One Two Buckle my shoe
Children's Music Lyrics


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One two
Buckle my shoe
Three four
Shut the door
Five six
Pick up sticks
Seven eight
Don't be late
Nine ten
Begin again
One two
Buckle my shoe
Three four
Shut the door
Five six
Pick up sticks
Seven eight
Don't be late
Nine ten
Begin again
One two
Buckle my shoe
Three four
Shut the door
Five six
Pick up sticks
Seven eight
Don't be late




Nine ten
Begin again

Overall Meaning

The song "One Two Buckle my shoe" is a children's counting or numeracy song that dates back to the early 18th century. The lyrics begin with "one two, buckle my shoe," which then progresses to "three four, shut the door," "five six, pick up sticks," "seven eight, don't be late," and "nine ten, begin again."


The song's lyrics are simple and easy to remember, which makes it an excellent tool for teaching young children how to count or remember numbers. The rhyme scheme used in the lyrics makes it more fun for children to recite and memorize. The song also encourages children to perform different actions with their bodies as they recite the lyrics, such as buckle their shoe, shut the door, and pick up sticks, which helps improve their hand-eye coordination.


Interestingly, the origins of the song are not clear. Some sources suggest that it may have originated in the British Isles and was disseminated throughout Europe, while others suggest that it may have originated in the United States. Regardless of its origins, the song has become an ubiquitous part of childhood and is enjoyed by children all over the world.


Line by Line Meaning

One two
Let's start counting


Buckle my shoe
Make sure your shoe is tied


Three four
Keep counting


Shut the door
Close the door so we can focus


Five six
Keep counting and focus


Pick up sticks
Time to do an activity and have fun


Seven eight
We're almost done counting


Don't be late
Be punctual and responsible


Nine ten
Last two numbers


Begin again
Let's do it one more time




Contributed by Katherine D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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