Itsy Bitsy Spider
Nursery rhyme
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"The Itsy Bitsy Spider" (also known as "The Incey Wincey Spider" in Australia[1] or "Incy Wincy Spider" in the United Kingdom,[2] and other anglophone countries) is a popular nursery rhyme, folksong, and fingerplay that describes the adventures of a spider as it ascends, descends, and re-ascends the downspout or "waterspout" of a gutter system or open-air reservoir. It is usually accompanied by a sequence of gestures that mimic the words of the song. Its Roud Folk Song Index number is 11586.
Lyrics
A commonly used version uses these words and gestures:[3]
| Words | Fingerplay |
|---|---|
The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the waterspout. |
Alternately touch the thumb of one hand to the index finger of the other. |
Other versions exist.
Origin
While the exact origin for the song "Itsy Bitsy Spider" is unknown, a version reported in 1912 to have been heard at a college commencement resembles the common modern version:[4]
There was a blooming spider
Went up a blooming spout,
And down came the rain
And washed the spider out;
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain,
But that bloody, blooming son of a gun
Went up that spout again.
The song can also be found in publications such as Arthur Walbridge North's book Camp and Camino in Lower California (1910), where it is referred to as [the classic] "Spider Song".[5] One of the song's several modern versions eventually appeared in Western Folklore, by the California Folklore Society (1948),[6] Mike and Peggy Seeger's, American Folk Songs for Children (1948).[7]
The song is sung by and for children in countless languages and cultures. It is similar to the melodies of the children's songs "Sweetly Sings the Donkey" in the United States, and "Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer", "Ich bin ein kleiner Esel" (the German-language version of "Sweetly Sings the Donkey") and "Spannenlanger Hansel" in German-speaking countries.
Score
Source[8]
Legacy
The British broadcaster Wincey Willis (1948–2024) took her name from the nursery rhyme. Born Florence Winsome Leighton, she went by her middle name, Winsome; but at infant school her classmates started calling her Wincey after the nursery rhyme, and she retained this name in adult life.[9]
