London Bridge Is Falling Down is a popular song from England.
Children’s song/Nursery rhyme, U.K.
“London Bridge Is Falling Down” is a traditional nursery rhyme whose earliest known records are from the 17th century. The song recounts the attempts to repair the famous London Bridge. It is also a very popular singing game.
On this page you can find Lyrics, Sing-along Video, and MP3 and MP4 files for Free Download.
Table of Contents
- London Bridge Is Falling Down Videos
- Song with Vocals
- London Bridge Is Falling Down karaoke Free MP3 download
- MP4 Video File | Free Download
- Song Info
- London Bridge is Falling Down Meaning
- London Bridge is Falling Down – Teaching idea & activities
London Bridge Is Falling Down Videos
Sing-Along Video
Karaoke Video
Lyrics
1. London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.
2. Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair lady.
3. Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away,
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair lady.
4. Build it up with bricks and mortar,
Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar,
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
My fair lady.
5. Bricks and mortar will not stay,
Will not stay, will not stay,
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
My fair lady.
6. Build it up with iron and steel,
Iron and steel, iron and steel,
Build it up with iron and steel,
My fair lady.
7. Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Bend and bow, bend and bow,
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
My fair lady.
8. Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold,
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair lady.
9. Silver and gold will be stolen away,
Stolen away, stolen away,
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
My fair lady.
10.Set a man to watch all night,
Watch all night, watch all night,
Set a man to watch all night,
My fair lady.
11.Suppose the man should fall asleep,
Fall asleep, fall asleep,
Suppose the man should fall asleep?
My fair lady.
12.Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
Smoke all night, smoke all night,
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
My fair lady.
Song with Vocals
This is the vocal version of this song, as recorded by Singing Bell. Play the song and sing along!
London Bridge Is Falling Down karaoke
Free MP3 download
To download your free instrumental mp3 of this song, click or tap on the following button, then choose “Save link as…”
“London Bridge Is Falling Down” free mp3 download (instrumental, 2:17 – 4/4 – 125 bpm)
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MP4 Video File | Free Download
To watch the karaoke video of this song on your mobile device, click on the following link to download the video file (mp4 format).
London Bridge Is Falling Down | Free mp4 Video File Download
Click on the button to watch a piano tutorial video and download a PDF file with music score of this song for free.
Click on the button for a printable PDF file with Guitar Chords, Tabs and Sheet Music for this song for free.
Click on the button to watch a glockenspiel / xylophone tutorial video and download a free printable PDF file with glockenspiel / xylophone Music Sheet and Note Chart of this song.
Song Info
This traditional English nursery rhyme was first published in 1744 by an unknown author. The rhyme is often thought to reference the numerous collapses of the medieval London Bridge, though its exact origins and meanings remain a mystery.
The melody probably comes from a medieval theme, but its modern version formed in the late 19th century.
London Bridge is Falling Down Meaning
Over the years, various theories have been proposed to explain the lyrics, all of which are linked to London Bridge.
One popular theory suggests that the rhyme recounts the Vikings’ alleged destruction of the bridge in the early 1000s, led by Olaf II of Norway.
Matilda of Scotland, Henry I’s consort, and Eleanor of Provence, consort of Henry III, had the responsibility of building or repairing works on early 11th and 13th century respectively and are two of the candidates for the “fair lady” of the chorus.
Another theory posits that the lyrics refer to the practice of entombing children in the bridge’s foundations as a form of human sacrifice to prevent its collapse. This theory, however, lacks evidence, as no human remains have been discovered in the bridge’s foundations.
Additionally, some believe the rhyme simply describes the natural decay and destruction of the bridge over time due to fire and age.
London Bridge is Falling Down – Teaching idea & activities
Two children make an arch, face to face with their hands up. The rest of them make a line in front of them, ready to walk under the arch.
They start singing all together while the “line” pass under the arch. At the end of the first verse, the song stops and the two “arch” children catch the child who has stopped under their hands and send them out of the line.
Continue and repeat the same at the end of every verse until all the children have been caught.
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Good day
I am wondering whether you might know who has ownership of the rhyme “London Bridge is falling down”?
I am currently working on a textbook series that references the rhyme, but I’m not sure where to obtain permission to use it in the books. Would it fall under public domain?
Kind regards,
Jacqui
Hi Jacqui. Yes, the composition and the lyrics are public domain, but Singing Bell’s version is copyrighted to us. I guess you’re talking about the song generally, right?
Um. That’s Westminster Bridge in the photo.
That’s only four bridges down!
In all seriousness, we didn’t find any good coloured illustrations of the London Bridge in its old medieval design, so we went for the other landmark bridge instead – which seems rather timeless.