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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Classic Mother Goose songs. Popular Mother Goose songs for children (11–20)
Simple Simon
The Mother Goose rhyme that features a character meaning a “simpleton” or a “soft touch” is Simple Simon.
The lyrics describe the foolish episodes caused by Simon, who believes anything he’s told.
It actually shares the same melody as the American folk song “Yankee Doodle” and the Japanese hand-play song “Arupusu Ichiman-jaku.” The lyrics use similarly pronounced English words to create rhymes, giving them a pleasing mouthfeel and good rhythm, making it perfect for children’s English practice.
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!
Are you Sleeping
Isn’t this song one of the most famous rounds in the world? It’s based on a French nursery rhyme and has long been loved in English-speaking countries as well.
The lyrics depict people calling out to “John,” who is still asleep, telling him that the morning bells are ringing.
The melody is simple, but its greatest charm is the beautiful harmony that emerges when you sing it as a round.
In fact, this tune is said to have first appeared in a song collection published in Paris in 1811, making it a melody with a long history.
It has been cherished across genres—Gustav Mahler incorporated it into a symphony, and the Beatles quoted it in the chorus of “Paperback Writer.” Try layering your voices with family and friends and enjoy singing it as a round!
Cock-A-Doodle-Do
This is one of the liveliest Mother Goose songs, beginning with the crow of a spirited rooster.
In the lyrics, the house descends into chaos as the wife loses her shoe and the husband misplaces his fiddle bow, all to the rhythm of the cock’s crow.
Despite the troubles, there’s a humorous tone that makes it simply fun to listen to.
The piece has been beloved for a long time and was already included in the nursery rhyme collection Mother Goose’s Melody around 1765.
The phrase has become so familiar that it’s even been quoted in works for adults, such as an episode title of the drama Sex and the City.
The rhythm of the English onomatopoeia is pleasing to the ear, and it might be a great song to sing with your child as a morning wake-up tune.
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.