Little Robin Redbreast facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Little Robin Redbreast" |
|
|---|---|
| Nursery rhyme | |
| Published | c. 1744 |
| Songwriter(s) | Unknown |
The song ‘Little Robin Redbreast’ is a classic English nursery rhyme. It's special because it shows how old songs and poems can change over time. This rhyme is listed in the Roud Folk Song Index as number 20612, which helps keep track of traditional songs.
Different Versions of the Rhyme
This rhyme has many different versions, making it one of the most changed English nursery rhymes. This might be because its very first version was a bit rude! Here are some common versions you might know:
| Words | Fingerplay |
|---|---|
|
Little Robin Redbreast |
Right hand extended in shape of a bird |
Another popular version goes like this:
- Little Robin Redbreast
- Came to visit me;
- This is what he whistled,
- Thank you for my tea.
And here's one with a playful cat:
- Little Robin Redbreast
- Sat upon a tree,
- Up went the Pussy-Cat,
- And down went he;
- Down came Pussy-Cat,
- Away Robin ran,
- Says little Robin Redbreast—
- Catch me if you can.
- Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a wall,
- Pussy-Cat jumped after him, and almost got a fall.
- Little Robin chirped and sung, and what did pussy say?
- Pussy-Cat said Mew, mew mew,—and Robin jumped away.
How the Rhyme Started
The very first versions of this rhyme were a bit more silly. The oldest known version was written around 1744 in a book called Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book. That early version had a line that was considered a bit too simple or crude for children later on.
The original line was:
- Little Robin Red breast,
- Sitting on a pole,
- Nidde, Noddle, Went his head.
- And poop went his Hole.
By the late 1700s, people started changing the last line to something like "And wag went his tail." Many other changes were made in children's books during the 1800s. This is a clear example of something called bowdlerisation, which means editing a text to remove parts that are considered rude or unsuitable.
Playing with the Rhyme: Fingerplay
This rhyme is often used as a fingerplay, where you use your hands to act out the words. A version from 1920 included instructions for how to do this:
- Little Robin Redbreast
- Sat upon a rail,
- (You hold your right hand like a bird, resting it on the pointer finger of your left hand.)
- Niddle noddle went his head,
- And waggle went his tail.
- (You wiggle the little finger of your right hand from side to side.)
