Five Little Monkeys

"Five Little Monkeys" is an English language folk song and fingerplay. It is usually accompanied by a sequence of gestures that mimic the words of the song. Each successive verse sequentially counts down from the starting number.[1][2][3]

Eileen Christelow has written a series of books titled "Five Little Monkeys ..". She acknowledges that she did not write the original lyrics, she heard it from her daughter.[4]

The song has similar lyrics and tune to the first verse of the 1890s folk song "Shortnin' Bread."

Lyrics

One version of the song runs:[2]

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mother called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more jumping on the bed!"

Four little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mother called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more jumping on the bed!"

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mother called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more jumping on the bed!"

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mother called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more jumping on the bed!"

One little monkey jumping on the bed,
He fell off and bumped his head,
Mother called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more jumping on the bed!"

Gestures

The gestures to accompany each verse are, for each line:

  • Hold up a number of fingers equal to the number of monkeys; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down
  • Hold up one finger and roll your hand down towards the floor and tap your fist to your head
  • Put your pinky finger to your cheek and thumb to your ear (like a telephone)
  • Wag your index finger nine times

See also

References
  1. "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on a Bed". Scottish Book Trust. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  2. "Nursery rhymes and songs: Five little monkeys". BBC Learning: School Radio. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  3. "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed". King County Library System. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  4. "Five little monkeys jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped her head. . ." NO, I did NOT write that rhyme, Eileen Christelow


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