# Does anyone here know the other Alphabet Song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 29, 2010, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460 "2010-09-29T12:34:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/1 "2010-09-29T12:34:58Z")
I’m sure everyone here knows “the” alphabet song - the standard one sung in primary schools and on kids educational programs all over the world. A few years ago, I was taught another version, which splits the letters up like this: \*A B C D E F G H I J K L M (clap clap) N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z\* The tune is something like a speeded-up and flattened-out “Polly Wolly Doodle”. Its main virtue, outside of North America, is that it makes “Zed” rhyme with “Em”, rather than trying to make it rhyme with “Vee” Of course it’s impossible to Google, since it has no other lyrics than the letters themselves. Anyone else know this? Does it have an author, or is it lost in the mists of time? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/2 "2010-09-29T12:42:58Z")
I received my primary education in both the US and the UK, and I have always known the version you cite (which I recognise just from the description) as “the British version”. The other one is “the American one”. To me, anyway. In what I know as the British version, we also have “zed” on the end, not “zee”. No idea as to the origin. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/3 "2010-09-29T12:56:59Z")
Nope, this American has never heard of your other Alphabet Song. The only “other” Alphabet Song I know is [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Pk1UYkB3I). ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/4 "2010-09-29T12:58:07Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > The tune is something like a speeded-up and flattened-out “Polly Wolly Doodle”. The presence of clapping makes me wonder if the tune isn’t [Deep in the Heart of Texas](http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/texas.htm) (although the clapping in DITHOT comes after the second line, not the third). ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/5 "2010-09-29T13:44:10Z")
The tune I know is in 6/8. I’ve written it below in C major. Notes listed in brackets indicate the first note is two slurred quavers and the second note a single quaver - jaunty, with a very brief pause before the second note of each pair: [E E] [C C] [E E] [C C] [E E] [F E] D (clap clap) [D D] [lower B B] [D D] [B B] GGF [E D] C ETA: “GGF” corresponds to the syllables of “W”: “dou-ble-u” ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/6 "2010-09-29T14:14:27Z")
I’m obviously a sap, because [this version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl8pxaxxReo)never fails to bring a tear to my eye. I’m also fond of [this backwards version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7AsEsy27HA). ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/7 "2010-09-29T14:34:16Z")
> [@brossa](#): > > I’m also fond of [this backwards version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7AsEsy27HA). A more [concise](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt6DA-UOBAg) version. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/8 "2010-09-29T14:36:07Z")
My students are always dumbfounded when I point out to them that the tune of the American alphabet song is basically the same as the tune of _Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star_. Then I blow their minds with the Barney song = This Old Man revelation. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/9 "2010-09-29T14:41:45Z")
The only version besides the traditional one that I know is the one I learned in Sunday school. ABCDEFG…God is watching over me HIJKLMN…Jesus died for sinful men. Amen! OPQRSTU…I believe God’s word is true. V and W…God has made for you… XYZ…a home eternally. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/10 "2010-09-29T18:53:05Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > The only “other” Alphabet Song I know is [this one](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Pk1UYkB3I). Thank you SO much for posting this. My sister and I sing it all the time. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/11 "2010-09-29T19:03:04Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > The only version besides the traditional one that I know is the one I learned in Sunday school. > > ABCDEFG…God is watching over me > > HIJKLMN…Jesus died for sinful men. Amen! > > OPQRSTU…I believe God’s word is true. > > V and W…God has made for you… > > XYZ…a home eternally. We had one similar to that but a couple of differences ABCDEFG, Jesus died for you and me V and W, God has promised you then there was a 2nd verse doing the letters in reverse, but I don’t remember anything of that one other than it existed. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/12 "2010-09-29T19:12:38Z")
