There Were Ten in a Bed
Ten in a bed and the little one says roll over — until there's just one left
Listen
Arrangement: Ian J. Watts / Mike Wilbury · Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks
Lyrics
There were ten in a bed and the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were nine in a bed and the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were eight in a bed and the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were seven in a bed and the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were six in a bed and the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were five in a bed and the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were four in a bed and the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were three in a bed and the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There were two in a bed and the little one said,
"Roll over, roll over."
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
There was one in a bed and the little one said,
"Good night!"
Traditional lyrics — public domain. Arrangement © Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks.
History & Background
History & Origin
"There Were Ten in a Bed" is a counting song that works by simple subtraction: ten occupants of a bed roll over one by one at the command of the "little one," until finally only the little one remains. The song teaches backward counting in the most enjoyable way possible — through the satisfying rhythm of the repeated verse and the mild comedy of someone repeatedly falling out of bed.
The origins of the song are uncertain; it appears to have circulated as an oral tradition in the English-speaking world before appearing in printed collections in the twentieth century. The structure is perfectly simple, and the final "Good night!" — delivered by the last remaining occupant with evident satisfaction — gives the song a neat and pleasing conclusion. It has long been a favourite in nurseries precisely because its subject matter is bedtime itself.
This recording gives the song a fun, energetic arrangement that keeps the tempo lively across all ten verses, with the counting built into the rhythm so that children can follow along easily.
