John Smith — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

Is John Smith within?
Yes, that he is.
Can he set a shoe?
Ay, marry, two.
Here a nail, there a nail,
Tick, tack, too.

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Learning from "John Smith"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "John Smith" uses 6 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 John Smith?
The lyrics to John Smith are: Is John Smith within? / Yes, that he is. / Can he set a shoe? / Ay, marry, two. / Here a nail, there a nail, / Tick, tack, too.
How many lines does John Smith have?
"John Smith" has 6 lines of verse.

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