The First Of May — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

The fair maid who, the first of May,
Goes to the fields at break of day,
And washes in dew from the hawthorn-tree,
Will ever after handsome be.

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Learning from "The First Of May"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "The First Of May" 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 The First Of May?
The lyrics to The First Of May are: The fair maid who, the first of May, / Goes to the fields at break of day, / And washes in dew from the hawthorn-tree, / Will ever after handsome be.
How many lines does The First Of May have?
"The First Of May" has 4 lines of verse.

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