Eight o'clock Lyrics
Six lines about the postman's knock at eight o'clock: five letters for Papa, one for Lou, three for Mamma, and none for the child. It is a quick counting joke, and it comes from Christina Rossetti's Sing-Song of 1872.
Eight o'clock
Eight o'clock;
The postman's knock!
Five letters for Papa;
One for Lou,
And none for you,
And three for dear Mamma.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/eight-oclock/
- Type
- Poems for Children
- Written by
- Christina Rossetti
- Tune
- Brisk, with a knock on the first two lines and a mock-sad voice for 'none for you'
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Eight o'clock; The postman's knock! | Knock twice on a table or the floor. |
| Five letters for Papa | Hold up five fingers, then one finger for Lou and three for Mamma. |
| And none for you | Shrug and open both empty hands. |
What Does Eight o'clock Mean?
The poem is a morning scene told in a few quick lines. At eight o'clock the postman knocks, and the post is shared out: five letters for Papa, one for Lou, and three for dear Mamma. Add them up: 5 + 1 + 3 = 9 letters came through the door.
The last bit of fun is in the middle. After "One for Lou", the poem says "And none for you", turning to the listener, who gets nothing at all. It is a small, friendly joke at the child's expense, and children often like to protest. Lou is a person in the household, and the poem does not say whether Lou is a child or a grown-up.
The first two lines rhyme (o'clock and knock), and so do Lou and you. Papa comes in the third line and Mamma in the last, so the post is shared between the two parents and Lou.
History and Origin
Christina Rossetti (1830 to 1894) published this poem in Sing-Song (1872). It is one of the shortest in the book: six lines, one verse. Like the other poems in the collection, it was written to be said aloud to small children, and it needs no explaining beyond the sums.
Counting poems like this one turn a household into a small sum, and children can check the answer on their fingers.
Learning Activities
- Postman's knock: hand out pretend letters and deliver them to the right person while counting aloud.
- Add the letters: do the sum 5 + 1 + 3 with real counters, then check it comes to nine.
- Your own post: make up a new version with your family names and numbers, and see how many letters arrive.
- Pretend sad: say the 'none for you' line with a big, silly sigh, then give the child an imaginary letter of their own.