Bat, Bat, Come Under My Hat Lyrics
An offer of bacon and cake, made to a bat. This little rhyme was once called out by children on summer evenings as the bats came out to fly.
Bat, Bat, Come Under My Hat
Bat, bat,
Come under my hat,
And I'll give you a slice of bacon;
And when I bake
I'll give you a cake
If I am not mistaken.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/bat-bat-come-under-my-hat/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 2 to 6 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Bat, bat | Clap twice. |
| Come under my hat | Pat the top of your head. |
| And I'll give you a slice of bacon | Hold out a pretend slice. |
| And when I bake, I'll give you a cake | Stir a pretend bowl, then offer the cake. |
What Does Bat, Bat, Come Under My Hat Mean?
A child tries to tempt a bat to come down and hide under their hat with the promise of bacon, and a cake next baking day. The last line, "if I am not mistaken", is a cheeky way of saying the cake might not happen.
Of course, bats have no interest in bacon or cake. Most bats in Britain and North America eat insects, catching them in the air at dusk.
History and Origin
Halliwell's Nursery Rhymes of England includes the rhyme under a short note, "children hunting bats", and tells readers to clap their hands on the first line. Children used to call it out as bats flitted overhead at dusk. Today we know bats are best watched rather than chased, and in many countries they are protected by law.
Learning Activities
- Bat watch: on a warm evening, stand somewhere quiet near trees or water just after sunset and look for bats.
- Clapping game: clap on every word of the first two lines, then slow down for the rest.