Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Lyrics

Penned by English poet Jane Taylor in 1806 as a poem called "The Star," this beloved lullaby was later set to a French melody and became one of the most recognized tunes in the world. It suits babies and toddlers ages 0-3, though its gentle, wondering tone keeps it in bedtime rotation well past that. The steady, slow-moving melody and long vowel sounds make it a natural fit for calming a child before sleep, and early-childhood educators often point to its simple AABB rhyme scheme as an easy first exposure to rhyme awareness, a building block for later reading skills. Because the lyrics describe something a young child can actually look up and see, it also gives caregivers an easy way to connect words to the real world during a quiet moment together. Two centuries after it was written, the song remains a fixture of nurseries in English-speaking countries and beyond, proof that a simple, singable melody paired with an evocative image can outlast most other children's media. For more on how songs like this support development, see the science behind the best lullabies for babies.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!