Five Little Ducks Lyrics

Rooted in traditional folk music with no known single composer, this counting song about a mother duck and her five ducklings has circulated in English-speaking nurseries for generations and remains a go-to pick for baby and toddler playlists. It's best suited to ages 1-4, when children are just beginning to notice numbers and enjoy call-and-response patterns. As each duckling wanders off and the count goes down, then comes back up when they all return, the song offers a gentle, story-driven way to practice both counting and the concept of subtraction and addition in miniature. Early-childhood educators often lean on songs like this because the emotional arc, ducklings going missing and reuniting, gives toddlers a reason to care about the numbers, not just recite them. The quacking sound effects also invite imitation, which supports early sound-play and articulation. Its folk origins mean the melody has been passed down and adapted slightly over time, which is part of why versions vary slightly between families and regions. Explore more numbers-focused music in [this guide to counting songs for preschoolers](/blog/counting-songs-for-preschoolers).

Five little ducks went out one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack, quack,"
But only four little ducks came back.

Four little ducks went out one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack, quack,"
But only three little ducks came back.

Three little ducks went out one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack, quack,"
But only two little ducks came back.

Two little ducks went out one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack, quack,"
But only one little duck came back.

One little duck went out one day,
Over the hill and far away.
The sad mother duck said "Quack, quack, quack,"
And all of the five little ducks came back!