# Jack Be Nimble

"Jack Be Nimble" is an English nursery rhyme recorded by about 1815, tied to a real custom of jumping over a lit candlestick — clearing it without snuffing the flame meant good luck.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Sung in | English |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | c. 1815 |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/jack-be-nimble/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (en)

Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jump over
The candlestick.

## Common questions

**Why does Jack jump over a candlestick?**

Because it was a real game and fortune-telling custom. People would set a lit candle on the floor and leap over it; clearing the flame without putting it out was taken as a sign of good luck. The rhyme captures exactly that moment of the jump.

**How old is the rhyme?**

It was first written down around 1815, and collected again by the folklorist James Orchard Halliwell in the mid-nineteenth century. Its author is unknown.

**Can children act "Jack Be Nimble" out?**

Yes, and it is meant to be. Traditionally a real candle was used, but a wooden block, a cushion or a candlestick shape on the floor works safely just as well — the fun is in being "nimble" and "quick" enough to clear it.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia — Jack Be Nimble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Be_Nimble)
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17059422