Here’s [Big Bird’s take](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dZ8mZhdGuw&feature=artist) on the alphabet. Starts at 1:20. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/13 "2010-09-30T09:33:12Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > The tune I know is in 6/8. I’ve written it below in C major. Yep, that’s the one. My in-laws also taught me a kind of singing game with it, where you alternate “Alphabet Song” verses with singing various nursery rhymes to the same tune (eg, Jack and Jill, Little Miss Muffet, Mary Mary Quite Contrary) until nobody can think of a nursery rhyme to get shoehorned into the tune. ---
**Author:** ![Manwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Manwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manwich)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/14 "2010-09-30T09:47:21Z")
The alphabet song I use with elementary school students in Japan in broken up like this: ABCDEFG HIJKLMN OPQ RST UVW XYZ OPQ RST UVW XYZ ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/15 "2010-09-30T18:59:20Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Here’s [Big Bird’s take](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dZ8mZhdGuw&feature=artist) on the alphabet. Starts at 1:20. Oh wow, I used to have a record of Big Bird singing that, along with other Sesame Street songs (Oscar singing “I love trash”). MEMORY RUSH ACTIVATED 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/16 "2010-09-30T19:00:49Z")
Another variant that has stuck with me lo these many years: the very dignified [Alphabet Chat theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kutpAxrIfrE). Song starts at 0:20. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/17 "2010-09-30T19:05:42Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > > > Here’s [Big Bird’s take](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dZ8mZhdGuw&feature=artist) on the alphabet. Starts at 1:20. > > Oh wow, I used to have a record of Big Bird singing that, along with other Sesame Street songs (Oscar singing “I love trash”). MEMORY RUSH ACTIVATED 😃 Put me down for remembering that one, too. So glad somebody else found the clip, since I was going to try to spell it out phonetically. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/18 "2010-09-30T21:49:40Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > > [@TBG](#): > > > > Oh wow, I used to have a record of Big Bird singing that, along with other Sesame Street songs (Oscar singing “I love trash”). MEMORY RUSH ACTIVATED 😃 > > Put me down for remembering that one, too. So glad somebody else found the clip, since I was going to try to spell it out phonetically. I was remembering that song and record, too. Spell it phonetically? Hmmm… How about “ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ”? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/19 "2010-09-30T22:07:13Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#): > > > [@Zeldar](#): > > > > Put me down for remembering that one, too. So glad somebody else found the clip, since I was going to try to spell it out phonetically. > > I was remembering that song and record, too. > > Spell it phonetically? Hmmm… How about “ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ”? I guess you’re right. Can you pronounce the typewriter keyboard? ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460/20 "2010-09-30T23:25:37Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > I’m sure everyone here knows “the” alphabet song - the standard one sung in primary schools and on kids educational programs all over the world. > > A few years ago, I was taught another version, which splits the letters up like this: > > \*A B C > D E F G > H I J K L M (clap clap) > > N O P Q > R S T U > V W X Y Z\* > > The tune is something like a speeded-up and flattened-out “Polly Wolly Doodle”. Its main virtue, outside of North America, is that it makes “Zed” rhyme with “Em”, rather than trying to make it rhyme with “Vee” > > Of course it’s impossible to Google, since it has no other lyrics than the letters themselves. > > Anyone else know this? Does it have an author, or is it lost in the mists of time? If I am interpreting your post correctly, yes, I know this alphabet song, along with the much more prevalent “elemeno pee” song. We used to sing it at Girl Scout camp. Units would compete with each other to sing nursery rhymes to the tune of that alphabet song. In between units’ singing nursery rhymes we’d all sing the alphabet song together. like: [everyone] abcdefg hIjklm nopq rstu vwxyz [Tamarack Unit sings Mary Mary Quite Contrary] [everyone] abcdefg hIjklm nopq rstu vwxyz [Windjammer Unit sings Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater] [everyone] abcdefg hIjklm nopq rstu vwxyz [Robin Hood Unit fails miserably to sing Jack Sprat within the meter/tune of the song and gets eliminated!] [everyone] abcdefg hIjklm nopq rstu vwxyz [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-know-the-other-alphabet-song/555460.md?page=2)