Peter Peter Pumkin Eater — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater,
Had a wife and couldn't keep her.
He put her in a pumpkin shell
And there he kept her, very well.

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Learning from "Peter Peter Pumkin Eater"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "Peter Peter Pumkin Eater" 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 Peter Peter Pumkin Eater?
The lyrics to Peter Peter Pumkin Eater are: Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater, / Had a wife and couldn't keep her. / He put her in a pumpkin shell / And there he kept her, very well.
How many lines does Peter Peter Pumkin Eater have?
"Peter Peter Pumkin Eater" has 4 lines of verse.

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