Oats and Beans and Barley Grow Lyrics
Children walk in a circle, then stop and act out the farmer: sowing seeds, resting, stamping, clapping and looking over the fields. It is one of the oldest singing games still played in schools.
Oats and Beans and Barley Grow
Oats and beans and barley grows,
Oats and beans and barley grows;
But you nor I nor nobody knows
How oats and beans and barley grows.
First the farmer sows his seeds,
Then he stands and takes his ease;
Stamps his feet, and claps his hands,
Then turns around to view his lands.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/oats-and-beans-and-barley-grow/
- Type
- Action Songs
- Tune
- Traditional
- Best for ages
- 3 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Oats and beans and barley grows | Everyone holds hands and walks around in a circle. |
| First the farmer sows his seeds | Stop, and scatter pretend seeds from your hand. |
| Then he stands and takes his ease | Fold your arms and lean back, relaxed. |
| Stamps his feet, and claps his hands | Stamp, stamp, then clap, clap. |
| Then turns around to view his lands | Turn around slowly, shading your eyes. |
What Does Oats and Beans and Barley Grow Mean?
The first verse is a little riddle: nobody knows exactly how oats, beans and barley grow. The second verse shows what the farmer does anyway. He sows the seeds, rests, stamps and claps, and looks over his fields. Seeds grow in their own time, and all a farmer can do is plant them and wait.
History and Origin
The game was played all over England and Scotland. Robert Ford's collection of Scottish children's rhymes gives this Perthshire version and describes the game: a ring of children moving round, then stopping to act out each line. The song later crossed to North America, where it is still sung in many schools.
Learning Activities
- Play the game: walk in a ring for the first verse, then stop and do the actions together.
- Plant seeds: plant a few beans in a cup of soil and check on them each day.
- Grain tasting: look at oats, dried beans and barley up close, and try a bowl of porridge.