One Finger, One Thumb
Keep moving! The happiest cumulative action song in the nursery
Listen
Arrangement: Ian J. Watts / Mike Wilbury · Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks
Lyrics
One finger, one thumb, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, keep moving,
And we'll all be happy today.
One finger, one thumb, one hand, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, one hand, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, one hand, keep moving,
And we'll all be happy today.
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, keep moving,
And we'll all be happy today.
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, one leg, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, one leg, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, one leg, keep moving,
And we'll all be happy today.
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, one leg,
One nod of the head, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, one leg,
One nod of the head, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, one leg,
One nod of the head, keep moving,
And we'll all be happy today.
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, one leg,
One nod of the head, then turn around, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, one leg,
One nod of the head, then turn around, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, one leg,
One nod of the head, then turn around, keep moving,
And we'll all be happy today.
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, one leg,
One nod of the head, then turn around and get out of bed, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, one leg,
One nod of the head, then turn around and get out of bed, keep moving,
One finger, one thumb, one hand, one arm, one leg,
One nod of the head, then turn around and get out of bed, keep moving,
And we'll all be happy today!
Traditional lyrics — public domain. Arrangement © Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks.
History & Background
History & Origin
"One Finger, One Thumb, Keep Moving" is a traditional cumulative action song in which each verse adds a new body part or action to the list, so that by the final verse the singer is simultaneously wiggling a finger, a thumb, moving both hands and both arms, lifting a leg, nodding the head, turning around, and getting out of bed — all while repeating "keep moving" and announcing that everyone will be happy today.
The song belongs to the tradition of action songs designed to get children moving and engaged. Unlike many action songs that merely describe movement, "One Finger, One Thumb" requires participants to maintain all previous actions simultaneously as new ones are added. By the final verse, a room full of children performing the song correctly is a scene of considerable, cheerful chaos.
The mechanics of the cumulative structure are the mechanics of memory and coordination: each new verse is an additional cognitive and physical demand. The song essentially tests — and trains — working memory and multitasking in the most enjoyable possible way.
"And we'll all be happy today" is a quietly confident assertion repeated at the end of every verse, the song's central promise: that movement, participation, and the willingness to look slightly ridiculous together are the ingredients of happiness. It is hard to argue with this. Our arrangement makes the song suitably energetic and impossible to sit still to.
