Five Little Monkeys
"Five Little Monkeys" is an English language folk song and fingerplay. It is usually accompanied by a sequence of gestures that mimic the words of the song. Each successive verse sequentially counts down from the starting number.[1][2][3]
Lyrics
A commonly used version uses these words and gestures::
Words | Fingerplay |
---|---|
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed, Four little monkeys jumping on the bed, Three little monkeys jumping on the bed, Two little monkeys jumping on the bed, One little monkey jumping on the bed, No little monkeys jumping on the bed, |
Hold up five fingers; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down Hold up four fingers; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down Hold up three fingers; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down Hold up two fingers; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down Hold up one finger; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down Hold up zero fingers; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down |
An additional part is:
No little monkeys jumping on the bed,
None fell down and bumped their heads.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said:
Put those monkeys straight back to the bed!
An alternate version sometimes seen is:
Five little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "Can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!
Four little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "Can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!
Three little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "Can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!
Two little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "Can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!
One little monkey swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "Can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!
No more monkeys swinging in a tree!
Origin
there is no known origin of the song, due to it being a modern nursery rhyme. But the song has similar lyrics and tune that came from the first verse from the folksong "Short'nin Bread"
Usage In Media
- Five Little Monkeys appears in Just Dance Kids 2, and in the streamer based Just Dance Unlimited for Just Dance 2017 and Just Dance 2018
References
- ↑ "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on a Bed". Scottish Book Trust. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
- ↑ "Nursery rhymes and songs: Five little monkeys". BBC Learning: School Radio. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
- ↑ "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed". King County Library System. Retrieved 2018-01-09.