“The Eensy Weensy Spider”

Description

"The eensy weensy spider went up the water spout, Along came the rain and washed the spider out. Along came the sun and dried up all the rain So the eensy weensy spider climbed up the spout again."

Notes

The Baring-Goulds say that one is to enact the spider's adventures with fingers. I seem to recall seeing this, somewhere, some time in my youth -- but, 40 or so years later, I can't imagine how it was done. Still, it seems a folk game. That would, at least, explain why no two authors seem to spell the words the same way.

It certainly inspired parodies. There are two, both fairly silly, in the Digital Tradition. - RBW

References

  1. Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #579, p. 234, "(Incey wincey spider, climbed the water spout)"
  2. Roud #11586
  3. BI, BGMG579

About

Alternate titles: “Eency Weency Spider”
Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1962 (Baring-Gould-MotherGoose)
Keywords: bug
Found in: US(MS)