Humpty Dumpty Lyrics

First recorded in England around 1797, this riddle-rhyme about an egg-shaped figure who "had a great fall" has intrigued generations of children long before it became strongly associated with an egg character in illustrated versions. It's best suited to toddlers and preschoolers, roughly ages 2-6, who enjoy its short, punchy story and slightly mysterious subject. Because the rhyme never explicitly states what Humpty Dumpty is, it invites children to guess and imagine, and early-childhood educators often use riddle-style rhymes like this one to encourage early inferential thinking, the skill of using clues in language to figure out meaning, a skill that later supports reading comprehension. Its brisk, four-line structure also makes it one of the easier rhymes for young children to memorize completely and recite on their own, giving them an early sense of accomplishment. Over two centuries after it first appeared in print, it remains one of the most recognized short rhymes in the English language. For more on how classic rhymes like this support early language, see [this roundup of the best nursery rhymes for toddlers](/blog/best-nursery-rhymes-for-toddlers).

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.