Down by the Bay

Lyrics

Down by the bay,Where the watermelons grow,Back to my home,I dare not go,For if I do,My mother will say:"Did you ever see a parrot eating a carrot?Down by the bay?"

Down by the bay,Where the watermelons grow,Back to my home,I dare not go,For if I do,My mother will say:"Did you ever see a goat rowing a boat?Down by the bay?"

Down by the bay,Where the watermelons grow,Back to my home,I dare not go,For if I do,My mother will say:"Did you ever see a fly wearing a tie?Down by the bay?"

Now repeat the song as many times as you like, with another rhyming question, for instance:

"Did you ever see a llama eating pajamas?""Did you ever see a goose kissing a moose?""Did you ever see a fox putting on socks?""Did you ever see a bear combing his hair?""Did you ever see a dragon pulling a wagon?"

History and Meaning

"Down by the Bay" is a traditional children's song and interactive nonsense rhyme. Known for its playful call-and-response structure and improvisational rhyming games, it is a campfire and classroom staple.

Origins

The song has traditional roots and its exact origin is unknown. Historians believe the song emerged in early twentieth-century England, potentially circulating among soldiers during World War I and later spreading to the British Scouting movement. A similar structural song titled "Way down yonder in the Cornfields" appeared in the 1918 collection More Tommy's Tunes. Linguists have also noted that the song's melody bears a strong resemblance to the traditional Greek folk song and Ionian kantada "Yialo Yialo," suggesting possible cross-cultural musical influences.

In the late twentieth century, the song gained massive popularity when it was recorded by Armenian-Canadian children's entertainer Raffi. He included it on his 1976 debut album, Singable Songs for the Very Young, which helped establish the song as a modern children's classic.

Meaning & Interpretation

The lyrics present a simple, repetitive story about a bay where watermelons grow. The speaker warns that they dare not return home because their mother will ask a silly, rhyming question. The song functions as a creative word game, encouraging children to improvise their own rhyming verses, such as matching a "fly" with a "tie," or a "llama" with "pajamas." This structure aids in phonological awareness, helping young learners recognize rhyme patterns and develop language skills.

Who wrote the song Down by the Bay?

The song is a traditional folk song of unknown authorship. The version popular today was arranged and popularized by Canadian children's musician Raffi in 1976.