Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

{{About|the children's song|the Ofenbach & Quarterhead song|Head Shoulders Knees & Toes}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

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| type = song

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| released = 1912

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| genre = Children's song

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File:Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.jpg

File:Headandshoulderskneesandtoes chiba-2014 9 7.webm (2014)]]

"Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" is a children's song. The song was documented as early as 1912{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/7a34d2e2-2e96-4015-a1e8-4e87c08aa561/0/39|title=The Children's Friend, September 1912, No. 9, p. 484}} and in 1961.Witte Austin, Dorothy. "Troubadour Pleases Playground Audiences". Milwaukee Journal, July 18, 1961, Part 2-p. 6. It is often sung to the tune of "There Is a Tavern in the Town", although it is sometimes sung to the tune of "London Bridge Is Falling Down". The latter version is commonly used in Canada and other British influenced countries.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-12 |title=Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes: Canadian vs American Versions? |url=https://quebeccity101.com/head-shoulders-knees-and-toes-canadian-vs-american-versions/ |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=Quebec City 101 |language=en-US}} In the Czech Republic, it is sung to the tune "Když jsem přišel do Vršovic", which is known in English speaking countries as "Stodola, pumpa" or "Along the ranch path" in South Korea.

Description

The song typically has only one verse, with lyrics similar to those below. The second line repeats the first line both in words and in melody, the third line has a rising tone, and the fourth line repeats the first two. Children might dance while they sing the song and touch their head, shoulders, knees, and toes in sequence to the words.{{Cite web |title=Heads, shoulders, knees and toes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/articles/zd9f6v4 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=BBC Teach |language=en-GB}}

Lyrics

:Head, shoulders, knees and toes,

:knees and toes

:Head, shoulders, knees and toes,

:knees and toes

:And eyes and ears and mouth and nose

:Head, shoulders, knees and toes,

:knees and toes.

The lyrics can also be sung in reverse, like this:{{fact|date=May 2024}}

:Toes, knees and shoulders, head,

:shoulders, head

:Toes, knees and shoulders, head,

:shoulders, head

:And nose and mouth and ears and eyes

:Toes, knees and shoulders, head,

:shoulders, head.

Each verse is repeated, with one word being omitted each time, just touching their body parts, without actually saying the word. For example:

:Verse 2

:----, shoulders, knees and toes

:Verse 3

:----, ----, knees and toes

:Verse 4

:----, ----, ----, and toes

:Verse 5

:----, ----, ----, and ----

This pattern continues until all the words are omitted. The last verse consists of no actual singing or singing all lyrics, but sometimes at a much faster tempo.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

Similar works

One song was adapted from the traditional version, although it uses a different tune (Frère Jacques) with modified lyrical constructions, such as "Eyes and ears" and "Chin/Mouth and nose", and suggests touching the body parts as in the traditional song.{{Cite web|url=http://www.preschoolexpress.com/music-station11/body-part-songs.shtml|title=Body part songs and rhymes |website=Preschool Express}}

Another variation starts the line with "Eyes" and includes "chin", but it has the words in an order that causes the motions to zig zag.

Many derivative songs have been constructed over the years that similarly teach the vocabulary of body parts.{{cite AV media |url-status = live |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/N2pUxxM8W3g |archive-date = 2021-12-11| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2pUxxM8W3g |title = Parts of the Body Song (Learn Body Parts for Kids – Audio) |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} One example, using the same tune, as featured on the Kidsongs video "Boppin' with the Biggles", is as follows:{{cite web |url=https://kidsongs.com/lyrics/head-shoulders-knees-and-toes.html/ |title=Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes |website=Kidsongs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410205219/http://www.kidsongs.com/lyrics/head-shoulders-knees-and-toes.html |archive-date=2010-04-10}}

: Feet and tummies arms and chins,

: arms and chins

: Feet and tummies arms and chins,

: arms and chins

: And eyes and ears and mouth and shins

: Feet and tummies arms and chins,

: arms and chins

: Hands and fingers legs and lips,

: legs and lips

: Hands and fingers legs and lips,

: legs and lips

: And eyes and ears and mouth and hips