Wee Willie Winkie Lyrics

Written by Scottish poet William Miller in 1841. A beloved bedtime rhyme about a character who runs through the town making sure all children are in bed. Best for ages 2–6. Wee Willie Winkie personifies the bedtime routine, giving children a friendly figure who marks the end of the day — a small but powerful psychological cue for kids who resist transitioning to sleep. Use it as the very last song before lights-out, every night, so the rhyme becomes a conditioned sleep signal. For more on bedtime-cuing songs, see [bedtime routine songs and sleep science](/blog/bedtime-routine-songs-sleep-science) and [the perfect toddler bedtime routine](/blog/the-perfect-toddler-bedtime-routine).

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown.
Rapping at the window, crying through the lock,
"Are the children all in bed, for now it's eight o'clock?"

Wee Willie Winkie, are you coming in?
The cat's singing purring songs to the sleeping hen,
The dog's stretched on the floor and doesn't give a cheep,
But here's a wakeful laddie that will not fall asleep!