A Good Boy — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

I woke before the morning, I was happy all the day,
I never said an ugly word, but smiled and stuck to play.
And now at last the sun is going down behind the wood,
And I am very happy, for I know that I've been good.
My bed is waiting cool and fresh, with linen smooth and fair,
And I must be off to sleepsin-by, and not forget my prayer.
I know that, till to-morrow I shall see the sun arise,
No ugly dream shall fright my mind, no ugly sight my eyes.
But slumber hold me tightly till I waken in the dawn,
And hear the thrushes singing in the lilacs round the lawn.

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Learning from "A Good Boy"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "A Good Boy" uses 10 lines to create a memorable verse — proof that effective poetry doesn't need to be long. Pay attention to the meter: the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables is what makes the rhyme stick in your head.

Songwriters and poets can borrow these patterns. Try writing your own lyrics using the same rhyme scheme and line length as this nursery rhyme. You can also use words from the poem above as starting points — click any word to find rhymes or look up its definition, then build from there.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the words to A Good Boy?
The lyrics to A Good Boy are: I woke before the morning, I was happy all the day, / I never said an ugly word, but smiled and stuck to play. / And now at last the sun is going down behind the wood, / And I am very happy, for I know that I've been good. / My bed is waiting cool and fresh, with linen smooth and fair, / And I must be off to sleepsin-by, and not forget my prayer. ... Read the full 10-line nursery rhyme at Rhyme Buster.
How many lines does A Good Boy have?
"A Good Boy" has 10 lines of verse.

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