Polly Put the Kettle On Lyrics
Polly puts the kettle on, and Sukey takes it off again. This little tea-time rhyme was so familiar in Victorian England that Charles Dickens had a talking raven say it in one of his novels.
Polly Put the Kettle On
Polly, put the kettle on,
Polly, put the kettle on,
Polly, put the kettle on,
And let's drink tea.
The second verse
Sukey, take it off again,
Sukey, take it off again,
Sukey, take it off again,
They're all gone away.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/polly-put-the-kettle-on/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Traditional
- Best for ages
- 2 to 6 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Polly, put the kettle on | Pretend to lift a kettle and place it on the stove. |
| And let's drink tea | Hold a pretend cup with your little finger out and take a sip. |
| Sukey, take it off again | Lift the pretend kettle off. |
| They're all gone away | Wave goodbye to the guests. |
What Does Polly Put the Kettle On Mean?
Two sisters, Polly and Sukey (an old nickname for Susan), are playing hosts. One puts the kettle on for guests and the other takes it off once everyone has gone home. There is no hidden story here; it simply describes a tea party, which is why children love acting it out.
History and Origin
The rhyme was popular in England by the early 1800s. In Charles Dickens's novel Barnaby Rudge (1841), Grip the talking raven croaks "Polly put the kettle on, we'll all have tea", a joke that only works because readers already knew the rhyme well.
Learning Activities
- Tea party: set out toy cups for stuffed animals and sing the first verse as you pour.
- Two roles: one child is Polly, another is Sukey, and they swap each round.
- Real tea time: sing it while the kettle boils for an afternoon snack (grown-ups handle the kettle).