A Swing Song Lyrics
A child on a swing says they are a king on a throne, then a bird, then a traveller who goes to London Town just by closing their eyes. The swing climbs past the sunset and the moon, then slows until it only sweeps the daisies.
A Swing Song
Swing, swing,
Sing, sing,
Here's my throne, and I am a King!
Swing, sing,
Swing, sing,
Farewell earth, for I'm on the wing!
Low, high,
Here I fly,
Like a bird through sunny sky;
Free, free,
Over the lea,
Over the mountain, over the sea!
Up, down,
Up and down,
Which is the way to London Town?
Where, where?
Up in the air,
Close your eyes, and now you are there!
Soon, soon,
Afternoon,
Over the sunset, over the moon;
Far, far,
Over all bar,
Sweeping on from star to star!
No, no,
Low, low,
Sweeping daisies with my toe.
Slow, slow,
To and fro,
Slow
slow
slow
slow.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/a-swing-song/
- Type
- Poems for Children, Action Songs
- Written by
- William Allingham
- Tune
- Short bouncing lines that rise and fall like the swing, slowing right down at the end
- Best for ages
- 2 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Swing, swing, Sing, sing | Sway forward and back, in time with the words. |
| Up, down, Up and down | Raise your arms up on 'up', lower them on 'down'. |
| Slow, slow, To and fro | Sway more and more gently, then stop. |
What Does A Swing Song Mean?
The poem moves the way a swing does. The short double lines, Swing, swing, / Sing, sing, give the back-and-forth beat; the longer line after each pair is the swing at its highest point, where the child sees furthest. Each verse takes the child somewhere new: first a throne (a king's chair), then flying "like a bird through sunny sky" over the lea (a meadow), then to "London Town" just by closing the eyes, then "over the sunset, over the moon" and "from star to star". Here bar in "over all bar" means anything that blocks the way.
The last verse brings the swing down: "Low, low, / Sweeping daisies with my toe", and then four slows, one per line, to show the swing coming to a stop. It is a poem to say with a gentle push.
History and Origin
William Allingham, an Irish poet, put this poem in Rhymes for the Young Folk, a Cassell book of verses for children. The poem turns the back-and-forth rhythm of a swing into words.
Learning Activities
- On a real swing: with an adult pushing gently, say the lines in time with the swing and slow down for the last verse.
- Where will you go? ask the child to close their eyes, name a place they would visit on the swing, and add it as a new line.
- Rocking game: if there is no swing, sit back to back or hold hands and rock gently together as you say it.
- Slowing down: practise the last verse, getting softer and slower until the child is nearly whispering the final slow.