Five Little Monkeys

"Five Little Monkeys" is an English language folk song and fingerplay. It is usually accompanied by a sequence of gestures that mimic the words of the song. Each successive verse sequentially counts down from the starting number.[1][2][3]

Eileen Christelow has written a series of books titled "Five Little Monkeys ..". She acknowledges that she did not write the original lyrics, she heard it from her daughter.[4]

Lyrics

A commonly used version uses these words and gestures:

WordsFingerplay

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his/her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Four little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his/her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his/her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his/her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

One little monkey jumping on the bed,
He/She fell down and bumped his/her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

No little monkeys jumping on the bed,
None fell down and bumped their head,
Papa called the doctor and the doctor said,
"Put those monkeys right to bed!"

Hold up five fingers; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down
Hold up one finger and roll your hand down towards the floor and tap your fist to your head
Put your pinky finger to your cheek and thumb to your ear (like a telephone)
Wag your index finger nine times

Hold up four fingers; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down
Hold up one finger and roll your hand down towards the floor and tap your fist to your head
Put your pinky finger to your cheek and thumb to your ear (like a telephone)
Wag your index finger nine times

Hold up three fingers; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down
Hold up one finger and roll your hand down towards the floor and tap your fist to your head
Put your pinky finger to your cheek and thumb to your ear (like a telephone)
Wag your index finger nine times

Hold up two fingers; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down
Hold up one finger and roll your hand down towards the floor and tap your fist to your head
Put your pinky finger to your cheek and thumb to your ear (like a telephone)
Wag your index finger nine times

Hold up one finger; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down
Hold up one finger and roll your hand down towards the floor and tap your fist to your head
Put your pinky finger to your cheek and thumb to your ear (like a telephone)
Wag your index finger seven times

Hold up zero fingers; Rest elbow on other hand, bounce arm up and down
Hold up zero fingers and roll your hand down towards the floor and tap your fist to your head
Put your pinky finger to your cheek and thumb to your ear {like a telephone}
Wag your index finger seven times

An additional part is:

No little monkeys jumping on the bed,
None fell down and bumped their heads.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said:
Put those monkeys straight back to the bed!

An alternate version sometimes seen is:

Five little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "Can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

Four little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "Can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

Three little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "Can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

Two little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "Can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

One little monkey swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "Can't catch me!"
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

No more monkeys swinging in a tree!

Alternatively:

Five little monkeys swinging in a tree
"Look Mr. Crocodile, you can't catch me!"
Along comes the crocodile as quiet as can be
And SNAP went the crocodile
Oh dear me

Four little monkeys swinging in a tree
"Look Mr. Crocodile, you can't catch me!"
Along comes the crocodile as quiet as can be
And SNAP went the crocodile
Oh dear me

Three little monkeys swinging in a tree
"Look Mr. Crocodile you can't catch me!"
Along comes the crocodile as quiet as can be
And SNAP went the crocodile
Oh dear me

Two little monkeys swinging in a tree
"Look Mr. Crocodile you can't catch me!"
Along comes the crocodile as quiet as can be
And SNAP went the crocodile
Oh dear me

One little monkey swinging in a tree
"Look Mr. Crocodile you can't catch me!"
Along comes the crocodile as quiet as can be
And SNAP went the crocodile
Oh dear me.

Origin

There is no known origin of the song, due to it being a modern nursery rhyme. But Lionel Quek sure as hell likes it. But, the song has similar lyrics and tune to the first verse of the folk song "Shortnin' Bread."

Also see
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References
  1. "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on a Bed". Scottish Book Trust. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  2. "Nursery rhymes and songs: Five little monkeys". BBC Learning: School Radio. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  3. "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed". King County Library System. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  4. "Five little monkeys jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped her head. . ." NO, I did NOT write that rhyme, Eileen Christelow
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