Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes is a children's

Children's music

Children's music is used here to refer to music composed and performed for children by adults. In European influenced contexts this means music, usually songs, written specifically for a juvenile audience. The composers are usually adults. Children's music has historically held both entertainment...

 song.

Description

Like many songs, it can be sung with slightly different variations, but there is generally only one verse, with lyrics similar to those below. The second line repeats the first line both in words and in melody, the third line has a rising tone, and the fourth line repeats the first two. It is common for children to dance while they sing the song, and to touch their head, shoulders, knees and toes in sequence while singing each word.

Lyrics

The following lyrics are taken from the children's music database of the NIEHS:

Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes

Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes

and eyes and ears and mouth and nose,

Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes!

An expanded version of the song contains a second verse with the lyrics "Neck, elbows, hips and feet, hips and feet", while another version (with the melody of London Bridge Is Falling Down

London Bridge is Falling Down

"London Bridge Is Falling Down" is a well-known traditional nursery rhyme and singing game, which is found in different versions all over the world. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 502.-Lyrics:...

) uses "Ankles,
elbows, feet, and seat".

Another way additional verses are sung is by omitting the first word sung in the previous verse, and, instead, touching their head, shoulders, knees or toes, without actually saying the word. The last verse consists of no actual singing, just touching what would have been sung.

External links

• Sheet music from lds.org
• The free score on www.traditional-songs.com