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The Ants Go Marching Lyrics
Table of Contents
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one,
The little one stops to suck his thumb
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching two by two,
The little one stops to tie his shoe
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching three by three,
The little one stops to climb a tree
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching four by four,
The little one stops to shut the door
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching five by five,
The little one stops to take a dive
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching six by six,
The little one stops to pick up sticks
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching seven by seven,
The little one stops to pray to heaven
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching eight by eight,
The little one stops to roller skate
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching nine by nine,
The little one stops to check the time
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching ten by ten,
The little one stops to shout “THE END!”
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Ants Go Marching
As a loving father of four energetic kids, I’ve certainly sung my share of nursery rhymes, preschool songs, and children’s music over the years. And “The Ants Go Marching” stands out as a tried-and-true classic. This lively call-and-response marching tune has been entertaining generations of children with its playful lyrics and catchy melody. For preschoolers and young elementary students just learning about rhythm, repetition, and music appreciation, it’s a perfect introduction. In this nostalgic post, we’ll explore the origins, lyrics, and videos behind this timeless preschool marching song. Get ready to sing and stomp along!
History and Meaning
While the exact roots are difficult to pinpoint, music historians agree it emerged as a folk song in the early 20th century. The marching cadence and chant-like repetition suggest it may have started as an easy tune for Civil War soldiers to sing on long hikes. Over time, the serious military theme transformed into a lighthearted nursery rhyme and preschool marching song. New silly lyrics were added about playful ants stopping to suck their thumbs, climb trees, and more.
Beyond the silliness, “The Ants Go Marching” contains some subtle educational elements. The expanding verses teach young children counting and sequencing from one to ten. Having the “little ants” fall out of line also emphasizes discipline and teamwork as the troop keeps marching on. So this catchy preschool song sneakily builds skills like numbers, focus, and cooperation. The emphasis on marching also gets kids moving and chanting in rhythm together. Whether or not they grow up to love insects or marching bands, experiencing this nursery rhyme lays a foundation for music education.
Some believe the lyrics actually refer to “aunts” marching off to war rather than ants. This theory adds some interesting possible double meanings to explore. But either way, the song’s infectious rhythm and repetition make it a joy for preschoolers to sing, stomp, and act out.
Videos and Pop Culture Appearances
- In the classic 1930s cartoon Mother Goose Land, Betty Boop sings “The Ants Go Marching” while stop-motion ants parade around forming images.
- “The Ants Go Marching” has been performed internationally in Spanish, German, Swahili, and many other languages, though usually with the original tune.
- On the YouTube kids’ series CoComelon, adorable animated ants JJ, YoYo, and Cricket act out this preschool song alongside other nursery rhymes.
- The song is easily expandable, with people adding verses up to 20, 50 or 100 ants marching in silly ways. Great for preschool improv!
- Many elementary music and preschool programs have students march around in a circle chanting the lyrics and playing out the actions. It’s the perfect sing-along marching song to reinforce rhythm and repetition.
Conclusion
Simple lyrics, catchy melody, endless opportunity for active participation – it’s no wonder “The Ants Go Marching” has remained a staple kids’ song for generations. Not only is it fun and energetic, it also sneaks in early math, music, and teamwork skills in a playful way. So break out the fake ant headbands or preschool musical instruments and get your little ones singing, stomping, and marching along. Share your own favorite memories of learning this nursery rhyme and preschool song. And be sure to pass down this catchy classic so the marching ant tradition lives on!
50 Fun and Educational Kiddie Songs with Lyrics – Sing Along (thecornydad.com)
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.
