To Market To Market Lyrics

With roots tracing back to around 1611, To Market To Market is one of the older English nursery rhymes still commonly sung, following a simple trip to buy a pig and a fat hog before coming home again. It's a strong fit for ages 1-4, since the short verses and repeated phrase "to market, to market" are easy for even very young toddlers to chant along with. The repetition at the heart of the rhyme is exactly the kind of structure early-childhood educators point to when explaining how predictable patterns help toddlers anticipate words and build early vocabulary. Because it centers on a trip to buy livestock, the rhyme also offers a small glimpse into rural English life from centuries past, when market day was a routine household errand. Its bouncing rhythm makes it a natural choice for knee-bouncing or marching games with little ones. To understand why rhymes like this stick so well with young children, see [why children love repetition in songs](/blog/why-children-love-repetition-in-songs).

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig!

To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jog!

To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again, market is done!