Good Horses, Bad Horses Lyrics
Line up like horses at the start of a race. Ask the time, count three o'clock, four o'clock, and on "fare you away", run!
Good Horses, Bad Horses
Good horses, bad horses,
What is the time of day?
Three o'clock, four o'clock,
Now fare you away.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/good-horses-bad-horses/
- Type
- Action Songs
- Tune
- Chanted race start
- Best for ages
- 4 to 9 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Good horses, bad horses | Line up at the start, stamping like horses. |
| What is the time of day? | Everyone asks together. |
| Three o'clock, four o'clock | Crouch ready to run. |
| Now fare you away | Run! |
What Does Good Horses, Bad Horses Mean?
The players are horses, good and bad, waiting to race. "Fare you away" is an old way of saying "off you go". Like "ready, steady, go", the rhyme counts down so that everyone starts at the same moment.
History and Origin
James Orchard Halliwell printed the rhyme with a note that it was "sung by children when starting for a race". Counting-down rhymes made races fair long before starting whistles.
Learning Activities
- Race start: use the rhyme to start running races in the garden or park.
- Horse paces: race at a walk, a trot and a gallop.
- Clock talk: show three o'clock and four o'clock on a clock.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does fare you away mean?
Off you go.
When was this rhyme used?
At the start of children's races, to make everyone start together.