One Misty Moisty Morning Lyrics
A foggy morning, a stranger dressed head to toe in leather, and a conversation that consists entirely of saying hello. One Misty Moisty Morning is a rhyme about weather and good manners.
One Misty Moisty Morning
One misty moisty morning,
When cloudy was the weather,
I chanced to meet an old man,
Clothed all in leather.
He began to compliment
And I began to grin.
How do you do? And how do you do?
And how do you do again?
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/one-misty-moisty-morning/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Traditional
- Best for ages
- 2 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| One misty moisty morning | Wiggle your fingers in front of your face like drifting fog. |
| I chanced to meet an old man | Walk slowly, then stop in surprise. |
| He began to compliment and I began to grin | Bow politely, then give a huge grin. |
| How do you do? And how do you do? | Shake hands with everyone nearby. |
What Does One Misty Moisty Morning Mean?
Misty moisty describes a damp, foggy morning, the kind where the air itself feels wet. Out walking, the singer meets an old man dressed entirely in leather, probably a farmer or a traveler wearing clothes made to keep out the rain. He is very polite, the singer grins back, and the rest of the rhyme is the two of them saying "how do you do" over and over.
History and Origin
Halliwell, collecting in the 1840s, noted that a different and longer version was printed in a song collection in 1719. Over time the nursery version shrank to the short, cheerful meeting here. Leather clothing was common for working people in the country, since it lasted for years and kept out the weather.
Learning Activities
- Weather words: make a list of weather words that sound good together: misty moisty, drizzly dreary, sunny funny.
- Greetings game: walk around the room and greet everyone you meet with a different "how do you do" voice.
- Fog in a jar: on a cold morning, breathe on a window and watch the mist appear.