Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow

GREAT BRITAIN

HISTORY AND SONG NOTES

Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow is a folksong from Great Britain. The tune of the song, originally called “Baltimore,” can be traced back to 1790. The song has been used as a circle game, as described below, since at least the 1890s.

Learn the Song with a Diller-Quaile Instructor:

CIRCLE GAME

This song makes an excellent group circle game; suggested movements for the song are listed below; however, the children can certainly create their own ideas! You’ll notice that the recorded version and the score say “he” for the farmer, but use “she” or “they” as well. Suggested movements:

• Chorus: “Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow. Oats, peas, beans, and barley grow. Do you, or I, or anyone know how oats, peas, beans, and barley grow” – march to the beat in a circle

• “first a farmer sows his/her/their seed” – take a pretend seed from your hand or pocket, plant it in the ground

• “next the farmer waters the seed” – with your pretend watering can, water the seed

• “next the farmer hoes the weeds”– with your pretend hoe or shovel, pull out the weeds (hard work!)

• “last the farmer harvests his/her/their seed” – pick the plants

• “then he/she/they stands and takes his/her/their ease” – cross your arms, and relax

• “he/she/they stamp his/her/their feet” – stomp your feet

• “and claps his/her/their hands” – claps your hands

• “and turns around to view the land” – turn or spin in your spot

AUDIO RECORDING FOR LISTENING, SINGING ALONG, AND LEARNING:

PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT:

DOWNLOADS:

PDF of Score: Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow

mp3 of piano accompaniment: Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow