Listen
Arrangement: Ian J. Watts / Mike Wilbury · Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks
Lyrics
One little, two little, three little Indians,
Four little, five little, six little Indians,
Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians,
Ten little Indian boys.
Ten little, nine little, eight little Indians,
Seven little, six little, five little Indians,
Four little, three little, two little Indians,
One little Indian boy.
Traditional lyrics — public domain. Arrangement © Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks.
History & Background
History & Origin
"Ten Little Indians" is a traditional counting song that appeared in various forms in the mid-nineteenth century. The structure is simple: ten figures are counted up from one to ten, then counted back down again. The song teaches both counting up and counting down in a single verse.
The origins of the song are connected to the minstrel tradition of the 1860s, and the term "Indians" refers to Native Americans. The song has attracted significant criticism in recent decades for its reductive representation of indigenous peoples, and many educators have replaced the original words with alternative versions. Various alternatives have been recorded by different artists.
The counting structure itself — one to ten, then ten back to one — is genuinely useful as a teaching tool, and the melody is simple and memorable. The song survives in the repertoire primarily as a counting vehicle.
Our recording treats the song as a straightforward counting exercise, reflecting its role in the traditional children's music catalogue.
