Two Little Blackbirds Lyrics
Two birds on a hill fly away and come back, and all you need to play it is two fingers and a little paper. It is one of the oldest finger games there is.
Two Little Blackbirds
There were two blackbirds,
Sitting on a hill,
The one nam'd Jack,
The other nam'd Jill;
Fly away Jack!
Fly away Jill!
Come again Jack!
Come again Jill!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/two-little-blackbirds/
- Type
- Action Songs, Animal Rhymes
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 1 to 5 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| There were two blackbirds, sitting on a hill | Hold up both index fingers, each with a small paper bird stuck on the nail. |
| The one named Jack, the other named Jill | Wiggle one finger, then the other. |
| Fly away Jack! Fly away Jill! | Whisk each hand behind your back, then bring it back with a different finger showing, so the bird has vanished. |
| Come again Jack! Come again Jill! | Whisk each hand back with the bird finger showing again. |
What Does Two Little Blackbirds Mean?
Two blackbirds named Jack and Jill sit side by side, fly away one at a time and then come back. The fun is all in the trick: with a quick swap of fingers behind your back, the birds seem to disappear and reappear. Toddlers are amazed by it long before they understand how it works.
History and Origin
Halliwell printed this version in the 1840s. Today most children know it as Two Little Dickie Birds, sitting on a wall, with the birds called Peter and Paul. The magic trick is the same in both.
Learning Activities
- Paper birds: stick two small circles of paper on your index fingers and practice the vanishing trick.
- Your turn: once children see how it works, let them try it and fool you.
- New names: rename the birds after family members or pets.