Ten Fat Sausages
20th Century 
UK Lyrics
Ten fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
Ten fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
One went POP! And another went BANG!
There were eight fat sausages sizzling in a pan.
Eight fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
Eight fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
One went POP! And another went BANG!
There were six fat sausages sizzling in a pan.
Six fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
Six fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
One went POP! And another went BANG!
There were four fat sausages sizzling in a pan.
Four fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
Four fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
One went POP! And another went BANG!
There were two fat sausages sizzling in a pan.
Two fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
Two fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
One went POP! And another went BANG!
There were no fat sausages sizzling in the pan!
Ten fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
One went POP! And another went BANG!
There were eight fat sausages sizzling in a pan.
Eight fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
Eight fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
One went POP! And another went BANG!
There were six fat sausages sizzling in a pan.
Six fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
Six fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
One went POP! And another went BANG!
There were four fat sausages sizzling in a pan.
Four fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
Four fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
One went POP! And another went BANG!
There were two fat sausages sizzling in a pan.
Two fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
Two fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
One went POP! And another went BANG!
There were no fat sausages sizzling in the pan!
History and Meaning
"Ten Fat Sausages" is a lively British counting song that teaches subtraction through a fun, food-themed narrative.
Origins
The song emerged in the United Kingdom during the 20th century and became a classroom favorite. Its exact origin is unknown, but it appears in children's song collections from the mid-20th century onward.
Structure
The song counts down from ten to zero by twos:
- Ten sausages sizzling in a pan
- One goes "POP!" and another goes "BANG!"
- Now there are eight sausages
- Continue until no sausages remain
Why Children Love It
Several elements make this song appealing:
- Sound effects: The "POP!" and "BANG!" are fun to shout
- Food theme: Sausages are familiar and appealing
- Drama: The sausages "explode" in the pan
- Physical movement: Children can jump or pop on the sound effects
Educational Value
The song teaches:
- Counting by twos: Two sausages disappear each verse
- Subtraction: 10 - 2 = 8, and so on
- Even numbers: Only even numbers appear (10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 0)
- Pattern recognition: The same structure repeats
Cooking Connection
The song also introduces cooking vocabulary and concepts, with sausages "sizzling" in a pan—making it a fun tie-in for food-related activities.