ニューヨークの子供たちに人気の英語の歌 12選

息子が赤ちゃんの時から、日本の童謡をたくさん歌ってあげてきましたが、プリスクールに行き始めてからは、息子が歌う曲といえばもっぱらアメリカの子供歌。おしゃべりが上手になる前から、歌の歌詞はよくスラスラと出ていたので、やはりメロディが一緒だと言葉を覚えやすいのは明らかなようです。

日本でも、英語教育の一環として歌を取り入れている方も多いと思うので、今回は、息子が大好きで繰り返しよく歌う歌や、子供が集まる場所で流れると皆んなが合唱を始めるようなアメリカの定番曲などを12曲、動画と歌詞と合わせて紹介しようと思います。聞き慣れた、歌い慣れた日本の童謡とは違って新鮮なので、私もついつい一緒になって覚えては歌い、楽しませてもらっています。

1. B-I-N-G-O

定番中の定番で、日本でも聞いたことがある人も多いはず。B-I-N-G-Oの文字に合わせて手を叩く手遊び歌です。

There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O x 3回
And Bingo was his name-o.

There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(手を叩く)-I-N-G-O x 3回
And Bingo was his name-o.

There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(手を叩く)-(手を叩く)-N-G-O x 3回
And Bingo was his name-o.

There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(手を叩く)-(手を叩く)-(手を叩く)-G-O x 3回
And Bingo was his name-o.

There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(手を叩く)-(手を叩く)-(手を叩く)-(手を叩く)-O x 3回
And Bingo was his name-o.

There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(手を叩く)-(手を叩く)-(手を叩く)-(手を叩く)-(手を叩く) x 3回
And Bingo was his name-o.

2. Row, Row, Row Your Boat

こちらも定番中の定番で、息子が小さい時に一番好きだった歌。

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream

3. Five Little Ducks

息子が今現在一番よく歌っている曲の一つ。あひるが1羽ずつ減っていく、数え歌です。（ご安心を、ちゃんと最後にみんな戻ってきます）

Five little ducks went out one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “quack quack quack quack,”
But only four little ducks came back.
1,2,3,4

Four little ducks went out one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “quack quack quack quack,”
But only three little ducks came back.
1,2,3

Three little ducks went out one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “quack quack quack quack,”
But only two little ducks came back.
1,2

Two little ducks went out one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “quack quack quack quack,”
But only one hill duck came back.
1

One little duck went out one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “quack quack quack quack,”
But none of the five little ducks came back.

Sad mother duck went out one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “quack quack quack quack,”
And all of five little ducks came back.

Five little ducks went out to play,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “quack quack quack quack,”
And all of the five little ducks came back!

4. Rain Rain Go Away

雨が降ると、この歌を歌っている子供を本当によく見かけます。DaddyやMommyの箇所を、子供の名前に入れ替えたりします。

Rain, rain, go away.
Come again another day.
DADDY wants to play.
Rain, rain, go away.

Rain, rain, go away.
Come again another day.
MOMMY wants to play.
Rain, rain, go away.

Rain, rain, go away.
Come again another day.
BROTHER wants to play.
Rain, rain, go away.

Rain, rain, go away.
Come again another day.
SISTER wants to play.
Rain, rain, go away.

Rain, rain, go away.
Come again another day.
BABY wants to play.
Rain, rain, go away.

Rain, rain, go away.
Come again another day.
ALL THE FAMILY wants to play.
Rain, rain, go away.

5. Open Shut Them

特に小さい子に人気の手遊び歌です。

Open shut them, open shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap.
Open shut them, open shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap.

Big and small.
Big and small. Big and small.
Big, big, big, big, small, small, small.
Big and small. Big and small.
Big, big, big, big, small, small, small.

Please. No, thank you.
Please. No, thank you. Please. No, thank you.
Please, please, please, please. No thank you.
Please. No, thank you. Please. No, thank you.
Please, please, please, please. No thank you.

Fast and slow.
Fast and slow. Fast and slow.
Fast, fast, fast, fast, slow, slow, slow.
Fast and slow. Fast and slow.
Fast, fast, fast, fast, slow, slow, slow.

Loud and quiet.
Loud and quiet. Loud and quiet.
Loud, loud, loud, loud. Shh… Quiet.
Loud and quiet. Loud and quiet.
Loud, loud, loud, loud. Shh… Quiet.

