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Arrangement: Ian J. Watts / Mike Wilbury · Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks
Lyrics
Jelly on a plate, jelly on a plate,
Wibble wobble, wibble wobble, jelly on a plate.
Jelly on a plate, jelly on a plate,
Wibble wobble, wibble wobble, jelly on a plate.
Sausage in a pan, sausage in a pan,
Sizzle sizzle, sizzle sizzle, sizzle sizzle bang!
Sausage in a pan, sausage in a pan,
Sizzle sizzle, sizzle sizzle, sizzle sizzle bang!
Noodles on a fork, noodles on a fork,
Twirly wirly, twirly wirly, noodles on a fork.
Noodles on a fork, noodles on a fork,
Twirly wirly, twirly wirly, noodles on a fork.
Popcorn in a pot, popcorn in a pot,
Popping popping, never stopping, popcorn in a pot.
Popcorn in a pot, popcorn in a pot,
Popping popping, never stopping, popcorn in a pot.
Honey on a spoon, honey on a spoon,
Runny honey, runny honey, honey on a spoon.
Honey on a spoon, honey on a spoon,
Runny honey, runny honey, honey on a spoon.
Jelly on a plate, jelly on a plate,
Wibble wobble, wibble wobble, jelly on a plate.
Jelly on a plate, jelly on a plate,
Wibble wobble, wibble wobble, jelly on a plate.
Traditional lyrics — public domain. Arrangement © Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks.
History & Background
History & Origin
"Jelly on a Plate" is a traditional action song that encourages children to move their bodies in the manner of each food described. For the jelly verse, children wobble from side to side; for the sausages, they make sizzling sounds and a sudden bang; for the noodles, they twist and twirl. The song is as much physical play as music, making it a favourite in nurseries and toddler groups.
The original rhyme is short — just the jelly verse — and has been in circulation since at least the early twentieth century. Versions appear in various song collections from the 1920s and 1930s, always built around the central image of wobbly jelly and its pleasing verb "wibble wobble", which children find irresistible to say and do.
Our arrangement expands the song into a full food medley, with additional verses for sausages in a pan, noodles on a fork, popcorn in a pot, and honey on a spoon. Each food gets its own sound-word to match its texture and movement, turning the whole into a sensory tour of the kitchen. The song returns to its jelly beginning, giving it a satisfying circular structure.
The "wibble wobble" of the original has been imitated in countless children's songs since, but none has quite the satisfying physical accuracy of the original.
