My Bed is a Boat — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

My bed is like a little boat;
Nurse helps me in when I embark;
She girds me in my sailor's coat
And starts me in the dark.
At night I go on board and say
Good-night to all my friends on shore;
I shut my eyes and sail away
And see and hear no more.
And sometimes things to bed I take,
As prudent sailors have to do;
Perhaps a slice of wedding-cake,
Perhaps a toy or two.
All night across the dark we steer;
But when the day returns at last,
Safe in my room beside the pier,
I find my vessel fast.

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Learning from "My Bed is a Boat"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "My Bed is a Boat" uses 16 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 My Bed is a Boat?
The lyrics to My Bed is a Boat are: My bed is like a little boat; / Nurse helps me in when I embark; / She girds me in my sailor's coat / And starts me in the dark. / At night I go on board and say / Good-night to all my friends on shore; ... Read the full 16-line nursery rhyme at Rhyme Buster.
How many lines does My Bed is a Boat have?
"My Bed is a Boat" has 16 lines of verse.

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