Peek-a-boo.
Peek-a-boo. Peek-a-boo.
Peek-a, peek-a, peek-a-boo!
Peek-a-boo. Peek-a-boo.
Peek-a, peek-a, peek-a-boo!

6. Baa Baa Black Sheep

メロディーは、きらきら星とほぼ同じ。

Baa baa black sheep have you any wool
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. 3 bags full
One for the master and one for the dame
one for the little one who lives down the lane
Baa baa black sheep have you any wool
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. 3 bags full

7. The Ants Go Marching

「One by one」の数が順に増えていく数え歌で、歌いながら子供達が行進します。

The ants go marching One by one
Hurrah.. hurrah..
the ants go marching one by one
the little one stops to suck his thumb
and they all go marching down to the ground
to get out of the rain
boom.. boom.. boom.. boom..

8. Head Shoulders Knees & Toes

『あたま・かた・ひざ・ポン』と同じ要領の歌です。

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.

9. Itsy Bitsy Spider

動画のお姉さんがしているように、人差し指と親指を交互に合わせるような手遊びをして歌います。

The Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain
And the Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed up the spout again.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed down to my head.
Along came the wind and blew him to a shed.
The pigs said, “Oh no, you don’t belong in here.”
And the Itsy Bitsy Spider cried a little tear.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider went searching for a home.
He was very sad and felt all alone.
Along came the wind and blew him near the hens
And the Itsy Bitsy Spider made some new friends.

10. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

子供達が抑揚をつけて歌うのが可愛らしくて、私も息子が歌っているのを聞くのが一番好きな歌です。

We’re going on a bear hunt X2
I’ve got my binoculars X2
I’m not scared X2
Oh, Look at that tall wavy grass
It’s so tall
Can’t go over it X2
Can’t go under it X2
Just going to have to go through it X2
swish swish swish

We’re going on a bear hunt X2
I’ve got my binoculars X2
I’m not scared X2
Uh oh, there’s a big river
Can’t go over it X2
Can’t go under it X2
Going to have to swim it X2
splash splash splash

We’re going on a bear hunt X2
I’ve got my binoculars X2
I’m not scared X2
Ugh, look at all that mud
so muddy
Can’t go over it X2
Can’t go under it X2
Going to have to go through it
squish squish squish

We’re going on a bear hunt X2
I’ve got my binoculars X2
I’m not scared X2
Uh oh, what’s that
It’s a cave
We can’t go over it
We can’t go under it
Going to have to go into it
step step step

We’re going on a bear hunt X2
I’ve got my binoculars X2
I’m not scared
I’m a little scared
Sure is dark in here
What’s that in the corner
I feel 2 big ears X 2
I feel 1 wet nose X 2
I feel 2 sharp teeth X2
I know what that is
It’s a bear

Let’s get out of here
Let’s run out of the cave
step step step
Quickly back through the mud
squish squish squish
Let’s cross the river
splash splash splash
Through the tall grass
swish swish swish

Through the yard, up the stairs, into the house, close the door
We’re safe
That’s a close one
Let’s not go bear hunting anymore!

11. Wheels on the Bus

定番曲。振り付けを楽しみながら歌います。

The wheels on the bus go round and round,
round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through the town,
All through the town.

The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish,
swish swish swish, swish swish swish
The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish
All through the town,
All through the town.

The horn on the bus goes beep beep beep,
beep beep beep, beep beep beep
The horn on the bus goes beep beep beep
All through the town,
All through the town.

The door on the bus goes open and shut,
open and shut, open and shut
The door on the bus goes open and shut
All through the town,
All through the town.

The driver on the bus says, “Move on back!”
“Move on back, move on back!”
The driver on the bus says, “Move on back!”
All through the town,
All through the town.

The dog on the bus goes, “Woof woof woof!”
“Woof woof woof, woof woof woof!”
The dog on the bus goes, “Woof woof woof!”
All through the town,
All through the town.

The baby on the bus goes, “Wah wah wah!”
“Wah wah wah, wah wah wah!”
The baby on the bus goes, “Wah wah wah!”
All through the town,
All through the town.

The mommy on the bus goes, “Shh shh shh!”
“Shh shh shh, shh shh shh!”
The mommy on the bus goes, “Shh shh shh!”
All through the town,
All through the town.

The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round.
All through the town,
All through the town.

12. The Muffin Man

息子が今一番よく歌う曲の一つ。マフィンは他のどんなものに変えてもOKです。

Do you know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Do you know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane?

Yes, I know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Yes, I know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane.