# Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

"Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" is an action song documented by 1912, sung to the tune of "There's a Tavern in the Town"; children touch each body part in turn, dropping words as the verses go.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Sung in | English |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | 1912 |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | dancing, playful, educational |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/head-shoulders-knees-and-toes/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (en)

Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

## How to sing it

1. Touch each part as you name it — head, shoulders, knees, toes, then eyes, ears, mouth and nose.
2. Start slowly, then speed up each time round until everyone is in a tangle.
3. For a challenge, leave out one word each verse but keep touching the part in silence — then two words, then three.

## Common questions

**What tune is "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" sung to?**

Most often to the melody of "There's a Tavern in the Town". In Canada and some other countries it is sung instead to the tune of "London Bridge Is Falling Down".

**How old is "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"?**

The song is documented from 1912. Its words are really just a list of body parts, so it has always been more a game and a teaching aid than a story.

**What is the "dropping words" game?**

A favourite way to play it: each time through, you stop singing one of the words but still touch that body part in silence. Verse by verse more words drop out, until you are miming most of the song — and usually laughing.

**Why is "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" used in classrooms?**

Because it teaches the names of body parts through movement, which makes them stick. For the same reason it is a popular first song in language classes, where children learn the words in English or another language while pointing to themselves.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia — Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head,_Shoulders,_Knees_and_Toes)
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3261218