Here's A, B, C, D Lyrics
The whole alphabet is squeezed into ten short lines, with a sigh at the end from a child wondering when the letters will ever be learned.
Here's A, B, C, D
Here's A, B, C, D,
E, F, and G,
H, I, J, K,
L, M, N, O, P,
Q, R, S, T,
U, W, V,
X, Y, and Z,
And oh, dear me,
When shall I learn
My A, B, C.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/heres-a-b-c-d/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 3 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Here's A, B, C, D | Point to a letter on a chart for each one. |
| And oh, dear me | Put your hand on your forehead and sigh. |
| My A, B, C | Clap the three letters. |
What Does Here's A, B, C, D Mean?
The rhyme lists the alphabet in groups: A to D, then E to G, then H to K, and so on to Z. It finishes with a child saying "oh, dear me" and asking when the whole thing will be learned. In this old printing the letters near the end come out as "U, W, V", an order that has since changed to U, V, W, so it is worth pointing out to children.
The sigh at the end is one that many beginners will recognize, which makes it a friendly way to start with letters.
History and Origin
The verse is printed in The Only True Mother Goose Melodies, published in Boston by Munroe and Francis in 1833.
Letter rhymes like this were made to help children learn their letters by saying them aloud.
Learning Activities
- Letter chart: point to each letter on an alphabet chart as you say the rhyme.
- Spot the odd order: find the place where the letters are not in today's order.
- Letter hunt: look for each letter on signs and books around the house.
- Clap the groups: clap once for each group of letters in the lines.