Little Arabella Miller
"Little Arabella Miller" is a popular English nursery rhyme often sung in pre-schools. Most references to the song do not attribute a writer but Ann Eliott has been previously cited as a composer.[1][2] It is also an action song, sung to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".[3]
Lyrics
The rhyme has just one verse but there are several variants which focus on the description of the caterpillar (furry, fuzzy, woolly), and on the family members mentioned in the rhyme (mother, brother, grandmother, baby brother).
A version sung in England:
Little Arabella Miller
Found a furry caterpillar
First it climbed upon her mother
Then upon her baby brother
"Ugh" said Arabella Miller
"Take away that caterpillar!"
Other versions:
Little Arabella Miller
Had a fuzzy caterpillar
First it crawled upon her brother
Then upon her dear grandmother
Gran said, "Arabella Miller,
How I love your caterpillar."[3]
Little Arabella Miller
Had a fuzzy caterpillar.
First it climbed upon her mother,
Then upon her baby brother.
They said, " Arabella Miller,
Put away your caterpillar!"[4]
Little Arabella Miller
Found a hairy caterpillar,
First it crawled upon her mother,
Then upon her baby brother.
All said, "Arabella Miller,
Take away that caterpillar!"
Actions
Little Arabella Miller
Had a fuzzy caterpillar
(Tickle palm with two fingers)
First it crawled up on her mother
(Walk fingers up left arm)
Then upon her baby brother
(Walk fingers up right arm)
They said, "Arabella Miller!
(Walk fingers up over head)
Put away your caterpillar!"
(hide hands behind back)
Another variation on the action song:
Little Arabella Miller
Found a wooly caterpillar (wiggle one finger)
First it crawled upon her mother (tickle mom)
Then upon her baby brother (tickle a friend)
Take away that caterpillar!" (shake finger)[5]