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The alphabet song is a popular tool used to help teach children the Latin Alphabet , commonly known by children as "the A-B-C's." It is used in Kindergarten s, Pre-school s and homes around the world. It is sung to the widely-known French folk tune "Ah! Vous Dirais-je, Maman", perhaps best-known as the melody of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", and also well-known as a set of theme and variations for piano by Mozart (k.265). The song was first copyrighted by Charles Bradlee, music publisher, in Boston, USA in 1835, with the title, "The A.B.C., a German air with variations for the flute with an easy accompaniment for the piano forte". The musical arrangement was attributed to Louis Le Maire (sometimes Lemaire), an 18th century composer. This was "Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1835, by C. Bradlee, in the clerk's office of the District Court of Massachusetts", according to the Newberry Library [http://i-share.carli.illinois.edu/nby/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First Newberry Library catalog], which also says, "The theme is that used by Mozart for his piano variations, Ah, vous dirai-je, maman."The alphabet song is sometimes said to come from another of Bradlee's publications, "The Schoolmaster", but the first line of that song is given as "Come, come my children, I must see", in Yale University's library catalog . It is described as "a favorite glee for three voices, as sung at the Salem glee club." Lyrics: ''(each line represents a measure, or four beats)'' 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 sung my A, B, C's Tell me what you think of me. A variant changes the last two lines to: Now I know my A, B, C's Won't you come and play with me. ...or... Next time won't you sing with me. Variants of the song are used in Commonwealth countries (and former Commonwealth regions where English is in significant use, such as Hong Kong ), which pronounce the letter Z as "''zed''". One variation shortens the second line and lengthens the last, to form a near-rhyme between N and Z (zed): 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-z Other variants make significantly more changes in order to rhyme with "zed", and even alter the rest of the song to fit a new rhythm. For example: a-b-c-d-e-f-g h-i-j-k-lmnop lmnop-q-r-s-t u-v-w-x-y-z x-y-z. Butter on your bread If you don't like it you'll have to go to bed. The song can be heard here , by selecting "The Alphabet Song" link directly under the chart. The alphabet song's popularity inspired Comedian Steven Wright to quip, "Why is the Alphabet in that order? Is it because of ''that song?''" There is a common misconception among young children, due to the way "l-m-n-o-p" is sung faster than the rest of the letters, that there is a single letter called "elemenopee". A joke variation sung by children to each other is to sing the whole song except the "P". The listener then asks "Where's the P?" To this the child in jest responds "Running down your knee" (interpreting the "P" as " Pee "). There is a version of the alphabet song using a different melody taught by some pre-schools that use the Phonics method. What does the A say? Ay Aa Ah
What does the E say? Ee and Eh :. . . (continue for each letter with several slightly different melodies) :. . . What does the X say? Ks Ks Ks What does the Z say? Zzz Zzz Zzz What do you call these phones and sounds? English alphabet letters. Yeah! This song teaches children that each letter has a name and sounds. Just like a Dog says "woof" and a Cat says "meow", the "I" says "eye" and "ee". Another variant popular at many children's summer camps goes: A: you're an alphabet B: you're a belly button C: you're a cantaloupe with arms D: you're delirious E: you're an elephant F: you're the fairy of my arms G: you're a goony goon H: you're a hairy loon I: you're an icky dicky doo J: you've got joppy knees k: klaustrophobia (sp) l: you've got leprosy too! M, N: you're a maniac O: you're an octopus-pus-pus-pus P:, Q: particularly queer R, S, T,: responsible for stupid things U: pick your nose in bed V: you're a vomit head W, X, Y, Z Another alphabet song from the 1940s, by Buddy Kaye, Fred Wise and Sidney Lippman. also performed on Sesame Street: A, you're adorable B, you're so beautiful :... Another alphabet song, heard once on the radio: A is for the atom B is for the bomb :... G, I love you baby H, I hate you too :... SEE ALSO NOTES |
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