Whistle, Daughter, Whistle Lyrics
A mother keeps asking her daughter to whistle, even offering a pound. The daughter tries and tries, but not a sound comes out.
Whistle, Daughter, Whistle
"Whistle, daughter, whistle;
Whistle, daughter dear."
"I cannot whistle, mammy,
I cannot whistle clear."
"Whistle, daughter, whistle;
Whistle for a pound."
"I cannot whistle, mammy,
I cannot make a sound."
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/whistle-daughter-whistle/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken, in two voices
- Best for ages
- 3 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Whistle, daughter, whistle | Purse your lips as if to whistle. |
| I cannot whistle, mammy | Shake your head and shrug. |
| Whistle for a pound | Hold up one finger for the pound coin. |
What Does Whistle, Daughter, Whistle Mean?
The rhyme is a little conversation. The mother asks, the daughter answers, and each time the answer is the same: she cannot do it. Even the offer of a pound, a lot of money in the old days, makes no difference. Anyone who has tried to learn to whistle knows the feeling: it takes practice, and at first nothing comes out but air.
History and Origin
This version is from The Real Mother Goose (1916). It works well as a two-voice rhyme, with one person taking the mother's lines and a child taking the daughter's.
Learning Activities
- Two voices: an adult says the mother's lines and the child answers.
- Whistle practice: try round lips, a soft breath, and see who can make a note first.
- Change the prize: make up new things to whistle for, such as a cake or a kite.