Pretty John Watts — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

Pretty John Watts,
We are troubled with rats.
Will you drive them out of the house?
We have mice, too, in plenty,
That feast in the pantry,
But let them stay
And nibble away,
What harm in a little brown mouse?

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Learning from "Pretty John Watts"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "Pretty John Watts" uses 8 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 Pretty John Watts?
The lyrics to Pretty John Watts are: Pretty John Watts, / We are troubled with rats. / Will you drive them out of the house? / We have mice, too, in plenty, / That feast in the pantry, / But let them stay ... Read the full 8-line nursery rhyme at Rhyme Buster.
How many lines does Pretty John Watts have?
"Pretty John Watts" has 8 lines of verse.

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