# I Hear Thunder

"I Hear Thunder" is an English action song for young children, sung to the tune of "Frère Jacques", in which a sudden storm rolls in with thunder and pattering rain that leaves everyone "wet through".

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Sung in | English |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | traditional; sung to the "Frère Jacques" tune |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/i-hear-thunder/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (en)

I hear thunder!
I hear thunder!
Oh! don't you? Oh! don't you?
Pitter, patter raindrops,
Pitter, patter raindrops,
I'm wet through!
I'm wet through!

## How to sing it

1. On "I hear thunder", cup a hand to your ear, then drum on the floor or your knees.
2. On "pitter, patter raindrops", flutter your fingers down like falling rain.
3. On "I'm wet through!", give a big shiver and shake the raindrops off.

## Common questions

**What is "I Hear Thunder" about?**

A little rainstorm. The singer hears thunder, then the rain comes pattering down — pitter, patter raindrops — until everyone is soaked "through". Children act it all out, listening for the thunder and fluttering their fingers as the rain.

**What tune is "I Hear Thunder" sung to?**

To the melody of "Frère Jacques" (the same tune as "Are You Sleeping, Brother John?"). The words are simply fitted to that well-known round, which makes it very easy for small children to pick up.

**Who wrote "I Hear Thunder"?**

No author is recorded. It is a traditional action song for young children, passed on in playgroups and nurseries, built on the borrowed "Frère Jacques" melody.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia — Frère Jacques (the tune this song uses)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A8re_Jacques)