The Old Man and the Three Young Men — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

As an old man was planting a tree, three young men came along and began to make sport of him, saying: "It shows your foolishness to be planting a tree at your age. The tree cannot bear fruit for many years, while you must very soon die. What is the use of your wasting your time in providing pleasure for others to share long after you are dead?" The old man stopped in his labor and replied: "Others before me provided for my happiness, and it is my duty to provide for those who shall come after me. As for life, who is sure of it for a day? You may all die before me." The old man's words came true; one of the young men went on a voyage at sea and was drowned, another went to war and was shot, and the third fell from a tree and broke his neck.
We should not think wholly of ourselves, and we should remember that life is uncertain.

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Learning from "The Old Man and the Three Young Men"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "The Old Man and the Three Young Men" uses 2 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the words to The Old Man and the Three Young Men?
The lyrics to The Old Man and the Three Young Men are: As an old man was planting a tree, three young men came along and began to make sport of him, saying: "It shows your foolishness to be planting a tree at your age. The tree cannot bear fruit for many years, while you must very soon die. What is the use of your wasting your time in providing pleasure for others to share long after you are dead?" The old man stopped in his labor and replied: "Others before me provided for my happiness, and it is my duty to provide for those who shall come after me. As for life, who is sure of it for a day? You may all die before me." The old man's words came true; one of the young men went on a voyage at sea and was drowned, another went to war and was shot, and the third fell from a tree and broke his neck. / We should not think wholly of ourselves, and we should remember that life is uncertain.
How many lines does The Old Man and the Three Young Men have?
"The Old Man and the Three Young Men" has 2 lines of verse.

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