Ten Little Indians

Ten Little Indians is a modern children's rhyme (sometimes "teddy bears" is used instead of Indians to avoid offense). The song, supra, is usually performed to the Irish folk tune Michael Finnegan.

History

The rhyme was notable for being the inspiration for Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None

The modern lyrics are believed to be public domain and are as follows:

One little, two little, three little Indians

Four little, five little, six little Indians

Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians

Ten little Indian boys.

Ten little, nine little, eight little Indians

Seven little, six little, five little Indians

Four little, three little, two little Indians

One little Indian boy.

The original piece, then called "10 Little Injuns", was written by songwriter Septimus Winner in the 1860's for a minstrel show and was much more elaborate.

Ten little Injuns standin' in a line,

One toddled home and then there were nine;

Nine little Injuns swingin' on a gate,

One tumbled off and then there were eight.

One little, two little, three little, four little, five little Injun boys,

Six little, seven little, eight little, nine little, ten little Injun boys.

Eight little Injuns gayest under heav'n.

One went to sleep and then there were seven;

Seven little Injuns cuttin' up their tricks,

One broke his neck and then there were six.

Six little Injuns all alive,

One kicked the bucket and then there were five;

Five little Injuns on a cellar door,

One tumbled in and then there were four.

Four little Injuns up on a spree,

One got fuddled and then there were three;

Three little Injuns out on a canoe,

One tumbled overboard and then there were two.

Two little Injuns foolin' with a gun,

One shot t'other and then there was one;

One little Injun livin' all alone,

He got married and then there were none.

Modern use

Some childrens music artists and television shows have this song (or versions to the tune of it) on them. Barney & Friends is an example of this, with Bumping Up and Down in some episodes and Ten Little Monsters in What's That Shadow?, Ten Little Pennies, Nickels and Dimes in Pennies, Nickels, Dimes, along with A-Counting We Will Go! and Ten Little Fingers and Toes in Having Tens of Fun!

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