Children’s songs of the world: songs passed down and sung by children overseas
We’re introducing nursery rhymes and children’s songs that have been sung across countries and regions around the world!
From songs found in Japanese textbooks to tunes actually sung overseas and popular songs used in English education, we’ve gathered a selection from various perspectives.
As you’ll see in this article, there are actually many songs people in Japan think are Japanese that are originally from other countries.
If you want to know “famous foreign nursery rhymes in Japan” or you’d like to sing children’s songs in other languages, be sure to check these out and give them a try!
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Nursery Rhymes of the World: Children's Songs Passed Down Overseas (21–30)
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!
I had a Little Hen
Let me introduce a very homey, heartwarming song where a hardworking hen really shines! The star of the song is a clever and cute hen who takes care of all the household chores.
The lyrics portray her diligently washing dishes, going to the mill to carry flour, baking bread, and more.
In the end, she even tells delightful stories by the fireplace—she’s like a dream partner! This classic Mother Goose rhyme already appeared with its current lyrics in an 1886 songbook, and it has continued to be loved over the years, even being featured in the popular TV show “Barney & Friends.” It can spark children’s interest in helping out, and it’s wonderful for parents and kids to sing together while giving lots of praise to the hardworking hen!
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!
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.
Cobbler Cobbler, mend my shoe
This is a simple and charming Mother Goose nursery rhyme about asking a cobbler to repair a treasured pair of shoes.
In the lyrics, a child urges the craftsman to finish by two-thirty, specifying the time, and promises to pay if the shoes are properly mended.
Although the exact author is unknown, the song has a long history and was already popular in Britain and the United States from the 18th to 19th centuries.
It’s also useful in educational settings because it helps children learn how to tell time and practice numbers.
You can even play it as a game by passing shoes to the rhythm, making it perfect for lively fun with friends and family.
This piece fosters a love of taking care of one’s belongings, too—so try singing it together with your child while keeping the beat!
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.
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?