Round and Round Went the Gallant, Gallant Ship Lyrics
Players walk round in a ring as a ship, then all go down together when the rhyme says the ship sinks to the bottom of the sea.
Round and Round Went the Gallant, Gallant Ship
Round and round went the gallant, gallant ship,
And round and round went she;
Round and round went the gallant, gallant ship,
Till she sank to the bottom of the sea, the sea, the sea,
Till she sank to the bottom of the sea.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/round-and-round-went-the-gallant-gallant-ship/
- Type
- Action Songs
- Tune
- Sung walking round in a ring, then everyone bobs down
- Best for ages
- 2 to 6 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Round and round went the gallant, gallant ship | Hold hands and walk round in a circle. |
| Till she sank to the bottom of the sea | Crouch lower and lower, still holding hands. |
What Does Round and Round Went the Gallant, Gallant Ship Mean?
Gallant is an old word for fine and brave, so the ship is a handsome one. The first line is repeated as the third, which keeps the ring going round, and then the last two lines bring the ship down. In this game a ship that sinks is a signal for fun: everyone drops down together.
In the Aberdeen version of the game the players cry out the sea, the sea, the sea as they bob down.
History and Origin
Alice Bertha Gomme prints two versions of the game in the second volume of The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1898). Both were sent by the Rev. W. Gregor. The words printed here are the one from Cullen, with the note that all go down as the ship sinks.
The other version, from Aberdeen Training College, says that three times round goes our gallant ship and that three times round went she. Its players bob down and cry out the sea, the sea, the sea.
Learning Activities
- Ship in the ring: walk round in a ring and sink down together on the last line.
- Three rounds: try the Aberdeen words and go round exactly three times before sinking.
- Stand up again: after the ship sinks, count to three and rise slowly like a ship coming back to the surface.
- Sea sounds: make wave sounds with your voices before and after the game.