Cry, Baby, Cry Lyrics
Three short lines that children have chanted at each other in playgrounds for generations. It is a teasing rhyme, and a useful way to start a conversation about how teasing feels.
Cry, Baby, Cry
Cry, baby, cry,
Put your finger in your eye,
And tell your mother it wasn't I.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/cry-baby/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Chanted rhyme
- Best for ages
- 4 to 9 years
What Does Cry, Baby, Cry Mean?
The rhyme mocks a crying child and adds a sly last line: "tell your mother it wasn't I", meaning don't blame me. It shows exactly how teasing works, which is why some teachers use it to talk about kindness rather than as a chant.
History and Origin
Teasing chants like this have been part of children's play for centuries, and collectors of children's rhymes found versions in many places. This one is printed in The Real Mother Goose (1916).
Learning Activities
- Feelings talk: ask how the crying child might feel, and what a kind friend would do instead.
- Rewrite it: turn it into a kind rhyme, such as "Don't cry, baby, don't cry, I'll stay with you till your eyes are dry."
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'tell your mother it wasn't I' mean?
Don't blame me, it wasn't my fault.
Is this a nice rhyme to teach?
It is a teasing chant, so it works best as a way to talk about teasing and kindness.