Turns Out You've Been Singing These Kids' Songs Wrong Your Whole Life

When you were in school, the teachers had a series of songs that they would get you sing as a group right? You would go through usually a very short and simple song over and over so everyone would learn it and it would just be a fun exercise in between lessons. What none of us realized was that we were only getting the first verses of the songs and there was actually a whole lot more to them!

Whether it's London Bridge or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, there are actually more verses to the song that everyone has just left in the past. Do you know the second verses to these 5 popular kids songs?

1. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

We all know the first verse off by heart. It's probably one of the first songs your parents taught you when you were just a little kid! But did you know there is a lot more to it?

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.  

Then the traveler in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveler in the dark,—
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

2. Baa Baa Black Sheep

After you are done shaving down the black sheep, you obviously have to go finish the rest of your farming chores!

Cluck, cluck, red hen, have you any eggs?
Yes sir, yes sir, as many as your legs.
One for your breakfast and one for your lunch;
Come back tomorrow and I'll have another bunch.

Moo, moo brown cow, have you milk for me?
Yes sir, yes sir, as tasty as can be.
Churn it into butter, make it into cheese,
Freeze it into ice cream or drink it if you please.

Buzz, buzz busy bee, is your honey sweet?
Yes sir, yes sir, sweet enough to eat.
Honey on your muffin, honey on your cake,
Honey by the spoonful, as much as I can make.

3. Do Your Ears Hang Low?

The second verse to this one probably went away because the first verse was weird enough right? Well, it gets weirder.

Do your ears hang high?
Do they reach up to the sky?
Do they droop when they are wet?
Do they stiffen when they're dry?
Can you semaphore your neighbor with a minimum of labor?
Do your ears hang high?

These aren't the only songs with second verses you never knew about...

4. My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean

This song seems like a sad song to begin with, I mean "Bonnie" is all the way on the other side of the ocean, but this verse takes it a whole step further.

Last night as I lay on my pillow
Last night as I lay on my bed
Last night as I lay on my pillow
I dreamed that my Bonnie was dead

5. London Bridge Is Falling Down

London Bridge is having a bad day. This song is incredibly long so it's really no wonder that parents just left the rest of those verses in the past.

Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair lady.

Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away,
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair lady.

Don't worry though, it isn't done there! After the wood and clay have washed away you would sing a verse how you have to "build it up with bricks and mortar", but "bricks and mortar will not stay."

After that you try "iron and steel" but "iron and steel will bend and bow."

Then they go all out with "silver and gold" but "silver and gold will be stolen away."

This isn't even the end of it, they really don't want to give up on that bridge. Then you have to "set a man to watch all night." But they have little faith in his caffeine consumption because they wonder, "suppose the man should fall asleep?" Their solution is not one that I really endorse, but they say they will "Give him a pipe to smoke all night."

Perfect, so now you have a silver and gold bridge guarded by a man smoking a pipe. Excellent security work.

Bonus: Alouette

This isn't so much of a second verse, but a rude awakening. There is a Canadian kids' song that every child sings in French class. There are a lot of people all over the world have learned it, but no one really knows the meaning.

Alouette, gentille Alouette (Skylark, nice skylark)
Alouette, je te plumerai (Skylark, I shall pluck you)
Je te plumerai la tête (I shall pluck your head)
(Je te plumerai la tête) (I shall pluck your head)
Et la tête (And your head)
(Et la tête) (And your head)
O-o-oh!

Then it kind of goes over the rest of this poor little bird's body including the eyes, bead and neck. Little graphic for a kids' song don't you think?

Which was your favorite song to sing as a kid? Is it weird to find out the crazy extra verses of the songs you thought you knew so well?