[Surprising!] A children’s song that originated overseas. That familiar nursery rhyme is actually…
Nursery rhymes we often sang as children in kindergarten, nursery school, or elementary school.
Among the ones we still remember as adults, quite a few actually originated overseas.
In this article, we’ll introduce nursery rhymes with roots abroad.
We’ve picked out a variety—from songs that make you think “Come to think of it, that makes sense,” to surprising ones that have you saying, “Wait, that song too?” They’re all familiar across generations, whether it’s something you sang as a child or a song your kids are learning in nursery school.
As you listen, be sure to notice the differences between the versions we often sing and the original tunes!
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[Surprising!] Nursery rhymes that originated overseas. Even those familiar nursery rhymes are actually (1–10)
Someone whistled.Furansu-gun Koushinkyoku
Based on the French military march “Marche des Sambras et Meuse,” this piece possesses a gentle, poetic charm that seems almost unimaginable given its origins in martial music.
The lyrics by Hiroo Sakata beautifully depict a slice of everyday life—the sound of a whistle and footsteps resonating in the morning calm—evoking a peaceful scene in stark contrast to the original’s military background.
First broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 1965, the song was later included in junior high and high school music textbooks and has continued to be loved across generations.
Its unique atmosphere—born from the fusion of the march’s distinctive, vigorous rhythm with the soft sonorities of the Japanese language—makes it perfect for music classes and choral settings, and stands as a superb example of cultural fusion, in which music from another culture is reinterpreted through a uniquely Japanese sensibility.
Grandfather’s ClockAmerika hasshō
“Ooki-na Furudokei” (“Grandfather’s Clock”), which also drew attention when Ken Hirai covered it in 2002, is based on “Grandfather’s Clock” by American composer Henry Clay Work and was hugely popular in the United States.
In Japan, it first appeared in 1940 under the title “Ojiisan no Tokei” (“Grandfather’s Clock”), and later became widely known after being broadcast in 1962 on NHK’s Minna no Uta under its current title.
The lyrics depict the relationship between the grandfather and the clock, but the original American version describes that relationship in greater detail.
little foxDoitsu min’yō
It is a charming children’s song depicting a little fox living in the mountains who wishes to dress up like a human.
The original tune is the German folk song “Fuchs, du hast die Gans gestohlen,” which portrays humans complaining to a fox.
In it, they threaten to shoot the fox with a gun unless it returns the goose it stole.
The sly image of the fox, common in foreign folktales, and the seemingly cruel threat make a strong impression.
[Surprising!] Nursery rhymes that originated overseas. That familiar nursery rhyme is actually (11–20)
cuckooDoitsu dōyō
This song, with its humorous theme of a cuckoo and a donkey competing in singing ability, has long been loved by children in Germany.
Composed in 19th‑century Germany, its bright and lively melody is simple yet familiar, and the repeated phrases that imitate each animal’s call are truly delightful.
The lyricist, Hoffmann von Fallersleben, also wrote the lyrics to the German national anthem, and the composer, Carl Friedrich Zelter, was acquainted with the poet Goethe—so this work was created by figures of great importance in German culture.
In German-speaking kindergartens and nurseries, it is sung in spring and early summer as a seasonal song, and as a classic that lets parents and children enjoy music together in educational settings, it’s well worth singing yourself!
butterflydoitsu hasshou
The children’s song “Chōchō,” which depicts a butterfly fluttering from flower to flower, is a piece based on a German nursery rhyme with original Japanese lyrics added.
It is said that educational scholar Shuji Izawa brought it back from the United States and introduced it as a Spanish folk song, a background that also shows how it has been loved across various Western countries.
The original, the old German nursery rhyme “Hänschen klein,” means “Little Hans” and tells the story of a child named Hans growing up.
Its strong narrative—parting at the start of a journey and a reunion at the end—stands in marked contrast to the Japanese “Chōchō,” which is beloved for its different character.
Buzz buzz buzzDoitsu min’yō
It’s quite common to find that a familiar children’s song about bees buzzing from flower to flower actually originated as a German folk song, and delving into Europe’s traditional music often leads to such delightful discoveries.
The song widely loved in Japanese kindergartens and nursery schools also traces back to the German piece “Summ, summ, summ.” The original lyrics were written in 1843 by Hoffmann von Fallersleben, also known as the author of the German national anthem.
The way this affectionate ode to nature was transformed into beautiful Japanese lyrics—richly visual and stimulating to the imagination—is truly remarkable.
Black Cat Tangoitaria dōyō
This song, which features a black cat as its protagonist, is based on the Italian children’s song “Volevo un gatto nero,” born in 1969.
That same year, Osamu Minagawa’s Japanese cover became a massive hit.
While the original expresses a pure wish for a cat, the Japanese version—true to its tagline, “a children’s song for adults”—stands out with its mature portrayal of the cat as a symbol of a lover.
From 1969 to 1970, the song topped the Oricon charts for 14 consecutive weeks and sold 2.6 million copies.
Its friendly melody set to a tango rhythm is not only passed down as a children’s song, but also offers the pleasure of discovering the deeper meaning of the lyrics when you listen again as an adult.
It’s a great recommendation for parents and children to enjoy together!