The Sled-Ride Lyrics
A speaker speeds down a hill over ice and snow, steering the sled past a horse and cart. A friend toils up the hill but will soon be at the top and dash past in turn, and the poem ends on the joy of gliding.
The Sled-Ride
Down, down the hill I swiftly go,
Over the ice and over the snow;
A horse or cart I do not fear,
For past them both my sled I steer.
Hurrah, my boy, I'm going down,
While you toil up; but never frown:
The far hill-top you soon will gain,
And then, with all your might and main,
You'll dash by me; while, full of glee,
I'll up again, to dash by thee.
So on we glide - oh, life of joy;
What pleasure has the little boy!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/the-sled-ride/
- Type
- Poems for Children
- Tune
- Fast and flowing on the way down, slow and puffing on the climb, then fast again
- Best for ages
- 4 to 8 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Down, down the hill I swiftly go, | Slide one flat hand down through the air. |
| While you toil up; | March slowly on the spot, as if climbing a hill. |
What Does The Sled-Ride Mean?
The poem is a sled ride told as two friends take turns. One child zooms down a hill over ice and snow and steers past a horse or a cart. The other is climbing up, and the first calls out a cheery "Hurrah" and tells the climber not to frown, because the top of the hill will soon be reached. When the climber comes down, they will dash by me, and the first will be back up to dash by again.
A few words may need help. To toil is to work hard, and might and main means with all your strength. The big idea is a fair turn: the one who is flying now will climb later. The speaker ends with a cheer for the pleasure of gliding, calling it a life of joy and the pleasure of the little boy.
History and Origin
This sledding verse is in an 1884 songbook for small children put together by Mary O. Ward, which had a revised edition in 1911.
Learning Activities
- Turn taking: practise with a small toy sled or a cardboard slide, one child going down while the other waits at the top.
- Toil and glide: climb a slope or stairs slowly with the climbing lines, then sweep your arms down for the gliding lines.
- Safe sledding: if you sled, choose a safe, open slope with a grown-up watching.
- Snow words: list words for how snow feels and sounds, such as crunchy, soft, slippery.