Over in the Meadow

While we were out west this summer we attended a family reunion for my mother's family.  There were about 100 people there, so although we had a nice big lodge, some of us were sleeping in tents.  (It's easier to put the kids to bed that way anyhow.)  So I was singing to my kids, trying to get them to calm down enough to go to sleep, in spite of the loud teenagers on the balcony, when my cousin, Jen, walked by and heard the song we were singing.  She didn't know it and asked about it.

I've been meaning to record it to post here, but haven't done it yet, so instead of putting off this post for yet another week I will post the lyrics and sheet music and hopefully get back to the recording later.

I have heard several different version of Over in the Meadow.  I like this one the best.  It can be found in storybook form by John Langstaff and illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky.  I think the words lay nicely.  There is also a beautiful version illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats, but the words are a little different.  


We sing it at bed time, at preschool (it's a counting song), in the car, etc.  It was Chesson's favorite song for a while.  She always insisted on the number three that we put up middle finger, ring finger, and pinky.  We discovered many different ways to make three fingers. (There are a lot, try it.)

So, Jen, here's Over in the the Meadow, just for you.

Over in the meadow in the sand in the sun, 

Lived an  old mother turtle and her little turtle one. 

"Dig," said the mother.   "I dig," said the one;

So he dug and was glad in the sand in the sun. 

Over in the meadow where the tall grasses grew,

Lived an old mother fox and her little foxes two. 

"Run," said the mother.  "We run," said the two;

So they ran and were glad where the tall grasses grew.

Over in the meadow in a nest in the tree, 

Lived an old mother robin and here little birdies three.

"Sing," said the mother.  "We sing," said the three;

 So they sang and were glad in the nest in the tree. 

Over in the meadow in a tall sycamore, 

Lived an old mother chipmunk and her little chipmunks four.

"Play," said the mother.  "We play," said the four;

 So they played and were glad in that tall sycamore.

Over in the meadow in a new little hive, 

Lived an old mother bee and her honeybees five. 

"Buzz," said the mother.  "We buzz," said the five;

So they buzzed and were glad in their new beehive. 

Over in the meadow in a dam built of sticks, 

Lived an old mother beaver and her little beavers six. 

"Build," said the mother.  "We build," said the six;

So they built and were glad in the dam built of sticks. 

Over in the meadow where the green wet bog, 

Lived an old mother froggie and her seven pollywogs. 

"Swim," said the mother.  "We swim," said the ‘wogs;

So they swam and were glad in the green wet bog.

Over in the meadow as the day grew late,

Lived an old mother owl and her little owls eight. 

"Wink," said the mother,  "We wink," said the eight;

So they winked and were glad as the day grew late.

Over in the meadow in a web on the pine, 

Lived an old mother spider and her little spiders nine. 

"Spin," said the mother.  "We spin," said the nine;

So they spun and were glad in their web on the pine.

Over in the meadow in a warm little den, 

Lived an old mother rabbit and her little rabbits ten. 

"Hop," said the mother.  "We hop," said the ten;

So they hopped and were glad in their warm little den.