums with Nursery Rhymes for Kids
  • Commercial Licenses for Nursery Rhymes
• 100 Non-stop minutes of Nursery Rhymes

What is a Nursery Rhyme? A definition

According to Elisabeth Galway, in Oxford Bibliographies we read that “Nursery rhymes, also known as Mother Goose rhymes, can be broadly defined as short songs and verses often read or sung to, or by, young children. Generally, these verses are anonymous, although the term nursery rhyme has also been applied to works written by known authors.“

Characteristics of Nursery Rhymes

Looking up in dictionaries such as the Cambridge Dictionary or Merriam-Webster, we conclude that a nursery rhyme has the following characteristics:

• it is for kids,
• it is relatively short,
• it has verses and rhyme, in most cases it is a song, i.e. it has a melodic line, and
• it tells a short story.

Their presence in the English-speaking world comes from a long time ago, as already from the 16th century. we have the first records.

Why Teach Nursery Rhymes to a child?

Teaching nursery rhymes to a child is essential as it promotes early language development, strengthens cognitive abilities, and fosters social skills. By engaging with the rhythmic patterns and repetitive nature of nursery rhymes, children enhance their vocabulary, pronunciation, and comprehension skills.

These rhymes also stimulate cognitive development through memory recall and exposure to basic concepts. Furthermore, nursery rhymes provide an avenue for social interaction, teamwork, and building connections with others.

Overall, teaching nursery rhymes is a valuable tool in laying the foundation for a child’s holistic growth and learning.

List of Nursery rhymes [mp3 Download]

Click on the song titles to go to the page with the free song download. You can get these tracks for use at home, in class or for educational purposes.

Songs can not be used in YouTube videos – unless you buy a commercial YouTube license.

