Full Lyrics of Down By the Bay

Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do
My mom will say
“Did you ever see a goose
Kiss a moose?”

Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do

My mom will say
“Did you ever see a whale
With polka dots on its tail?”

Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do
My mom will say
“Did you ever see a fly
Wearing a necktie?”

Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do
My mom will say
“Did you ever see a bear
Brushing his hair?”

Down by the bay
Where the watermelons grow
Back to my home
I dare not go
For if I do
My mom will say
“Did you ever have a time
When you couldn’t make a rhyme?”

Down By the Bay

I get how hard it can be to find songs and nursery rhymes that grab your little one’s attention. But there’s one song that never fails to get my littles singing, laughing, and asking for more – Down By the Bay. The super silly lyrics full of fun make-believe scenes make this song a total hit with preschoolers and young kids in elementary school.

With its call-and-response format and calm, melodic rhythm, Down By the Bay is easy for kids to remember and sing along to. My wife and I often catch our girls belting out the rhymes randomly throughout the day, sometimes making up their own new verses on the spot! Though no one is totally sure where the song came from originally, Down By the Bay has clearly become a favorite playground and classroom song that gets kids involved in making music.

I can’t help but join in the fun with my best crooning dad voice when my daughters ask me to sing Down By the Bay. The back-and-forth never gets old, and I love seeing their faces light up with joy as we sing together as a family. Music education is so important for little minds, and songs like this one make it a lively, bonding time!

Where Down By the Bay Came From

While the exact origins of Down By the Bay are unclear, it became a popular kids’ song sometime in the mid-1900s. The tune itself has an almost folk song feel, with its call-and-response pattern, and the lyrics use imaginative, often silly scenes like lots of nursery rhymes do. This winning combo has made Down By the Bay a favorite of preschoolers for decades.

The song was likely written by Canadian composer and teacher Raffi, one of the world’s best-known creators of children’s music. Though the first published version appeared in a 1976 book, there’s evidence Raffi started doing the song live at shows a few years before that. His 1976 collection “Singable Songs for the Very Young” helped make the song widely known.

With its playful lyrics about animals in unlikely situations, Down By the Bay delights kids by getting their imaginations going. The back-and-forth chorus encourages active participation, so kids can come up with their own creative responses. This promotes cognitive development, language skills, rhyming ability, and confidence!

The song also gives parents and children a chance to have silly, bonding moments as they try to come up with the most outrageous rhyming scenarios. For parents, Down By the Bay lets us tap into our inner child again – plus it’s a great way to distract wiggly toddlers!

Fun Facts About Down By the Bay

• Down By the Bay has been translated into several languages, keeping its popularity with kids all over the world. It’s known as “Au Fond de la Baie” in French, and “Вниз у Залива” in Ukrainian.
• The song has been covered by lots of children’s artists over the years, including The Wiggles, Dr. Jean, and Charlotte Diamond, though Raffi’s version is still the best known.
• In the song, the child keeps making up excuses not to go home because they don’t want the fun to end – something every parent can relate to!
• Though no one is sure where the melody originated, some music experts think it was inspired by the tune of the classic campfire song “The Bear Went Over The Mountain.” Listen closely and you may notice some similarities!
• Preschool teachers often use Down By the Bay as a jumping off point for classroom activities, incorporating the silly rhyming ideas into art projects, story writing, and more. It lets kids’ creativity run wild!

Conclusion

Down By the Bay has clearly stood the test of time, remaining popular with kids for generations. The engaging call-and-response lyrics provide awesome opportunities for playful interaction between parents and children. Singing together lays the groundwork for a lifelong love of music, wordplay, and quality family time. Silly songs become sweet memories.

What are your favorite memories involving Down By the Bay or other beloved kids’ songs? I’d love for you to share them below! And if you want to bring even more fun music into your family’s life, be sure to check out my previous post on the 50 Most Popular Kids Songs for lyrics to classics like You Are My Sunshine, The Wheels on the Bus, and more. Keep singing and rhyming, parents!

Link back to the parent post: As I talked about in my earlier post on popular kids’ songs, music is a huge part of childhood. For the full list of songs, visit https://thecornydad.com/50-fun-and-educational-kiddie-songs-with-lyrics

Hey there! I'm Allen, but you can call me "The Corny Dad" from Canada. I have a wife and four kiddos. Yep, one's full grown, but they'll always be my babies. When I'm not doing something with my family or playing video games, I'm here, jotting down my bits of wisdom on this blog. From the fun stuff to the parenting chaos, I cover it all. Believe me, with the right attitude, parenting's a smoother ride and I'm here to help.