Itsy Bitsy Spider
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Bots Template:Use dmy dates File:Itsy Bitsy Spiter - English.webm "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" (also known as "The Incey Wincey Spider" in Australia<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> or "Incy Wincy Spider" in the United Kingdom,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and other anglophone countries) is a popular nursery rhyme, folksong, and fingerplay that describes the adventures of a spider as it ascends, descends, and re-ascends the downspout or "waterspout" of a gutter system or open-air reservoir. It is usually accompanied by a sequence of gestures that mimic the words of the song. Its Roud Folk Song Index number is 11586.
Lyrics
A commonly used version uses these words and gestures:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Words | Fingerplay |
|---|---|
| <poem>The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the waterspout.
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.</poem> |
<poem>Alternately touch the thumb of one hand to the index finger of the other.
Hold both hands up and wiggle the fingers as the hands are lowered. Sweep the hands from side to side. Raise both hands and sweep to the sides to form a semicircle as the sun. Wiggle fingers upwards. (As in the first line)</poem> |
Other versions exist.
Origin
While the exact origin for the song "Itsy Bitsy Spider" is unknown, a version recorded in 1909 in Indiana from a college commencement resembles the common modern version:<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
<poem style="margin-left: 2em;">There was a blooming spider Went up a blooming spout And down came the rain And washed the spider out Out came the sun And dried up all the rain But that bloody blooming son of a gun Went up that spout again</poem>
The song can also be found in publications such as the book Camp and Camino in Lower California (1910), where it is referred to as [the classic] "Spider Song".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> One of the song's several modern versions eventually appeared in Western Folklore, by the California Folklore Society (1948),<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Mike and Peggy Seeger's, American Folk Songs for Children (1948).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The song is sung by and for children in countless languages and cultures. It is similar to the melodies of the children's songs "Sweetly Sings the Donkey" in the United States, and "Template:Ill", "Ich bin ein kleiner Esel" (the German-language version of "Sweetly Sings the Donkey") and "Template:Ill" in German-speaking countries.
Score
<score sound raw> \header { tagline = ##f } \layout { indent = 0\cm \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } }
global = { \key g \major \time 6/8 \partial 8 }
right = \relative g' { \global
d8 | g4 g8 g4 a8 | b4. b4 b8 | a4 g8 a4 b8 | g2. | b4. b4 c8 | d4. d | c4 b8 c4 d8 b2. | g4. g4 a8 | b4. b | a4 g8 a4 b8 | g4. fis4 fis8 | g4 g8 g4 a8 | b4. b4 b8 | a4 g8 a4 b8 | g4. ~g4 \bar "|."
}
left = \relative g { \global
d'8 | g,4 r8 4 r8 | g4 r8 4 r8 | fis4 r8 <c' d>4 r8 | g4 r8 4 r8 | g4 r8 d'4 c8 | b4 a8 g4. | fis4 r8 <c' d>4 r8 | g4 r8 4 r8 | g4 r8 4 r8 | g4 r8 4 r8 | fis4 r8 <c' d>4 r8 | g4 r8 d'4 d8 | g,4 r8 b4 a8 | g8 b c d4 r8 | fis,4 r8 <c' d>4 r8 | <g b>4. ~<g b>4 \bar "|."
}
verse = \lyricmode {
The it -- sy bit -- sy spi -- der crawled up the wa -- ter spout. Down came the rain and washed the spi -- der out! Up came the sun and dried up all the rain. And the it -- sy bit -- sy spi -- der went up the spout a -- gain.
}
kords = \chordmode { \set ChordNames.midiInstrument = "acoustic guitar (steel)"
\set chordChanges = ##t a,8 | g,2. | g,2. | d,2.:7 | g,2. | \set chordChanges = ##f g,2. | d,2.:7 | \set chordChanges = ##t d,2.:7 | g,2. | \set chordChanges = ##f g,2. | e,2.:m | \set chordChanges = ##t e,2.:m | g,2. | g,2. | g,2. | d,2.:7 | g,4. ~g,4 \bar "|."
}
\score {
\new PianoStaff <<
\new ChordNames { \kords }
\new Staff = "right" \with { midiInstrument = "clarinet" }
\right
\addlyrics { \verse }
\new Staff = "left" \with { midiInstrument = "acoustic grand" }
{ \clef bass \left }
>>
\layout { }
\midi { \context { \ChordNames midiMaximumVolume = #0.8 }
\tempo 4.=112
}
} </score> Source<ref>"Itsy Bitsy Spider", sheet music, makingmusicfun.net</ref>
Legacy
The British broadcaster Wincey Willis (1948–2024) took her name from the nursery rhyme. Born Florence Winsome Leighton, she went by her middle name, Winsome; but at infant school her classmates started calling her Wincey after the nursery rhyme, and she retained this name in adult life.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>