# The Alphabet Song (ABC Song)

“The Alphabet Song,” also called the “ABC Song,” is an American educational song published in 1835 that sets English letter names in a fixed sequence.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Sung in | English |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | 1835 publication; displayed historical ending printed in 1915 |
| Best for ages | 2–6 |
| Mood | educational, playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/the-alphabet-song/ |

## Lyrics

### Common current ending (en)

A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P,
Q, R, S, T, U, V,
W, X, Y and Z.
Now I know my A, B, Cs,
Next time won’t you sing with me?

### 1915 printed ending (en)

A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P,
Q, R, S, T, U, V,
W, X, Y and Z.
Now I’ve said my A, B, C,
Tell me what you think of me.

## How to sing it

1. Begin slowly so everyone can hear the repeated words and the action cue.
2. Point to each printed letter while singing and slow slightly through L–M–N–O–P so every name stays distinct.
3. Repeat the song once and invite a different child to lead the cues.

## Common questions

**Who wrote The Alphabet Song?**

An American “A.B.C.” sheet was published in Boston in 1835 using an already existing European melody. The evidence supports that publication history, but not a claim that one person created both the alphabet words and the tune.

**Why does The Alphabet Song have different endings?**

Closing lines have changed between printings and present-day singing. This page keeps the common modern ending (“Now I know my A, B, Cs”) separate from the ending printed in the 1915 Volland Mother Goose: “Now I’ve said my A, B, C, / Tell me what you think of me.”

## Sources

- [WorldCat — Volland Mother Goose (1915)](https://search.worldcat.org/title/Mother-Goose/oclc/1681509)
- [Project Gutenberg — Mother Goose (1915), A B C](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/24623/pg24623-images.html)
- [Tokyo College of Music — research on the 1835 A.B.C. publication](https://tokyo-ondai.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/1289/files/23_yasunami.pdf)