# Three Jellyfish

"Three Jellyfish" is a counting-down (and back-up) action song: jellyfish sitting on a rock jump off one by one with a "Splash!", then climb back up with a "Hooray!" — counting down to none and back to three.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Sung in | English |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | traditional counting song; author unknown |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional, counting |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/three-jellyfish/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (en)

Three jellyfish,
Three jellyfish,
Three jellyfish sitting on a rock.
One jumped off!
Splash!

### Verse 2 (en)

Two jellyfish…
One jellyfish…
No jellyfish,
No jellyfish,
No jellyfish sitting on a rock.
One climbed up!
Hooray!

### Verse 3 (en)

One jellyfish…
Two jellyfish…
Three jellyfish…

## How to sing it

1. Hold up fingers for the jellyfish sitting on the rock.
2. On "one jumped off! Splash!", fold a finger down and make a big splash.
3. Then count back up as they climb the rock again, cheering "Hooray!" each time.

## Common questions

**What is "Three Jellyfish" about?**

Wobbly jellyfish on a rock. One by one they jump off with a "Splash!" until there are none left — then, in reverse, they climb back up one at a time with a "Hooray!" So the song counts down to zero and then back up again.

**What does "Three Jellyfish" teach?**

Counting down and up, and the idea of "one less" and "one more". Going both directions — subtracting as they splash off, adding as they climb back — makes it a little richer than a plain countdown.

**Who wrote "Three Jellyfish"?**

No author is recorded. It is a traditional preschool counting song, acted out with fingers and splashes, and handed down with small variations.

## Sources

- [Laptime Songs — 3 Jellyfish](https://laptimesongs.com/3-jellyfish/)