Sulky Sue Lyrics
Every family has a sulky moment. This four-line rhyme offers an old-fashioned remedy: let Sue face the wall until she cheers up on her own.
Sulky Sue
Here's Sulky Sue;
What shall we do?
Turn her face to the wall
Till she comes to.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/sulky-sue/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
What Does Sulky Sue Mean?
A sulk is a quiet bad mood, often after not getting your way. The rhyme suggests turning Sue's face to the wall "till she comes to", meaning until she gets over it. It is the old idea of a little quiet time to calm down.
History and Origin
Walter Jerrold printed the rhyme in The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes (1903). Short rhymes about children's moods, like Cross Patch, were a gentle way for adults to tease a child out of a bad temper.
Learning Activities
- Mood talk: ask what helps your child feel better when they are cross.
- Calm corner: make a cozy quiet spot instead of the wall, with a cushion and a book.
- Change the name: make up a cheerful version: "Here's Happy Hugh".
Frequently Asked Questions
What does sulky mean?
Quietly bad-tempered, usually after not getting your own way.
What does till she comes to mean?
Until she gets over her bad mood.