One Two Three Four Five (Once I Caught a Fish Alive) Lyrics

Also known as "Once I Caught a Fish Alive," this English counting rhyme dates back to around 1888 and pairs numbers one through ten with a playful story about catching a fish that bites a finger. It's well suited to ages 3-8, as children move from simply reciting numbers to understanding them as a meaningful sequence tied to a narrative. Early-childhood educators often use counting songs like this one because pairing numbers with a story and finger movements helps children internalize number order more naturally than rote counting alone. The song's playful twist, letting the fish go because it bit a finger, gives the rhyme a memorable, funny payoff that keeps kids engaged through a full ten-count. Counting rhymes like this one also introduce basic math vocabulary, laying groundwork for later number sense long before formal arithmetic instruction begins. Its call-and-response rhythm makes it ideal for group settings, where an adult can lead and children fill in numbers as they grow more confident. For more ways songs build number skills, see [counting songs that help toddlers learn numbers through music](/blog/best-counting-songs-toddlers-learn-numbers-music).

One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let it go again.

Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on my right!