The Old Woman from France Lyrics
An old woman from France tries to teach grown-ups to dance, but they are so stiff that she gives up and sends them all home.
The Old Woman from France
There came an old woman from France
Who taught grown-up children to dance;
But they were so stiff,
She sent them home in a sniff,
This sprightly old woman from France.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/the-old-woman-from-france/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Who taught grown-up children to dance | Twirl around on tiptoe. |
| But they were so stiff | Walk like a stiff wooden soldier. |
| She sent them home in a sniff | Turn up your nose and point to the door. |
What Does The Old Woman from France Mean?
"Grown-up children" are adults, and the joke is that the old woman is much more nimble than they are. In a sniff means in a huff, annoyed. Sprightly means lively and full of energy, the opposite of stiff.
History and Origin
The rhyme comes from The Real Mother Goose (1916). It has the shape of a limerick, five lines with two short ones in the middle, a form that was hugely popular in nineteenth-century children's books.
Learning Activities
- Stiff or sprightly: dance stiffly, then dance like the sprightly old woman.
- Dance lesson: let your child teach you a dance, and be as stiff as you can.
- Count the lines: clap the rhythm and notice the two short lines in the middle.