# Wind the Bobbin Up

“Wind the Bobbin Up” is an English action rhyme related to a Dutch singing game traced to the 1890s; its expanded English directions were published in 2006.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Unknown |
| Sung in | English |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | Related Dutch game traced to the 1890s; expanded English text published in 2006 |
| Best for ages | 2–5 |
| Mood | dancing, playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/wind-the-bobbin-up/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (en)

Wind the bobbin up,
Wind the bobbin up,
Pull, pull, clap, clap, clap.
Wind it back again,
Wind it back again,
Pull, pull, clap, clap, clap.
Point to the ceiling,
Point to the floor,
Point to the window,
Point to the door.
Clap your hands together, one, two, three,
Lay them gently on your knees.

## How to sing it

1. Begin slowly so everyone can hear the repeated words and the action cue.
2. Circle the fists around each other for winding, pull them apart, clap three times, point as directed and end with both hands on the knees.
3. Repeat the song once and invite a different child to lead the cues.

## Common questions

**What is a bobbin in Wind the Bobbin Up?**

A bobbin is a spool or spindle on which thread or yarn is wound. The circular hand motion in the rhyme imitates winding thread, followed by pulling, clapping and pointing actions.

**Is Wind the Bobbin Up a Dutch song?**

The Opies traced a shorter related singing game to the Netherlands in the 1890s, but that does not establish the origin of the displayed English text. Its expanded directions are documented in a 2006 English-language collection.

## Sources

- [Iona and Peter Opie — The Singing Game (Oxford University Press, 1985)](https://books.google.com/books?id=lUxZshFBRFYC)
- [Barbara Melling — The Rhyme-Time Book (2006 publisher preview)](https://api.pageplace.de/preview/DT0400.9780857473561_A23731437/preview-9780857473561_A23731437.pdf)
- [Académie de Nantes — Wind the Bobbin Up teaching sheet](https://pedagogie.ac-nantes.fr/medias/fichier/nr08-wind-the-bobbin-up-fiche-pedagogique_1545310580484-pdf)
- [National Literacy Trust — Sing With Me](https://wordsforlife.org.uk/documents/563/Sing_With_Me_digital.pdf)
- [Merriam-Webster — bobbin definition](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bobbin)