Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly) Lyrics

Tracing back to roughly 1680 in England, Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly) is one of the older English folk rhymes still sung today, built around a gentle, repeated refrain about lavender and love. It works nicely for ages 1-4, especially as a soothing option during quiet play or wind-down time. Early-childhood educators often point out that the sing-song "dilly dilly" refrain gives toddlers an easy, low-effort way to join in vocally, even before they can manage full sentences. Its soft melodic quality has helped it endure for well over three centuries, moving from adult courtship song to a nursery favorite over that long history. The rhyme's calm, affectionate tone also makes it a comfortable choice for quiet bonding moments between caregiver and child, and its brevity makes it easy to repeat softly two or three times without a toddler losing interest. To explore how songs like this connect across generations and cultures, see [folk songs for children and why traditional music matters](/blog/folk-songs-for-children-why-traditional-music-matters).

Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green.
When I am king, dilly dilly,
You shall be queen.

Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so.

Call up your men, dilly dilly,
Set them to work.
Some to the plough, dilly dilly,
Some to the fork.