Robin and Richard Lyrics
Two brothers sleep until ten o'clock, wake up, notice how late it is and rush off on their journey. Robin and Richard is a rhyme for anyone who has ever slept in.
Robin and Richard
Robin and Richard were two pretty men,
They lay in bed till the clock struck ten;
Then up starts Robin and looks at the sky,
"Oh, brother Richard, the sun's very high!
You go before, with the bottle and bag,
And I will come after on little Jack Nag."
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/robin-and-richard/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 3 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| They lay in bed till the clock struck ten | Lie down and snore, then count ten chimes on your fingers. |
| Then up starts Robin and looks at the sky | Sit up suddenly and shade your eyes. |
| You go before, with the bottle and bag | Point ahead, then pick up an imaginary bag. |
| And I will come after on little Jack Nag | Trot along as if riding a small pony. |
What Does Robin and Richard Mean?
Robin and Richard are two pretty men, which in old English meant fine, likeable fellows rather than good-looking ones. They sleep late, and when Robin finally looks outside, the sun is already high. He sends Richard ahead with the supplies (a bottle and a bag) and promises to follow on Jack Nag, a nag being an old word for a small or tired horse.
History and Origin
James Orchard Halliwell printed this in the 1840s along with a second verse, and noted that the two stanzas "are often found separated from each other". The version most Mother Goose books use, including The Real Mother Goose (1916), keeps just this first one.
Learning Activities
- Clock practice: use a toy clock to show ten o'clock, then ask what time your child woke up today.
- Morning race: lie down, then see who can "get ready" fastest when the clock strikes ten.