One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Written By: The Good and the Beautiful Published On:

Sing along with the classic rhyme “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” in this beautifully illustrated video only from The Good and the Beautiful. Then print the lyrics and read about the story behind this counting rhyme!


  • “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” Lyrics

    One, two, buckle my shoe.
    Three, four, knock at the door.
    Five, six, pick up sticks.
    Seven, eight, lay them straight.
    Nine, ten, a big fat hen.

  • Click the image to download a printable PDF of “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” lyrics! Also included is a free mini-book to help your child practice ordering the numbers.

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Sing along with this delightful counting rhyme in this fun, illustrated video from The Good and the Beautiful!
Illustration of girl buckling shoe

Story of the Song

“One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” was first published in London in 1805 in a collection of nursery rhymes titled Songs for the Nursery, although it is thought to be older than its publication date. Parents used the song’s short, simple lines to help children learn to count.

It is also thought that parents used the poem to teach their children good daily work habits, encouraging them to:

One, two, buckle my shoe. (Get ready for the day.)

Three, four, knock at the door. (Off to work.)
*Some versions use “the door” or “close the door.”

Five, six, pick up sticks. (Work hard.)

Seven, eight, lay them straight. (Work neatly and orderly.)

Nine, ten, a big fat hen. (A job well done!)

  • Illustration of boy picking up sticks

Another thought is that the rhyming lines describe the steps involved in lacemaking during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

One, two, buckle my shoe. (Get ready for the day.)

Three, four, knock at the door. (Arrive at work.)
*Some versions use “the door” or “close the door.”

Five, six, pick up sticks. (Get your sticks—the lacing tools.)

Seven, eight, lay them straight. (Move the sticks to make the lace.)

Nine, ten, a big fat hen. (Describes the pillow the lace is made on.)

  • Lacemaking
  • Lacemaking process

Today, children often use the well-known rhyme with hand claps or jump-rope games.

  • Children playing hand claps game
  • Kids playing jump rope
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