1
Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,
Can you or I or anyone know
How oats, peas, beans, and barley grow?
Verse 1:
First the farmer sows his seed,
Stands erect and takes his ease,
He stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns around to view his lands.
Chorus:
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,
Can you or I or anyone know
How oats, peas, beans, and barley grow?
Verse 2:
Next the farmer waters the seed,
Stands erect and takes his ease,
He stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns around to view his lands.
Chorus:
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,
Can you or I or anyone know
How oats, peas, beans, and barley grow?
This song is available on www.KIDiddles.com 2008 KIDiddles.com
2
Verse 3:
Next the farmer hoes the weeds,
Stands erect and takes his ease,
He stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns around to view his lands.
Chorus:
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,
Can you or I or anyone know
How oats, peas, beans, and barley grow?
Verse 4:
Last the farmer harvests his seed,
Stands erect and takes his ease,
He stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns around to view his lands.
Chorus:
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,
Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow,
Can you or I or anyone know
How oats, peas, beans, and barley grow?
This song is available on www.KIDiddles.com 2008 KIDiddles.com
3
TO PLAY AS A GAME:
Children stand in a circle, holding hands. One child is selected to be
Farmer, and stands in the center of the ring.
Actions:
Chorus: While singing the chorus, children circle around the Farmer to the
right.
Verse 1: The Farmer performs the activities described in the first verse: first
sowing the seed; then standing at ease; stamping their foot; clapping their
hands; and finally, views their lands by turning around inside the circle while
shading their eyes. At the end of the verse, the Farmer points their finger at
one of the children in the ring, who then becomes the new Farmer for the
next round of the chorus and the second verse.
Verse 2: The Farmer performs the activities described in the second verse:
first watering the seed; then standing at ease; stamping their foot; clapping
their hands; and finally, views their lands by turning around inside the circle
while shading their eyes. At the end of the verse, the Farmer points their
finger at one of the children in the ring, who then becomes the new Farmer
for the next round of the chorus and the third verse.
Verse 3: The Farmer performs the activities described in the third verse: first
hoeing the weeds; then standing at ease; stamping their foot; clapping their
hands; and finally, views their lands by turning around inside the circle while
shading their eyes. At the end of the verse, the Farmer points their finger at
one of the children in the ring, who then becomes the new Farmer for the
next round of the chorus and the fourth verse.
Verse 4: The Farmer performs the activities described in the fourth verse: first
harvesting their seeds; then standing at ease; stamping their foot; clapping
their hands; and finally, views their lands by turning around inside the circle
while shading their eyes. At the end of the verse, the Farmer points their
finger at one of the children in the ring, who then becomes the new Farmer
for the next round of the chorus and the fourth verse.
Repeat the game until all children have had the opportunity to be Farmer.
This song is available on www.KIDiddles.com 2008 KIDiddles.com
