# Polly Put the Kettle On

“Polly Put the Kettle On” is an English nursery rhyme documented around 1800 in which tea is prepared and then put away after the visitors leave.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Sung in | English |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | Tune printed by about 1794; Polly and Molly titles documented around 1800 |
| Best for ages | 2–6 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/polly-put-the-kettle-on/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (en)

Polly, put the kettle on,
Polly, put the kettle on,
Polly, put the kettle on,
We’ll all have tea.

Sukey, take it off again,
Sukey, take it off again,
Sukey, take it off again,
They’ve all gone away.

## How to sing it

1. Begin slowly so everyone can hear the repeated words and the action cue.
2. Mime placing a safe toy kettle on a stove, pouring tea, and carefully taking the kettle away.
3. Repeat the song once and invite a different child to lead the cues.

## Common questions

**Who are Polly and Sukey in Polly Put the Kettle On?**

They are the two figures named by the rhyme: Polly is asked to put the kettle on for tea, and Sukey is asked to take it off after the visitors leave. The sources do not identify them as historical people.

**Which came first: Polly Put the Kettle On or Molly Put the Kettle On?**

A tune called “Jenny’s Babee” was printed around 1794, while Molly and Polly kettle titles are documented around 1800. The retrieved evidence does not establish one familiar name as the definitive original.

## Sources

- [RegencyDances.org — publication history of the tune and titles](https://www.regencydances.org/paper040.php)
- [Poetry Foundation — Polly Put the Kettle On](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46969/polly-put-the-kettle-on)
- [Project Gutenberg — Mother Goose (1915)](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/24623/pg24623-images.html)