I was born a hundred thousand years ago

This was one of those old songs that probably was a campfire favorite. Its lyrics have shifted and changed down the years. I have loved the tall tales that the singer brings forth. Hope your child does too.

Chorus

I was born a hundred thousand years ago, There ain’t nothin’ in this world that I don’t know.

I saw Peter, Paul and Moses, Play ring around the roses,

And I’ll wallop the guy who says it isn’t so.

1.

I knew Adam and Eve before they knew the score, It was I who designed the fig leaves that they wore,

And when the apples they were stealing, behind the bushes I was kneeling,

And I swear I am the guy who ate the core.

Chorus

 

2.

Emperor Nero was a personal friend of mine, The way he played the fiddle was divine,

But when he ordered Rome to burn, It was I who got my gun

And shot him with a bullet to the spine.

Chorus

 

3.

Cleopatra was a constant date of mine, We played Rummy on her barge down the Nile,

And when Chubby Julius Caesar, wanted Cleo for a breather,

I was made the God Father of the child.

Chorus

 

4.

I’ll tell you how America came to be, I was with Collumbus when he sailed across the sea

 He fell sick the day we landed, Returned home empty handed,

And by rights the whole damn place belongs to me.

Chorus

 

5.

I have a really long long tale to tell, You must admit I do it rather well,

Now this part is the best, And I put you to the test,

You had better clap or you can go to hell.

Chorus

All things bright and beautiful

This was a hymn we had in school that also shared its chorus with many books of James Herriot.

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

The purple headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;-

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,-
He made them every one:

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
We gather every day;-

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

We three kings of Orient are

In the same league as Silent Night, Holy Night. You may need to practice this one a few times.

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to rein

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Pray'r and praising, all men raising
Worship Him, God most high

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
Earth to heav'n replies

O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light

We wish you a merry Christmas

Another popular one with the preschoolers!

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
we wish you a merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year

Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
Good tidings for Christmas
And a Happy New Year

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
we wish you a merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year

Silent night, holy night

For the slightly older and better singers!

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Deck the halls with boughs of holly

Good song for carolling as everyone can join in at the Fa la las!

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la, la la la la

'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la

Don we now our gay apparrel
Fa la la, la la la, la la la

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol
Fa la la la la, la la la la

See the blazing yule before us
Fa la la la la, la la la la

Strike the harp and join the chorus
Fa la la la la, la la la la

Follow me in merry measure
Fa la la, la la la, la la la

While I tell of Yuletide treasure
Fa la la la la, la la la la

Auld lang syne

 I love this old song and its so ideal for new year's eve!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brocht to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne;
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

We twa ha'e run aboot the braes,
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wandered mony a weary foot
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne;
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

We twa ha'e paidled i' the burn
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid ha'e roared
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne;
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

And here's a hand, my trusty frien',
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne;
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

My Bonnie lies over the ocean

This was the first song I ever sang to my son in the hospital room when they placed him in my arms!

My Bonnie lies over the ocean,
My Bonnie lies over the sea,
My Bonnie lies over the ocean,
Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me, to me.

O bring back, O, bring back, O
Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me.

The winds have blown over the ocean
The winds have blown over the sea
The winds have blown over the ocean
and have brought back my Bonnie to me, to me

O bring back, O bring back, O
Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me.

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.

O bring back, O bring back, O
Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me.

When its Spring Time in the Rockies

My Grandpa used to play this one on the Harmonica. He taught my cousin and me the lyrics and we would sing along.

When its spring time in the Rockies
I'll be coming back to you
Little sweetheart of the mountains
with your Bonny eyes of Blue

Once again I'll say I love you
While the birds sing overhead
When its spring time in the Rockies
The rock is far away.

Danny boy

I love the Jim Reeves live version of this song!

Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling,
From glen to glen and down the mountain side;
The summer's gone, and all the leaves are falling;
'Tis you, 'tis you must go, and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow;
I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow;
Oh Danny boy, Oh Danny boy, I love you so.

You'll come and find the place where I am lying,
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.

