Little Fred — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

When little Fred went to bed,
He always said his prayers;
He kissed mamma, and then papa,
And straightway went upstairs.

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Learning from "Little Fred"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "Little Fred" uses 4 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 Little Fred?
The lyrics to Little Fred are: When little Fred went to bed, / He always said his prayers; / He kissed mamma, and then papa, / And straightway went upstairs.
How many lines does Little Fred have?
"Little Fred" has 4 lines of verse.

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