"I'm 69 yrs old and was taught this rhyme by my grandmother who helped raise me. She was born in January 1900 and told this rhyme pretty much every day of my life growing up." -Paula

Notes

Liz Ross wrote, "This is the version of 'Good Morning Merry Sunshine' that my grandmother taught me in 1954. She was from Indiana. Thought I would share..."

Good morning merry sunshine
How did you wake so soon?
And chase away the starlight
And shine away the moon?

I saw you go to bed last night
Before the end of day
How did you come this far
So early in the day?

I never go to sleep my dear
I go across the sea
And little children everywhere
Just wait and watch for me.

Another version from "New American Reader" (1903):

Good morning, merry sunshine,
How did you wake so soon?
You've scared the little stars away
And shined away the moon.
I saw you go to sleep last night
Before I ceased my play;
How did you get way over there,
And pray, where did you stay?

I never go to sleep, dear child,
I just go round to see
My little children of the East,
Who rise and watch for me.
I waken all the birds and bees
And flowers on my way,
And now come back to see the child,
Who stayed out late at play.

Comments

This can be recited or sung.

Download MIDI Tune

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Paula Meyer for sharing this song with us! Thanks to Liz Ross for sharing her grandmother's version!

This song can be found in "New American Reader" (1903) by Frederick Zuchtmann. The song is attributed to G. Ambrose.

A text-only version of this song can be found in "Annual Report, New York (State) Dept. of Social Welfare" (1895).

Thank you!