TITLE	DESCRIPTION	PRINTABLE LYRICS
A
A Farmer Went Trotting (Upon His Gray Mare)	A traditional nursery rhyme that typically involves actions and gestures to mimic the movements of the farmer and the horse.	lyrics
A Frog He Would A-wooing Go	An English nursery rhyme that tells the story of a frog who embarks on a romantic adventure.	lyrics
A Jolly Fat Frog (Lived in the River Swim)	An English traditional rhyme which tells the story of a crow preying on a frog and its original title was “The Frog and the Crow”.	lyrics
A Sailor Went to Sea	A cheerful and interactive chant about a sailor’s adventures on the sea.	lyrics
A-Hunting We Will Go		lyrics
A-Tisket, A-Tasket	A popular American nursery rhyme and singing game that tells the story of a young girl who loses her yellow basket while going to the market.	lyrics
ABC Song	A fundamental rhyme that helps children learn the alphabet through a catchy melody.	lyrics
Ah! Vous dirai-je, maman	A French nursery rhyme that dates back to the 18th century, commonly known as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star“.
Aiken Drum	An imaginative rhyme featuring a peculiar character with a hat made of food.	lyrics
All Around the Green Apple Tree	A traditional English nursery rhyme that involves a playful circle game.	lyrics
All the Pretty Little Horses		lyrics
Alouette	A traditional French-Canadian children’s song that has gained popularity worldwide. The word “alouette” translates to “lark” in English.	lyrics
Animal Fair, The	See “The Animal Fair“
As I Was Going to St. Ives	An English nursery rhyme, counting rhyme and traditional riddle that dates back to the 17th century.
B
Baa, Baa, black sheep	A well-known rhyme about a black sheep and its wool, teaching basic counting and sharing concepts.	lyrics
Baby Bumblebee	A playful and humorous nursery rhyme about a child’s misadventure with a bumblebee, involving sticky situations and a catchy melody.	lyrics
Bahay Kubo		lyrics
Bear Went Over the Mountain, The	See “The Bear Went Over the Mountain“
Billy Boy	A spirited folk song that tells the story of a young man named Billy and his love interest, exploring themes of courtship and a playful narrative.	lyrics
Bingo Song (There Was a Farmer Had a Dog)	A popular and energetic children’s rhyme that follows the repetitive and interactive structure of the traditional game, engaging kids with its catchy tune and encouraging participation.	lyrics
Bobby Shafto	A traditional English nursery rhyme and folk song. It is named after a real person, Robert Shafto, who was a member of Parliament in County Durham, England, during the late 18th century.	lyrics
Brahms’ Lullaby (Cradle Song / Lullaby and Good Night)	A gentle and soothing lullaby composed by Johannes Brahms, often sung to lull babies and young children to sleep with its soft melody and comforting lyrics.	lyrics
Brother John	See “Frère Jacques (Are You Sleeping?)“
C
Chubby Cheeks	a delightful and playful nursery rhyme that is often sung or recited to engage young children.
Cobbler, Cobbler	A delightful rhyme about a cobbler who repairs shoes, teaching children about different occupations and the importance of hard work.
Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!	A lively chant that imitates the crowing of a rooster, often used to teach children about animal sounds and encourage early morning awakenings.
Cradle Song	See “Brahms’ Lullaby (Cradle Song / Lullaby and Good Night)“
D
Dance to your Daddy (When the boat comes in)	A traditional English folk song that is often sung as a nursery rhyme or lullaby.	lyrics
Did You Ever See a Lassie?	A playful children’s song that encourages imagination and singing along while highlighting the qualities of a lassie (young girl) and the joy she brings.	lyrics
Ding Dong Bell (Kitty’s in the well)	A traditional English nursery rhyme that dates back several centuries and tells a short story in its simple lyrics.	lyrics
Doggie Doggie	A traditional children’s game and nursery rhyme that involves guessing and seeking an object or person.	lyrics
E
Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe	A counting-out rhyme used to make a random selection, involving a repetitive chant and hand gestures to determine a choice among a group of options.	lyrics
F
Finger Family	A popular fingerplay rhyme that involves a simple and interactive hand gesture, where each finger represents a family member	lyrics
Five Little Ducks (Went Swimming One Day)		lyrics
Five Little Monkeys (jumping on the bed)		lyrics
Five Little Speckled Frogs	A lively and engaging nursery rhyme that tells the story of five frogs and is ideal for teaching counting.
Frère Jacques (Are You Sleeping?)		lyrics
Frog Went a-Courting	A traditional English folk song and nursery rhyme that tells the story of a frog who goes courting a mouse.	lyrics
G
Georgie Porgie	A nursery rhyme that tells the story of a mischievous character and is still used in many preschools.
Girls and Boys Come Out To Play	A 17th century English nursery rhyme about playing in the moonlight.	lyrics
Golden Slumbers		lyrics
Goosey Goosey Gander	A traditional nursery rhyme that recounts a curious encounter with a goose and the exploration of a mysterious house.
H
Hickety Pickety	A traditional nursery rhyme that follows a rhythmic pattern and tells a whimsical story.
Here We Go Looby Loo		lyrics
Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush		lyrics
Hey Diddle Diddle	A popular English nursery rhyme that dates back to the 18th century.	lyrics
Hey Ho Nobody Home	An English folk song and nursery rhyme that is often sung as a round or in a call-and-response style.	lyrics
Hickory Dickory Dock		lyrics
Hot Cross Buns	A popular English nursery rhyme and children’s song that is often associated with the Easter season.	lyrics
Humpty Dumpty		lyrics
Hush Little Baby (Mockingbird)		lyrics
I
I’m a Little Teapot		lyrics
Incy Wincy Spider (Eency Weency Spider)		lyrics
If you are happy and you know it		lyrics
Itsy-bitsy spider		lyrics
J
Jack and Jill		lyrics
K
Kookaburra	A popular Australian nursery rhyme that celebrates the native bird species known as the kookaburra.	lyrics
L
Ladybug, Ladybug	A traditional nursery rhyme that tells the story of a ladybug. (UK: Ladybird, Ladybird)
Lavender’s Blue (Dilly Dilly)		lyrics
Les Petites Marionnettes (Ainsi Font, Font, Font)
Little Bo Peep		lyrics
Little Boy Blue (Come Blow your Horn)		lyrics
Little Jack Horner		lyrics
London Bridge is falling down		lyrics
M
Mary Had a Little Lamb		lyrics
Merrily we roll along		lyrics
Mexican hat dance		lyrics
Mrs. Macaroni		lyrics
Miss Polly Had a Dolly		lyrics
O
Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow		lyrics
Old MacDonald had a farm		lyrics
Oranges and Lemons		lyrics
P
Pat-a-Cake (Patty Cake)		lyrics
Pirouette, Cacahuète		lyrics
Promenons-nous dans les bois (Loup, y es-tu?)		lyrics
R
Rain, rain, go away		lyrics
Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross		lyrics
Ring a Ring o’ Roses (Ring Around the Rosie)		lyrics
Rock-a-bye baby		lyrics
Row, row, row your boat		lyrics
S
See Saw Margery Daw		lyrics
Sing a Song of Sixpence	A whimsical rhyme that tells the story of a king and his extravagant pie, filled with delightful imagery and humorous moments.	lyrics
Star Light, Star Bright	A a traditional nursery rhyme that dates back to the 19th century, inviting children to make a wish upon a star and marvel at the nighttime sky.
Sur le pont d’Avignon		lyrics
T
Ten Little Fingers		lyrics
The Animal Fair		lyrics
The Animals Went in Two by Two		lyrics
The Bear Went Over the Mountain	A cheerful rhyme about a bear’s adventurous journey over the mountain, often accompanied by actions or gestures.	lyrics
The Farmer in the Dell		lyrics
The More We Get Together		lyrics
The Muffin Man		lyrics
The North Wind Doth Blow (The Robin)		lyrics
The Wheels on the bus	A lively and interactive song that describes the various activities, sounds, and passengers encountered on a bus ride, often accompanied by hand movements and actions.	lyrics
This Little Piggy		lyrics
This Old Man		lyrics
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star	A well-known English nursery rhyme that originated from a poem written by Jane Taylor in the early 19th century.	lyrics
W
Wee Willie Winkie	A charming rhyme about a fictional character named Willie Winkie, who goes around town in his nightgown, tapping on windows to make sure children are in bed.
When Goldilocks Went to the House of the Bears	A playful nursery rhyme that retells the story of Goldilocks encountering the three bears and their belongings.	lyrics
When the Boat Comes In	See “Dance to your Daddy (When the boat comes in)“
Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?	A whimsical nursery rhyme that laments the loss of a beloved pet and humorously speculates where it might have gone.
Who Killed Cock Robin?	A traditional English nursery rhyme that recounts the investigation and mourning surrounding the death of the fictional character Cock Robin, engaging children with a detective-like narrative.

Lyrics for Nursery Rhymes

This collection includes 50 printable lyrics to popular nursery rhymes which will definitely come in handy.

Nursery rhyme Albums

Songs with Vocals

Karaoke Albums with Nursery Rhymes for Kids

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100 Non-stop minutes of Nursery Rhymes

Listen to our nursery rhyme mashup, including 56 popular traditional songs for kids in a 100-minute mix. The mix begins with faster tempo songs and ends with favourite lullabies.