Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

This article is about the children's song. For the Ofenbach & Quarterhead song, see Head Shoulders Knees & Toes.

"Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" is a children's song. The song was documented as early as 1912^[1] and in 1961.^[2] It is often sung to the tune of "There Is a Tavern in the Town", although it is sometimes sung to the tune of "London Bridge Is Falling Down". It is commonly sung to the London version in Canada and other British influenced countries.^[3] In the Czech Republic, it is sung to the tune "Když jsem přišel do Vršovic", which is known in USA as "Stodola, pumpa" or "Along the ranch path" in South Korea.

"Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"
Song
Released	1912
Genre	Children's song

Children in a Japanese elementary school singing a similar song (2003)

The traditional gestures for the "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" song demonstrated at a festival in Japan (2014)

Description

The song typically has only one verse, with lyrics similar to those below. The second line repeats the first line both in words and in melody, the third line has a rising tone, and the fourth line repeats the first two. Children might dance while they sing the song and touch their head, shoulders, knees, and toes in sequence to the words.^[4]

Lyrics

Head, shoulders, knees and toes,

knees and toes

Head, shoulders, knees and toes,

knees and toes

And eyes and ears and mouth and nose

Head, shoulders, knees and toes,

knees and toes.

The lyrics can also be sung in reverse, like this:^{[citation needed]}

Toes, knees and shoulders, head,

shoulders, head

Toes, knees and shoulders, head,

shoulders, head

And nose and mouth and ears and eyes

Toes, knees and shoulders, head,

shoulders, head.

Each verse is repeated, with one word being omitted each time, just touching their body parts, without actually saying the word. For example:

Verse 2

----, shoulders, knees and toes

Verse 3

----, ----, knees and toes

Verse 4

----, ----, ----, and toes

Verse 5

----, ----, ----, and ----

This pattern continues until all the words are omitted. The last verse consists of no actual singing or singing all lyrics, but sometimes at a much faster tempo.^{[citation needed]}

Similar works

One song was adapted from the traditional version, although it uses a different tune (Frère Jacques) with modified lyrical constructions, such as "Eyes and ears" and "Chin/Mouth and nose", and suggests touching the body parts as in the traditional song.^[5]

Another variation starts the line with "Eyes" and includes "chin", but it has the words in an order that causes the motions to zig zag.^[5]

Many derivative songs have been constructed over the years that similarly teach the vocabulary of body parts.^[6] One example, using the same tune, as featured on the Kidsongs video "Boppin' with the Biggles", is as follows:^[7]

Feet and tummies arms and chins,

arms and chins

Feet and tummies arms and chins,

arms and chins

And eyes and ears and mouth and shins

Feet and tummies arms and chins,

arms and chins

Hands and fingers legs and lips,

legs and lips

Hands and fingers legs and lips,

legs and lips

And eyes and ears and mouth and hips

Hands and fingers legs and lips,

legs and lips

References

1. "The Children's Friend, September 1912, No. 9, p. 484".
2. Witte Austin, Dorothy. "Troubadour Pleases Playground Audiences". Milwaukee Journal, July 18, 1961, Part 2-p. 6.
3. "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes: Canadian vs American Versions?". Quebec City 101. 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
4. "Heads, shoulders, knees and toes". BBC Teach. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
5. "Body part songs and rhymes". Preschool Express.
6. Parts of the Body Song (Learn Body Parts for Kids – Audio). YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
7. "Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes". Kidsongs. Archived from the original on 2010-04-10.