Eeny, Meeny, Clean Peeny Lyrics
A three-line Scottish counting-out rhyme with a tasty ending: if you want a piece and jeely, just walk out.
Eeny, Meeny, Clean Peeny
Eeny, meeny, clean peeny,
If you want a piece and jeely,
Just walk out!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/eeny-meeny-clean-peeny/
- Type
- Counting Rhymes
- Tune
- Chanted counting-out rhyme
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Eeny, meeny, clean peeny | Point to one player on each word. |
| If you want a piece and jeely | Pretend to take a big bite of a sandwich. |
| Just walk out! | The player pointed to steps out of the circle. |
What Does Eeny, Meeny, Clean Peeny Mean?
In Scotland, a piece is a slice of bread, and jeely is jam or jelly, so a piece and jeely is a jam sandwich. The joke is that being counted out sounds like a treat: walk out of the circle and go and get your snack.
History and Origin
Robert Ford prints the rhyme in Children's Rhymes, Children's Games, Children's Songs, Children's Stories (1904) among his Scottish counting-out rhymes. Its opening sounds belong to a big family of eeny, meeny counting rhymes found in many places.
Learning Activities
- Count out: use it to choose who goes first in a game.
- Jam sandwich: make a piece and jeely together at snack time.
- Scots words: learn piece and jeely, then try them at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a piece and jeely?
A jam sandwich, in Scotland.
Who is out?
The player pointed to on the word out.