Jack Be Nimble Lyrics
Just two lines long, Jack Be Nimble is really an invitation to jump. It comes from an old English custom of leaping over a candle for good luck.
Jack Be Nimble
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick,
Jack jump over the candlestick.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/jack-be-nimble/
- Type
- Mother Goose, Action Songs
- First published
- c. 1815
- Tune
- Traditional
- Best for ages
- 2 to 6 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Jack be nimble, Jack be quick | Bend your knees and bounce on your toes, ready to go. |
| Jack jump over the candlestick | Jump over a soft toy, a pillow or a line of tape on the floor. Never a real candle. |
What Does Jack Be Nimble Mean?
"Nimble" means light and quick on your feet, so the rhyme is a cheer for someone about to make a jump. In the old game the prize was clearing the candle without putting the flame out.
History and Origin
Jumping over a candlestick was a folk game and a good-luck custom in parts of England; clearing the flame was supposed to bring luck for the year ahead. The rhyme itself was first written down in a manuscript from around 1815 and soon became a standard in Mother Goose books.
For today's children, the game works just as well with a paper-towel tube, a block tower or a paper candle. Keep real candles well away from little jumpers.
Learning Activities
- Obstacle course: set up a row of "candlesticks" (plastic cups or blocks) and let your child jump each one as you sing.
- Name swap: use your child's name instead of Jack, and let them choose what to jump over next.
- Paper candle: roll paper into a candle, add a tissue-paper flame, and use it for the game.