Little Nancy Etticoat — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

Little Nancy Etticoat
In a white petticoat,
And a red nose.
The longer she stands
The shorter she grows.
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Learning from "Little Nancy Etticoat"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "Little Nancy Etticoat" uses 7 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 Nancy Etticoat?
The lyrics to Little Nancy Etticoat are: Little Nancy Etticoat / In a white petticoat, / And a red nose. / The longer she stands / The shorter she grows. / Comment: ... Read the full 7-line nursery rhyme at Rhyme Buster.
How many lines does Little Nancy Etticoat have?
"Little Nancy Etticoat" has 7 lines of verse.

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