Grace Before Meat Lyrics
A child stands with both hands raised and says thanks in six short lines before the food is eaten.
Grace Before Meat
Here a little child I stand,
Heaving up my either hand;
Cold as paddocks though they be,
Here I lift them up to Thee,
For a benison to fall
On our meat and on us all!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/grace-before-meat/
- Type
- Poems for Children
- Written by
- Robert Herrick
- Tune
- Spoken or sung grace
- Best for ages
- 2 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Heaving up my either hand | Lift both hands up high. |
| Here I lift them up to Thee | Hold your open hands up and look up. |
| On our meat and on us all | Sweep your hands down over the table. |
What Does Grace Before Meat Mean?
A grace is a short thanks said before eating. In this one the child holds up both hands ("either hand" means each hand) and says they are cold as paddocks, an old word for toads. A benison is a blessing, so the last two lines ask for a blessing to fall on the food ("meat" meant food in general) and on everyone at the table.
It is a respectful rhyme for families who say grace, and a gentle way to settle a small child for a meal.
History and Origin
Robert Herrick, an English poet, wrote this verse in the 1640s as a grace for a child. Walter Jerrold prints it under the title "Grace Before Meat" in The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes (1903). The book gathers rhymes from many sources.
Like many short graces, it is made of rhyming pairs of lines, which makes it easy for a small child to learn by heart.
Learning Activities
- Hands up: let children practice lifting their hands on the second and fourth lines.
- Old words: explain what paddock, benison and meat meant long ago.
- Thank-you list: ask each person to name one thing on the table they are thankful for.
- Quiet moment: pause for a few seconds of silence after the last line.