Five Little Monkeys

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Five Little Monkeys Image

“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.

 

"Five Little Monkeys" Lyrics


A commonly used version uses these words and gestures:

Words:

1. Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

2. Four little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

3. Three little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

4. Two little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

5. One little monkey jumping on the bed,
She fell down and bumped her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“Put those monkeys right to bed!”

Fingerplay:

1. Hold up five fingers; 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

2. Hold up four fingers; 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

3. Hold up three fingers; 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

4. Hold up two fingers; 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

5. Hold up one finger; 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 seven times

An additional part is:

No little monkeys jumping on the bed,
None fell down and bumped their heads.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said:
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!
Put those monkeys straight back to the bed!

Words (alternate version):

Five little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator “Can’t catch me!”
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

Four little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator “Can’t catch me!”
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

Three little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator “Can’t catch me!”
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

Two little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator “Can’t catch me!”
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!
One little monkeys swinging in a tree,

Teasing Mr. Alligator “Can’t catch me!”
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!
No more monkeys swinging in a tree!

"Five Little Monkeys" Chords


Five Little Monkeys 
C                            G7 
Five little monkeys jumpin? on the bed 
                        
C 
one fell off and bumped his head. 
                                                  
G7 
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, 
                             
C           G7      C 
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" 
Four little monkeys? 

"Five Little Monkeys" Youtube Videos


 

More Nursery Rhymes:

Lucy Locket

Nursery Rhyme Categories:
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Language:
Place of Origin:
"Lucy Locket" is an English language nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19536. The song shares its tune with "Yankee Doodle" which emerged in North America in the mid-eighteenth century, but it is not clear which set of lyrics emerged first.