A classic Mother Goose tune. A Mother Goose song that’s popular with children.
We’d like to introduce Mother Goose, a collection of English nursery rhymes that are especially beloved and passed down in the UK and the United States!
Mother Goose is said to include anywhere from 600 to over 1,000 rhymes, such as riddles, lullabies, play songs, tongue twisters, and memory songs.
In this article, we’ve gathered some of the most iconic and child-popular rhymes from Mother Goose.
When you listen, you’ll likely find many you already know, and because they’ve been sung for generations, they can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Some of these songs are a fun way to spark your child’s interest in English, so be sure to enjoy them together as a parent and child, with family, or with friends!
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Mother Goose classics. Popular Mother Goose songs for children (1–10)
Monday’s Child (A child born on Monday)
This Mother Goose song has lyrics about children whose personalities differ depending on the day of the week they were born.
It’s like a birthday fortune-telling song.
It’s interesting that some days are depicted very favorably while others are portrayed as sadly unfortunate.
In a culture steeped in Christianity, Sunday is depicted especially positively.
Also, little children may have learned the names of the days of the week by singing or listening to this song.
Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross
It’s a well-known Mother Goose nursery rhyme that’s often sung while bouncing a child on an adult’s knee like a trotting horse.
It depicts a splendid, slightly mysterious scene: on the way to the cross in Banbury, people go to see a lady adorned with rings and bells riding a white horse.
Since its inclusion in a 1784 collection of nursery rhymes, it has been loved and passed down through generations.
It appears on many recordings, such as the album The Nursery Rhyme Collection featuring Cynthia Glover, as well as records from the 1950s.
It’s also a staple in British educational programs, and because of its rhythmic motions, it’s a perfect song for playful bonding with babies and young children!
Birds of a Feather
A short and cheerful Mother Goose song that sings about birds of a feather flocking together, “Birds of a Feather.” In the lyrics, not only birds but also animals like pigs and mice appear, each choosing their own kind or favorite things.
In fact, the original proverb is said to have already appeared in documents around 1545, giving it a very long history.
Today, it’s featured in videos from the Emmy-winning educational program “Mother Goose Club,” where it’s enjoyed in a pop-style arrangement.
With short phrases and an easy rhythm, it’s a great first song for getting used to the sounds of English.
Add some hand claps and have fun singing and playing together with your child!
Classic Mother Goose songs. Popular Mother Goose songs for children (11–20)
Here we go round the mulberry bush
“Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” is a fingerplay and action song loved by children.
It even appears in Through the Looking-Glass, the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Children sing it while doing choreography that imitates everyday actions—such as pretending to go around a tree in a circle with several people, or miming washing one’s face and brushing one’s teeth.
It’s a good way to warm up on a cold day.
In Japan, it might be comparable to oshikura manju (a game where children huddle and jostle to keep warm).
Another nice aspect is that it helps you learn how to say everyday actions in English.
A Wise Old Owl
Among the many playful songs in Mother Goose, “A Wise Old Owl” stands out as a profound piece that teaches wisdom for life.
The protagonist is an owl living in an oak tree, portrayed as wise for seeing much, speaking little, and listening all the more.
Its message—“Let us be like this bird”—resonates with adults as well.
With records showing it was printed in a magazine in April 1875, it has a long history, and it’s said that John D.
Rockefeller even quoted it in a speech.
Although it isn’t associated with any particular artist, it’s well loved in many Mother Goose Rhymes albums and educational programs.
It might be nice to learn, together with a chatty child, the importance of quietly listening.
Curly Locks
Here’s a very romantic and gentle Mother Goose rhyme that sings of warm affection for a lovable, curly-haired person! It’s a memorable piece that promises a dreamlike life—forgetting chores and other work, sitting on soft cushions, and enjoying strawberries and sweet cream.
Its prototype can already be found in documents from around 1810, and it’s a traditional song that has been loved for more than 200 years.
It has appeared across eras, such as as a character in the 1934 film “Babes in Toyland,” and in folk singer Tim Hart’s 1983 album “The Drunken Sailor and Other Kids Songs,” where he performed it.
The gentle melody is perfect for bedtime, so why not listen to it on a night when you and your child want to relax together?
Georgie Porgie
This is the song that comes to mind when you think of a playful teasing tune where a boy pulls a prank on a girl and then, when other boys show up, he panics and runs away.
Its rhyming, rhythmic phrases are catchy, and it has long been beloved as a children’s playground song.
In fact, it has a very long history—there’s a record of it already being introduced in a book from January 1841.
It’s also famous because the American rock band TOTO quoted its opening lines in a song they released in 1978.
The lyrics might be a little startling, but it’s a perfect example of Mother Goose’s delightful wordplay.
Why not hum along with your child to its unique rhythm while experiencing a bit of English-speaking culture and history?