Ten in the Bed
Mid-20th Century 
UK Lyrics
And the little one said,
"Roll over! Roll over!"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were nine in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over! Roll over!"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were eight in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over! Roll over!"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were seven in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over! Roll over!"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were six in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over! Roll over!"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were five in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over! Roll over!"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were four in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over! Roll over!"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were three in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over! Roll over!"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There were two in the bed
And the little one said,
"Roll over! Roll over!"
So they all rolled over
And one fell out
There was one in the bed
And the little one said,
"Good night!"
History and Meaning
"Ten in the Bed," also known as the "Roll Over" song, is a beloved English-language counting-out rhyme whose origin and composer remain unknown. Despite its mysterious beginnings, the song has been popular since at least the early 20th century, passed down through oral tradition in English-speaking communities during nursery gatherings, family time, and even railway trips. The primary purpose of the rhyme is to help young children learn to count backwards from ten to one, as each verse describes one character rolling over and falling out of bed. In 1988, author Penny Dale adapted it into a children's book where one child shares a bed with nine soft toys. The rhyme gained renewed attention in 2018 when comedian Rob Delaney read a version in Makaton sign language for BBC's CBeebies, marking the program's first signed story.