Listen
Arrangement: Ian J. Watts / Mike Wilbury · Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks
Lyrics
Six little ducks that I once knew,
Fat ones, skinny ones, fair ones too.
But the one little duck with the feather on his back,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.
Down to the river they would go,
Wibble-wobble, wibble-wobble to and fro.
But the one little duck with the feather on his back,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.
Back from the river they would come,
Wibble-wobble, wibble-wobble, ho hum hum.
But the one little duck with the feather on his back,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.
Into the water they would dive,
Over and under the other five.
But the one little duck with the feather on his back,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.
Home from the river they would go,
Wibble-wobble, wibble-wobble, ho hum hum.
But the one little duck with the feather on his back,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack,
He led the others with a quack, quack, quack.
Traditional lyrics — public domain. Arrangement © Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks.
History & Background
History & Origin
"Six Little Ducks" is a traditional children's action song that has been a favourite in nurseries and playgroups for many generations. Its origins are not precisely documented, but it belongs to the tradition of counting songs and animal songs that use repetition, physical action, and simple narrative to engage very young children.
The song has a pleasing democratic structure: there are six ducks, all different — fat ones, skinny ones, fair ones — but it is the one with the feather on his back who leads. Leadership in the duck world, apparently, is a matter of distinctive plumage rather than strength or wisdom. This small detail appeals to children, who enjoy the idea that what makes you a leader might be something as arbitrary and specific as a single feather.
"Wibble-wobble" is a perfect piece of onomatopoeia, describing the rolling walk of a duck in a way that is both accurate and irresistible to young children. The song lends itself to waddling actions, quacking, diving, and all the physical play that makes it so effective in group settings.
The duck with the feather on his back has been quacking and leading ever since.
