Heetum Peetum Penny Pie Lyrics
A four-line finger game chant full of nonsense words, ending with the directions and two place names before one finger is counted out.
Heetum Peetum Penny Pie
Heetum peetum penny pie,
Populorum gingum gie;
East, West, North, South,
Kirby, Kendal, Cock him out!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/heetum-peetum-penny-pie/
- Type
- Counting Rhymes
- Tune
- Spoken finger game
- Best for ages
- 3 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Heetum peetum penny pie | Tap each finger of one hand in time. |
| East, West, North, South | Point four ways in turn. |
| Cock him out | Flick one finger out to the side. |
What Does Heetum Peetum Penny Pie Mean?
This is a counting-out chant, used to decide who is out or who goes first. Halliwell labels it "a game on the fingers," which means it is said while tapping the fingers one by one. The first two lines are made-up sounds with a hint of Latin in "populorum," there for the sake of the rhythm. The third line names the four compass points, and the last names two English towns, Kirby and Kendal, before the last finger is sent out.
Try it with a group: each child holds out a fist and the chant moves around the circle.
History and Origin
The chant is printed by James Orchard Halliwell in The Nursery Rhymes of England, which marks it as a game on the fingers. He gives no author or date.
Counting-out rhymes are found all over the world and are usually sets of nonsense words that children pass on by ear, so each place has its own version.
Learning Activities
- Fist circle: sit in a ring with fists out and tap each fist on each beat.
- Compass walk: say the third line while pointing to the four directions of the room.
- Nonsense words: invent your own pair of nonsense lines.
- Who goes first: use the chant to choose who starts a game.