This old man (Knick-knack paddywhack)

This old man, he played one,
He played knick-knack on my thumb;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played two,
He played knick-knack on my shoe;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played three,
He played knick-knack on my knee;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played four,
He played knick-knack on my door;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played five,
He played knick-knack on my hive;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played six,
He played knick-knack on my sticks;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played seven,
He played knick-knack up in Heaven;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played eight,
He played knick-knack on my gate;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played nine,
He played knick-knack on my spine;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played ten,
He played knick-knack once again;
Knick-knack paddywhack,
Give a dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer

As a kid I would love this carol and my son loves it too!

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
play in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then all the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee:
"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
you'll go down in history!"

Rain Rain Go Away

This was a sweet little one.

Rain rain, go away
Come again , another day
Little Johnny
wants to play!

Teddy bear, teddy bear

This was the rhyme to which I used to dress my school for nursery!

Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Turn around.
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Touch the ground.
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Polish your shoes.
Teddy bear, teddy bear,
Off to school.

Rock-a-bye, baby

I always found it depressing that the baby would have a fall.

Rock-a-bye, baby, in the tree top
When the wind blows the cradle will rock
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall
Down will come baby, cradle and all

Mary, Mary, quite contrary

I still don't know what cockleshells are!

Mary, Mary, quite contrary
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockleshells
And pretty maids all in a row.

Mary had a little lamb

This tune is so versatile I use it for any rhyme that I don't know the tune to. 

Mary had a little lamb,
Little lamb, little lamb,
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow

Everywhere that Mary went,
Mary went, Mary went,
Everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go

It followed her to school one day
School one day, school one day
It followed her to school one day
Which was against the rules.

It made the children laugh and play,
Laugh and play, laugh and play,
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school

Pat-a-cake

I used to personalize this with the first letter of my son's name!

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
Baker's man!
Bake us a cake
As fast as you can,

Mix it and prick it
And mark it with B,
And put it in the oven
For baby and me.

The Owl and the Pussycat

I think this one is super sweet.

The owl and the pussycat went to sea
In a beautiful peagreen boat
They took some honey and plenty of money
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.

The owl looked up to the stars above
And sang to a small guitar,
"O, lovely pussy, o pussy my love,
What a beautiful pussy you are, you are
What a beautiful pussy you are!"

Pussy said to the owl, "You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing.
O, let us be married, too long we have tarried,
But what shall we do for a ring?"

They sailed away for a year and a day
To the land where the Bongtree grows.
And there in a wood a Piggywig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose, his nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.

"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will."
So they took it away and were married next day
By the turkey who lives on the hill.

They dined on mince and slices of quince
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand on the edge of the sand
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon, the moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Another simple action poem for the kids.

One, two,
Buckle my shoe

Three, four,
Shut the door

Five, six,
Pick up sticks

Seven eight,
Lay them straight

Nine, ten,
A big fat hen!

Little Bo Peep

I dressed as Bo Peep in school once!

Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep
And doesn’t know where to find them
Leave them alone
And they'll come home
Wagging their tails behind them

Lavender's blue

This one was used by Nora Roberts in her In The Garden series.

Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen

Jack and Jill

The simplest action poem ever.

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.

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
Over the fields we go
Laughing all the way

Bells on bobtail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight! Hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh! Hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh!

A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride,
And soon Miss Fannie Bright
Was seated by my side.

The horse was lean and lank;
Misfortune seemed his lot;
He got into a drifted bank,
And we got upset - upsot!

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh! Hey!

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh!

Old MacDonald had a farm

This is a good song for a long car ride!

Old MacDonald had a farm,
E-I-E-I-O
And on that farm he had some hens,
E-I-E-I-O
With a cluck-cluck here,
And a cluck-cluck there

Here a cluck, there a cluck,
Everywhere a cluck-cluck
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O

Repeat with different animals
dogs - woof woof
cows - moo moo
turkeys - gobble gobble
cats - mew mew
pigs - oink oink
donkeys - bray bray
horses - neigh neigh
and so on

Humpty Dumpty

This was the first rhyme that I taught my baby!

Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses
And all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty Dumpty
Together again.