John Says to John Lyrics
Two Johns haggle over a price for geese, one asking how much, the other saying twenty cents a piece, until the buyer declares it too dear.
John Says to John
John says to John,
How much are your geese?
John says to John,
Twenty cents a-piece.
John says to John,
That's too dear;
John says to John,
Get out of here!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/john-says-to-john/
- Type
- Counting Rhymes
- Tune
- Chanted as a quick question and answer
- Best for ages
- 4 to 8 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| John says to John | Point at one child, then another. |
| Twenty cents a-piece | Hold up two hands and flash ten fingers twice. |
| That's too dear | Shake your head and fold your arms. |
What Does John Says to John Mean?
The rhyme is a market scene where both people are called John. The first John asks the price of the geese, the second names it, twenty cents a piece, and the buyer says that is too dear, an old way of saying too expensive. The last line, Get out of here!, is a cheerful end to the haggling and it sends off the child who is counted out.
Because "John says to John" opens every second line, it is easy to remember and easy to say with a partner.
History and Origin
Robert Ford prints the rhyme in Children's Rhymes, Children's Games, Children's Songs, Children's Stories among counting-out rhymes. The price in cents shows it was said in America. The book names no author and gives no date.
Learning Activities
- Market play: act out the haggle with toy geese and play coins.
- Price list: make up new prices and see which ones sound too dear.
- Count the Johns: count how many times the name John is said.