Twenty Swedish children's songs with the full lyrics, from Små grodorna and Björnen sover to Ekorrn satt i granen and Sockerbagaren. Sorted by how they are used: action songs, animal songs, songs that tell a story and calm songs. Only songs whose lyrics are free to print, so you can put them on the fridge. The words are in Swedish, as your child sings them, with a short note in English on what each one is about.
Most adults know the first line of twenty children's songs and the whole of two. Children often know more than we do, because they sing at förskola (municipal preschool) every day. Here are the lyrics to the songs our nannies sing most, so you can keep up with circle time at home, even if you did not grow up with them.
How the songs are used
- Action songs in the hallway, at the playground and when energy needs to come out.
- Animal songs at the dinner table and in the car.
- Songs with a story when your child wants to know what happens next.
- Calm songs at bedtime. There are more in our Swedish lullabies.
Action songs
Små grodorna
Traditional. The midsommar (Midsummer) song, but it works just as well in the hallway on an ordinary Tuesday. The little frogs are funny to look at: no ears, no tails, and then everyone croaks the chorus while hopping round in a ring.
Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se. Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se. Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de. Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de. Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack ack ack. Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack ack ack.
Björnen sover
Traditional. One child sleeps in the middle, the others creep around, and on the last line the bear wakes up. The bear is sleeping in his peaceful den; he is not dangerous as long as you are careful, but you can never quite trust him.
Björnen sover, björnen sover i sitt lugna bo. Han är inte farlig, bara man är varlig. Men man kan dock, men man kan dock, honom aldrig tro.
Vi äro musikanter
Traditional. Everyone plays a pretend instrument, and then you dance. We are musicians from Skaraborg, we can play the fiddle, the double bass and the flute, and we can dance the bomfaderalla.
Vi äro musikanter allt ifrån Skaraborg. Vi äro musikanter allt ifrån Skaraborg. Vi kunna spela fiolioliolej, vi kunna spela basfiol och flöjt. Och vi kan dansa bomfaderalla, bomfaderalla, bomfaderalla. Och vi kan dansa bomfaderalla, bomfaderallanlej.
Tre små gummor
Traditional. Walk in a ring, and go on the merry-go-round for the chorus. Three little old ladies set off for the market in Nora: we are going to have fun, said the old ladies, ride the merry-go-round and eat sweets, all the way to Nora.
Tre små gummor skulle gå en gång till marknaden uti Nora. Tre små gummor skulle gå en gång till marknaden uti Nora. Vi ska ha roligt, sa gummorna de små, vi ska ha roligt, det kan ni väl förstå. Åka karusell, äta karamell, och färdas hela vägen uti Nora.
Karusellen
Traditional. A ring, and on the last line everyone spins as fast as they can. Here is the merry-go-round that runs until evening, ten for the grown-ups and five for the little ones, hurry up, because now it is about to go.
Jungfru, jungfru, jungfru, jungfru skär, här är karusellen som ska gå till kvällen. Tio för de stora och fem för de små, skynda på, skynda på, för nu ska karusellen gå. För ha ha ha, det går ju så bra, för Andersson och Pettersson och Lundström och ja.
Bro bro breja
Traditional. Two children make a bridge, the others pass underneath, and whoever is caught on the last line has to answer. Nobody gets past the bridge of logs and stones until they say the name of their sweetheart: what is his name, what is her name?
Bro bro breja, stockar och stenar, alla goda renar, ingen slipper här fram, här fram, förrän han säger sin kärastes namn. Vad heter han? Vad heter hon?
Ro, ro till fiskeskär
Traditional. Child on your lap, rocking back and forth. Row, row out to the fishing rock, we will catch lots of fish there: one for father, one for mother, one for sister, one for brother, one for the one who hauls them in, and that was the little child.
Ro, ro till fiskeskär, många fiskar få vi där. En åt far och en åt mor, en åt syster och en åt bror, en åt den som fiskar drar, och det var lilla barnet, det.
Rida, rida ranka
Words by Zacharias Topelius. A knee game: the child rides on your knee. Ride, ride, the horse is called Blanka, the little knight is so sweet, he has no spurs yet; once he has earned them, the peace of childhood is gone.
Rida, rida ranka, hästen heter Blanka. Liten riddare så rar ännu inga sporrar har. När han dem har vunnit, barndomsro försvunnit.
Animal songs
Ekorrn satt i granen
Alice Tegnér. The first song most children know all the way through. The squirrel sat in the spruce tree peeling cones, heard the children and was in such a hurry that he jumped from the pine branch and bumped his little leg and his long, furry tail.
Ekorrn satt i granen, skulle skala kottar, fick han höra barnen, då fick han så bråttom. Hoppa han från tallegren, stötte han sitt lilla ben och den långa, ludna svansen.
Bä, bä, vita lamm
Alice Tegnér. The Swedish cousin of Baa Baa Black Sheep: white lamb, have you any wool? Yes, dear child, a sack full: a Sunday coat for father, a Sunday skirt for mother, and two pairs of socks for little, little brother.
Bä, bä, vita lamm, har du någon ull? Ja, ja, kära barn, jag har säcken full. Helgdagsrock åt far och söndagskjol åt mor, och två par strumpor åt lille, lille bror.
