Old Father Greybeard Lyrics
Four lines, a finger and a thumb. Old Father Greybeard has no teeth, so there is no danger in offering him your finger, and the rhyme becomes a little hand game between adult and child.
Old Father Greybeard
Old father Greybeard,
Without tooth or tongue,
If you'll give me your finger,
I'll give you my thumb.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/old-father-greybeard/
- Type
- Mother Goose, Action Songs
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 1 to 5 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Old Father Greybeard | Stroke an imaginary long beard on your chin. |
| Without tooth or tongue | Point to your mouth and shake your head. |
| If you'll give me your finger | Hold out your hand for your child's finger. |
| I'll give you my thumb | Swap: give your thumb to hold, and shake hands. |
What Does Old Father Greybeard Mean?
Father Greybeard is a very old man with no teeth left, so he cannot bite. The singer offers a swap: your finger for my thumb. Some readers think the rhyme is a riddle, with the toothless greybeard standing for something else, but most families simply use it as a finger-and-thumb game.
History and Origin
The rhyme is printed in Gammer Gurton's Garland, one of the very first English collections of nursery rhymes, first published in the 1780s. Many of its short verses were meant to be played with a baby's hands and feet, and this one belongs to that family.
Learning Activities
- Finger swap: hold your child's finger, then offer your thumb on the last line.
- Beard dress-up: make a cotton-wool beard and let your child be Father Greybeard.