Good-Morning Lyrics
A child wakes up and says good-morning to mamma, the sun, papa, the cat, the blue sky and the whole new day, and invites everyone to say it together.
Good-Morning
Good-morning, mamma! Good-morning, bright sun!
Good-morning, papa! The day is begun.
Good-morning to every one, pussy as well:
Does he sleep like the rest, till he hears the first bell?
Good-morning it is, for the sky is all blue,
The grass is just shining and sparkling with dew;
The birdies are singing their merriest song,
And the air through the window comes sunny and strong.
Good-morning it is, for dark was the night,
And chilly and still; but the morning is bright.
If God did not watch us and bring us the day,
We'd never be able to get up and play.
Good-morning, new day! I'm glad we're awake,
Your work and your sunshine and frolic to take;
And I'm glad we are able so gayly to call
Good-morning! good-morning! Good-morning to all!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/good-morning/
- Type
- Poems for Children
- Written by
- Mary Mapes Dodge
- Tune
- Spoken or sung to a bright tune
- Best for ages
- 2 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Good-morning, bright sun | Stretch both arms up to make a big sun. |
| The birdies are singing | Flap your hands like wings and tweet. |
| Good-morning to all | Wave to everyone around you. |
What Does Good-Morning Mean?
The poem is a list of greetings. The child says good-morning to each member of the family, then to the cat, then notices that the sky is blue and the grass is sparkling with dew. In the third verse the child remembers that the night was dark and chilly and says thanks that God brought the day, because without it there would be no chance to get up and play. The last verse welcomes the new day and invites everyone to join in with a good-morning of their own.
It works well as a morning routine rhyme, since each line gives you something to look for out of the window.
History and Origin
The poem is in Rhymes and Jingles by Mary Mapes Dodge, a book of verses for young children first published in the 1870s. The copy used here carries a copyright date of 1874.
The book mixes short story-poems, nonsense and nursery verses. This one is a simple morning greeting that parents can use at the start of the day.
Learning Activities
- Greeting circle: say good-morning to each person and object in the room in turn.
- Window watch: look out of the window and tell what the sky, the grass and the birds are doing.
- Many languages: learn how to say good morning in two other languages.
- Wake-up song: sing the last two lines together as the family sits down to breakfast.