Over the Water and Under the Water Lyrics
A three-line riddle. Something is over the water and under the water at the same time, and its head always points down. What is it?
Over the Water and Under the Water
Over the water,
And under the water,
And always with its head down.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/over-the-water-and-under-the-water/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken riddle
- Best for ages
- 4 to 9 years
What Does Over the Water and Under the Water Mean?
The answer is a nail in a ship. Wooden ships were held together with nails, so a ship's nails are above the water and below it at the same time. The ones driven up into the bottom of the hull have their heads pointing down toward the sea.
History and Origin
The riddle is printed as "A Ship's Nail" in The Real Mother Goose (1916). Riddles about everyday objects were a favorite pastime, and many were passed down for centuries before being written down.
Learning Activities
- Guess first: say the riddle and give clues: it is made of metal, it is on a boat.
- Floating test: put a toy boat in water and look at what is above and below the waterline.
- Make a riddle: describe something in your house in three lines and let others guess.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the answer to Over the Water and Under the Water?
A nail in a ship, partly above and partly below the waterline.
What is the waterline?
The line on a ship's side where the water reaches.