A, B, C, Tumble Down D Lyrics
Say the first letters of the alphabet, tumble down on D, and hide where the cat can't find you. Two lines, made for the very first alphabet games.
A, B, C, Tumble Down D
A, B, C, tumble down D,
The cat's in the cupboard and can't see me.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/a-b-c-tumble-down-d/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 2 to 5 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| A, B, C | Clap on each letter. |
| Tumble down D | Tumble gently onto a cushion. |
| The cat's in the cupboard and can't see me | Cover your eyes or hide behind your hands. |
What Does A, B, C, Tumble Down D Mean?
The child chants the first three letters and then tumbles down on D, as if the alphabet were too much to go on with. The second line is a little hiding game: the cat is shut in the cupboard, so it cannot see where the child is.
History and Origin
James Orchard Halliwell placed this rhyme among the alphabet rhymes in The Nursery Rhymes of England, and Walter Jerrold printed it again in 1903. Short letter rhymes like this were used to make learning the alphabet feel like play. Its close cousin, Great A, Little A, Bouncing B, has the same cat shut in the cupboard.
Learning Activities
- Tumble game: clap A, B, C and tumble onto a soft cushion on D.
- Keep going: make up the next line for E, F and G.
- Hide and peek: one person is the cat, eyes closed, while the other hides.