Three Wise Men of Gotham — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

Three wise men of Gotham
Went to sea in a bowl;
If the bowl had been stronger,
My song would have been longer.

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Learning from "Three Wise Men of Gotham"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "Three Wise Men of Gotham" 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 Three Wise Men of Gotham?
The lyrics to Three Wise Men of Gotham are: Three wise men of Gotham / Went to sea in a bowl; / If the bowl had been stronger, / My song would have been longer.
How many lines does Three Wise Men of Gotham have?
"Three Wise Men of Gotham" has 4 lines of verse.

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