Apples and Bananas Lyrics

A classic American children's song that teaches vowel sounds by replacing the vowels in 'apples' and 'bananas' with each of the five long vowels in turn. The vowel-swap structure makes it a favorite of preschool teachers for building phonemic awareness while producing pure silly delight. Best for ages 3–7. Speech-language pathologists frequently use this song with children working on vowel discrimination — the explicit, exaggerated production of each vowel in isolation is exactly the practice early articulation needs. The silliness is the spoonful of sugar. For more songs that build literacy through phonological play, see [phonics songs](/blog/phonics-songs) and [best alphabet ABC songs that actually teach letters](/blog/best-alphabet-abc-songs-that-actually-teach-letters).

I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas,
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.

I like to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays,
I like to ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays.

I like to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees,
I like to eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees.

I like to ite, ite, ite eye-ples and by-ny-nys,
I like to ite, ite, ite eye-ples and by-ny-nys.

I like to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos,
I like to ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos.

I like to ute, ute, ute oo-ples and boo-noo-noos,
I like to ute, ute, ute oo-ples and boo-noo-noos.

I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas,
I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.