Listen
Arrangement: Ian J. Watts / Mike Wilbury · Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks
Lyrics
One man went to mow, went to mow a meadow,
One man and his dog named Spot,
Went to mow a meadow.
Two men went to mow, went to mow a meadow,
One man, two men and their dog named Spot,
Went to mow a meadow.
Three men went to mow, went to mow a meadow,
One man, two men, three men and their dog named Spot,
Went to mow a meadow.
Four men went to mow, went to mow a meadow,
One man, two men, three men, four men and their dog named Spot,
Went to mow a meadow.
Five men went to mow, went to mow a meadow,
One man, two men, three men, four men, five men and their dog named Spot,
Went to mow a meadow.
Six men went to mow, went to mow a meadow,
One man, two men, three men, four men, five men, six men and their dog named Spot,
Went to mow a meadow.
Seven men went to mow, went to mow a meadow,
One man, two men, three men, four men, five men, six men, seven men and their dog named Spot,
Went to mow a meadow.
Eight men went to mow, went to mow a meadow,
One man, two men, three men, four men, five men, six men, seven men, eight men and their dog named Spot,
Went to mow a meadow.
Nine men went to mow, went to mow a meadow,
One man, two men, three men, four men, five men, six men, seven men, eight men, nine men and their dog named Spot,
Went to mow a meadow.
Ten men went to mow, went to mow a meadow,
One man, two men, three men, four men, five men, six men, seven men, eight men, nine men, ten men and their dog named Spot,
Went to mow a meadow.
Traditional lyrics — public domain. Arrangement © Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks.
History & Background
History & Origin
"One Man Went to Mow" is a traditional English counting song of uncertain origin, though it has been in circulation for at least several generations. It belongs to the family of cumulative songs — those in which each verse adds one more element to a growing list, requiring the singer and listener to track an ever-lengthening sequence.
The structure is simple but effective: with each verse, one more man joins the meadow, and the list of names must be recited from the beginning in full. The dog named Spot is a constant companion throughout, providing a comic anchor amid all the counting. Children quickly learn to anticipate the growing roll-call of men, and there is real satisfaction in reaching ten and completing the sequence.
Counting songs of this type were used both as entertainment and as genuine memory exercises for young children. The cumulative format teaches sequencing and number bonds in a way that feels like play rather than instruction. Songs like "Green Grass Grew All Around" and "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" share the same structural logic.
Our arrangement gives the song a bouncy, rhythmic energy that keeps children engaged all the way through to ten.
