Goosey Goosey Gander — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

Goosey, goosey, gander,
Whither shall I wander?
Upstairs, and downstairs,
And in my lady's chamber.
There I met an old man
Who wouldn't say his prayers!
I took him by the left leg
And threw him down the stairs.

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Learning from "Goosey Goosey Gander"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "Goosey Goosey Gander" uses 8 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 Goosey Goosey Gander?
The lyrics to Goosey Goosey Gander are: Goosey, goosey, gander, / Whither shall I wander? / Upstairs, and downstairs, / And in my lady's chamber. / There I met an old man / Who wouldn't say his prayers! ... Read the full 8-line nursery rhyme at Rhyme Buster.
How many lines does Goosey Goosey Gander have?
"Goosey Goosey Gander" has 8 lines of verse.

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