Full Lyrics of Wheels on the Bus

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town!

The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish; Swish, swish, swish; Swish, swish, swish. The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish, all through the town.

The horn on the bus goes Beep, beep, beep; Beep, beep, beep; Beep, beep, beep. The horn on the bus goes Beep, beep, beep, all through the town..

The money on the bus goes, clink, clink, clink; Clink, clink, clink; Clink, clink, clink. The money on the bus goes, Clink, clink, clink, all through the town.

The Driver on the bus says “Move on back, move on back, move on back;” The Driver on the bus says “Move on back”, all through the town.

The baby on the bus says, “Wah, wah, wah; Wah, wah, wah; Wah, wah, wah”. The baby on the bus says, “Wah, wah, wah”, all through the town.

The mommy on the bus says “Shush, shush, shush; Shush, shush, shush; Shush, shush, shush.” The mommy on the bus says “Shush, shush, shush” all through the town.

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town!

Wheels on the Bus

As a parent of young kids, I know nursery rhymes and children’s songs by heart at this point! Wheels on the Bus is definitely a classic crowd pleaser that never seems to get old. As soon as the first line hits their little ears, my daughters start bopping up and down with excitement. There’s just something about the repetitive lyrics and catchy melody that kids absolutely adore.

This ubiquitous nursery rhyme likely originated in the United States in the early 1900s. While the exact origins are unclear, it’s been covered by countless children’s performers over the past century and has become engrained in American pop culture. Even adults who haven’t sung it in decades can instantly recognize those iconic opening notes.

So come along for the ride as we dive into the history and meaning behind the Wheels on the Bus lyrics!

Origins and Meaning

The origins of Wheels on the Bus are murky at best. The earliest known recording was released in 1939 by Paul Wing, but it was already a well-known children’s song by then.

Music historians have struggled to pinpoint exactly who wrote the song and when. Some sources credit it to a man named Verna Hills, while others suggest it was written by the wife of famous vaudeville performer Frank Crumit. There are references to similar songs with related lyrics dating back to the early 19th century as well, so it likely evolved over time.

What we do know is that the song describes a bus journey through a town, with wheels going round, wipers swishing, horns beeping, and babies crying. The verses mimic both the sights and sounds you might encounter on such a ride. Some analysts propose that the repetitive verses coupled with the engaging actions make it easy for young minds to comprehend and participate.

Others note that songs like Wheels on the Bus help teach sequencing, rhyming, rhythm and vocabulary in a format well-suited for early childhood development. On a simpler level, the catchy beat and silly lyrics are just plain fun for little ones! For preschoolers and kindergartners, it’s an interactive adventure set to music.

Fun Facts

• Wheels on the Bus has been translated into several languages and is popular with children across the globe.
• Hit sensations like Bamba Pesé have put their own spin on it, with lyrics tailored for kids growing up in places like Israel, France and Spanish-speaking countries.
• The song has been used extensively in children’s sing-along videos, shows, CDs and more. Popular kid content creators like LittleBabyBum have mega-hit versions on YouTube.
• Preschool programs and children’s entertainers from Raffi to Laurie Berkner all have their own recordings of Wheels on the Bus.
• CoComelon, a leading YouTube channel for toddlers and preschoolers, features animated Wheels on the Bus videos with over 2 billion views!
• Parents, teachers and caregivers love having a go-to song on hand to entertain and engage groups of antsy kids. It’s one tune that almost every child recognizes.
• Some grown-ups use adult versions humorously referring to things like beer, tattoos or politics to give the old nursery rhyme a modern twist.
• Creative types have expanded on the original lyrics about bus passengers and sounds to make thematic variants for different seasons, animals or activities – adding verses about everything from pumpkin picking to baseball games!

Conclusion

Wheels on the Bus truly encapsulates childhood for so many generations. The silly lyrics, catchy beat and engaging actions make it a favorite among preschoolers, but it also ignites nostalgia in parents and grandparents as a timeless classic.

It’s no wonder tunes like this remain popular after more than a century, woven into the fabric of our families and cultures. They create warm memories and plant seeds of creativity that blossom as kids grow.

The next time you hear those iconic opening notes, don’t be afraid to belt out your best bus driver impression. Share a laugh over the bossy mommy shushing everyone, or relive the frustration of a wailing baby you can’t console. Whether it’s your toddler or your own inner child, let the music move you.

As I discussed in my previous post on popular kids’ songs, music is an integral part of childhood. For the full list of songs, visit https://thecornydad.com/50-fun-and-educational-kiddie-songs-with-lyrics.

I’d love to hear your favorite memories with Wheels on the Bus and other nursery rhymes! Please share them in the comments below. And if you need some inspiration for silly family bonding moments, you can find more of my dad-centric musings on everyday adventures in parenting at TheCornyDad blog. Enjoy the ride!

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.