Sally Go Round the Moon Lyrics
Hold hands, spin round as fast as you dare, then change direction. This four-line ring game is all about dizzy, happy spinning.
Sally Go Round the Moon
Sally go round the moon,
Sally go round the stars;
Sally go round the moon
On a Sunday afternoon.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/sally-go-round-the-moon/
- Type
- Action Songs
- Tune
- Sung ring game
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Sally go round the moon | Hold hands in a ring and skip round. |
| Sally go round the stars | Keep circling, a little faster. |
| On a Sunday afternoon | Stop, turn, and circle the other way. |
What Does Sally Go Round the Moon Mean?
Sally is sent round the moon and the stars, as if the children in the ring were planets in orbit. It is a nonsense rhyme made for movement: the words give the rhythm for spinning, and the last line marks the moment to turn back.
History and Origin
Alice Bertha Gomme recorded this version in Deptford, Kent, for The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (volume 2, 1898). She describes three or more girls holding hands in a ring, spinning round while they sing, then reversing and running the other way. Many families today sing a version that also sends Sally round the sun and the chimney pots.
Learning Activities
- Play the game: hold hands in a ring, spin while singing, then reverse.
- Solar system: one child is the moon in the middle while others orbit around.
- Safe spinning: play on grass and stop if anyone gets too dizzy.