It's Raining, It's Pouring Lyrics

This short American rhyme, in circulation since around 1912, packs a tiny, slightly comic story, an old man bumping his head and being unable to get up, into just a few rhyming lines about a rainstorm. It works well for toddlers and young preschoolers, roughly ages 1 to 4, who respond to its brevity and sound-heavy rhymes ("pouring," "snoring") long before they understand every detail of the plot. Early-childhood educators often reach for very short rhymes like this one during transitions or naptime routines, since a child can complete an entire song in under fifteen seconds, keeping their attention without demanding a long sit. The strong rhyme pairs also help children notice matching end sounds in words, a skill known to support early reading. Because it mentions rain, it doubles as a natural weather-talk starter, letting caregivers connect the song to whatever is happening outside the window that day. Its brevity makes it easy to repeat several times in a row, which many toddlers request anyway. For more on how songs like this support sleep and wind-down routines, see [bedtime songs to help kids sleep](/blog/bedtime-songs-to-help-kids-sleep).

It's raining, it's pouring,
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and he bumped his head,
And he couldn't get up in the morning.