The Ants Go Marching
USA
HISTORY AND SONG NOTES
The Ants Go Marching is an American folksong, to the tune of Civil War song When Johnny Comes Marching Home. This song works well in many musical contexts: as a group instrument playing song, a movement game where the children march to the beat either on their own or as a group, or as a counting activity.
With each verse, the text can change. Below are some sample verses, but you can also create your own:
The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah. The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah. The ants go marching two by two, the little one stops to tie their shoe…And they all go marching down into the ground to get out of the rain.
The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah. The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah. The ants go marching three by three, the little one stops to climb a tree…And they all go marching down into the ground to get out of the rain.
The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah. The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah. The ants go marching four by four, the little one stops to knock on a door…And they all go marching down into the ground to get out of the rain.