Prästens lilla kråka
Traditional. Lean to the sides on "hit" and "dit", and down into the ditch at the end. The vicar's little crow went out for a drive with nobody to steer; she slid this way, she slid that way, and then she slid into the ditch.
Prästens lilla kråka skulle ut och åka, ingen hade hon som körde. Prästens lilla kråka skulle ut och åka, ingen hade hon som körde. Än slank hon hit, och än slank hon dit, och än slank hon ner i diket.
Lilla snigel
Traditional. Little snail, watch out, watch out, or I will catch you.
Lilla snigel, akta dig, akta dig, akta dig. Lilla snigel, akta dig, annars tar jag dig.
Räven raskar över isen
Traditional. A Christmas song, but children sing it all year round. The fox scurries across the ice; may we sing the girls' song? This is what the girls do wherever they walk, sit and stand. Swap "flickorna" (the girls) for "pojkarna" (the boys), grandma, the nanny.
Räven raskar över isen, räven raskar över isen, får vi lov, ja får vi lov, att sjunga flickornas visa? Så här gör flickorna var de går, och var de sitter och var de står. Får vi lov, ja får vi lov, att sjunga flickornas visa?
Songs with a story
Mors lilla Olle
Alice Tegnér, 1895. First verse. Mother's little Olle walked in the forest, roses on his cheeks and sunshine in his eyes, his little lips blue from berries: if only I did not have to walk here all alone!
Mors lilla Olle i skogen gick, rosor på kinden och solsken i blick. Läpparna små utav bär äro blå. Bara jag slapp att så ensam här gå!
Sockerbagaren
Alice Tegnér. A Christmas song that works every time someone bakes. A pastry chef lives in the town and bakes cakes all day long, big ones and small ones, some with sugar on top. In his window hang Christmas tree treats, horses, pigs and gingerbread. If you are good you may have some, but if you are naughty you have to go.
En sockerbagare här bor i staden, han bakar kakor mest hela dagen. Han bakar stora, han bakar små, han bakar några med socker på. Och i hans fönster hänga julgransaker och hästar, grisar och pepparkakor. Och är du snäller så kan du få, men är du stygger så får du gå.
Lasse liten
Words by Zacharias Topelius, melody by Alice Tegnér. First verse. The world is so big, so big, Lasse, little Lasse, bigger than you will ever think.
Världen är så stor, så stor, Lasse, Lasse liten! Större än du nånsin tror, Lasse, Lasse liten!
Gubben Noak
Carl Michael Bellman. First verse, the only one children need. Old man Noah was a man of honour; when he left the ark he planted lots of vines, yes, that is what he did.
Gubben Noak, gubben Noak var en hedersman. När han gick ur arken, planterade han på marken mycket vin, ja mycket vin, ja, detta gjorde han.
Calm songs
Blinka lilla stjärna
Swedish words by Betty Ehrenborg-Posse. The Swedish Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, to the same tune.
Blinka lilla stjärna där, hur jag undrar vad du är. Fjärran lockar du min syn, lik en diamant i skyn. Blinka lilla stjärna där, hur jag undrar vad du är.
Sov du lilla videung
Words by Zacharias Topelius, melody by Alice Tegnér. Sleep, little willow catkin, it is still winter; birch and heather, roses and hyacinths are still asleep, and it is a long time until spring, when the rowan is in bloom.
Sov, du lilla videung, än så är det vinter. Än så sova björk och ljung, ros och hyacinter. Än så är det långt till vår, innan rönn i blomma står. Sov, du lilla videung, än så är det vinter.
Nu är det jul igen
Traditional. Danced around the Christmas tree, but children sing it in April too. Now it is Christmas again, and Christmas lasts until påsk (Easter). No, that was not true, because Lent comes in between.
Nu är det jul igen, och nu är det jul igen, och julen varar väl till påska. Nu är det jul igen, och nu är det jul igen, och julen varar väl till påska. Nej det var inte sant, nej det var inte sant, för däremellan kommer fasta.
How it works with our families
The afternoon singing session is our nannies' way of marking the shift between the playground and dinner. Three action songs in the living room, the same ones every Tuesday, and the child knows that food is coming soon. And because it is the same nanny every time, she has learned the förskola's version of Björnen sover, which is always slightly different from yours.
Would you like a nanny who knows the songs and the games and comes on the same days every week? Book a free first meeting with the nanny in your home.
Read more: Swedish lullabies · Games for kids · Bedtime stories for kids
Frequently asked questions
Which children's songs are sung most at förskola?
Små grodorna, Björnen sover, Ekorrn satt i granen, Bä bä vita lamm, Lilla snigel, Imse vimse spindel and Blinka lilla stjärna. Most förskolor have a song collection they follow; ask if you would like to sing the same ones at home.
Why are some well-known songs missing here?
We have only included songs whose lyrics are free to print, meaning traditional songs or ones where the author died more than 70 years ago. Trollmors vaggsång, Idas sommarvisa and several of Astrid Lindgren's songs are still under copyright, as are the Swedish lyrics to Imse vimse spindel.
How do children learn the songs?
Through repetition and movement. Sing the same three songs for a week, with the actions, and your child will know them. Children under three hum the tune first and the words later, and that is how it should be.
Where can I find the melodies?
Most of them are recorded on every music streaming service; search for the title. The förskola can usually also show you how they sing their particular version, because many songs have several.