The Man in the Moon Lyrics
The Man in the Moon falls to Earth, asks the way to Norwich, and burns his mouth on cold porridge. Every line of this little rhyme is a joke, including the last one.
The Man in the Moon
The Man in the Moon came tumbling down,
And asked the way to Norwich;
He went by the south, and burnt his mouth
With eating cold pease porridge.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/the-man-in-the-moon/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Traditional
- Best for ages
- 2 to 6 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| The Man in the Moon came tumbling down | Roll your hands over and over as you crouch down low. |
| And asked the way to Norwich | Shade your eyes and look around, lost. |
| He went by the south, and burnt his mouth | Pretend to take a bite, then fan your mouth. |
| With eating cold pease porridge | Make a puzzled face. Cold food cannot burn you! |
What Does The Man in the Moon Mean?
People have long imagined a face or a little man in the markings on the full moon, and this rhyme brings him down to Earth. Norwich is a real city in the east of England, and pease porridge is a thick pea soup (you can meet it in Pease Porridge Hot).
The last line is the punchline: he burns his mouth on cold porridge, which is impossible. Children love spotting that mistake.
History and Origin
The "man in the moon" is a very old idea in English folklore, mentioned by writers as far back as the Middle Ages. This rhyme about his trip to Norwich has been part of Mother Goose collections since at least the early 1800s.
Learning Activities
- Moon watching: on the next full moon, look for the face and decide whether you can see the man.
- Spot the joke: ask why burning your mouth on cold porridge is funny.
- Map it: find Norwich on a map of England with older kids.