Inky, Pinky, Peerie-winkie Lyrics
Rolling nonsense words from Scotland that children used to count out the player who would be 'it'.
Inky, Pinky, Peerie-winkie
Inky, pinky, peerie-winkie,
Hi domin I.
Arky, parky, tarry rope,
Ann, tan, toozy Jock.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/inky-pinky-peerie-winkie/
- Type
- Counting Rhymes
- Tune
- Chanted fast, one word to each point
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Inky, pinky, peerie-winkie | Tap each fist in the circle in turn, one tap to a word. |
| Ann, tan, toozy Jock | Slow down and tap the last fist for the final word. |
What Does Inky, Pinky, Peerie-winkie Mean?
This is a pure counting-out rhyme. The words do not tell a story. They are there for their sound, and the leader taps one player for each word until the last one is reached. Long words such as peerie-winkie and toozy slow the count down and keep everyone guessing where it will land.
Because it is only four lines, it is quick to learn and can be said several times in a row if a game needs more than one chosen player.
History and Origin
Robert Ford prints it in Children's Rhymes, Children's Games, Children's Songs, Children's Stories with the words "Again, in Scotland", in a list of counting-out verses from different places.
The book gives no author or date for it, only the place where it was said.
Learning Activities
- Tap the rhythm: tap a beat on the table for each word and then try it with claps.
- Compare counts: try this rhyme and a different counting-out rhyme and see which one picks the same child.