One, two, three (Andy said)
Four, five, six (Johnny said)
Seven, eight, nine
Ten, eleven, twelve
Twelve swinging on a tree (hey, ah)
Twelve swinging on a tree (hey, ah)
Twelve children
Swinging on a tree
Mommy says, "Come down
Before you break your knee" (mommy said)
Twelve swinging on a tree (hey, ah)
Twelve swinging on a tree (hey, ah)
Mom says, "Work to do
Before it gets too late"
Four come climbing down
It leaves us only eight (and I say)
Eight swinging on the tree (hey, ah)
Eight swinging on the tree
Mommy said, "Come down
You have a well to fix"
Two, a pair'll listen
It brings us down to six
Six swinging on the tree (hey, ah)
Six swinging on the tree (mommy said)
"Listen up, listen up
If you want to stay alive"
One of them feared his life
Playtime only five (hey)
Five swinging on the tree (hey, ah)
Five swinging on the tree (hey, ah)
♪
♪
(Hey, ah) five little children
All of them had fun
Mommy went and shook the branch
All fell down but one (and she said)
"Come on now, Johnny boy
Listen to what I say
There's a lot of work to do
No more time to play" (because we got)
Work to do, work to do
Work to do, work to do
Work to do, work to do
Work to do, work to do
Work to do, work to do
Work to do, work to do
Work to do, work to do