[Surprising!] A children’s song that originated overseas. That familiar nursery rhyme is actually…
Nursery rhymes we often sang as children in kindergarten, nursery school, or elementary school.
Among the ones we still remember as adults, quite a few actually originated overseas.
In this article, we’ll introduce nursery rhymes with roots abroad.
We’ve picked out a variety—from songs that make you think “Come to think of it, that makes sense,” to surprising ones that have you saying, “Wait, that song too?” They’re all familiar across generations, whether it’s something you sang as a child or a song your kids are learning in nursery school.
As you listen, be sure to notice the differences between the versions we often sing and the original tunes!
- Folk Songs of the World | Hometown Songs Passed Down Abroad
- Children’s songs of the world: songs passed down and sung by children overseas
- A seemingly scary nursery rhyme: a children’s song that gives you the chills when you hear it
- Nursery Rhyme Popular Song Rankings [2025]
- A classic Mother Goose tune. A Mother Goose song that’s popular with children.
- Nostalgic Children’s Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes: The Heart of Japan Passed Down Through Song
- [Minna no Uta] Tear-jerking masterpiece. A moving song you want to hear again.
- Nursery rhymes you’ll want to sing at karaoke: classic and popular songs everyone can enjoy together.
- Nursery rhymes to sing to your baby! Recommended songs enjoyable from 0 months
- Let's sing together! A collection of nursery rhymes everyone knows
- [Minna no Uta] Beloved Across Generations: Nostalgic Classics and Popular Songs
- Get pumped with popular songs from “Okaasan to Issho”! A collection of timeless tunes everyone will want to sing together
- Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
[Surprising!] Nursery rhymes that originated overseas. Even those familiar nursery rhymes are actually (1–10)
cuckooGerman nursery rhyme
This song, with its humorous theme of a cuckoo and a donkey competing in singing ability, has long been loved by children in Germany.
Composed in 19th‑century Germany, its bright and lively melody is simple yet familiar, and the repeated phrases that imitate each animal’s call are truly delightful.
The lyricist, Hoffmann von Fallersleben, also wrote the lyrics to the German national anthem, and the composer, Carl Friedrich Zelter, was acquainted with the poet Goethe—so this work was created by figures of great importance in German culture.
In German-speaking kindergartens and nurseries, it is sung in spring and early summer as a seasonal song, and as a classic that lets parents and children enjoy music together in educational settings, it’s well worth singing yourself!
Oh, the pastures are greenSlovak Folk Song / Czech Folk Song
It is a children’s song that straightforwardly portrays the beautiful scenery of the pasture before one’s eyes and the surrounding landscape.
It is said to have originated in rural areas of Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
While the original song included humor, that element was omitted when it crossed over to America, where it is said to have changed into a work song depicting beautiful scenery.
A version sung in the Bohemia region of the Czech lands was translated into English in America, and that English version was then translated into Japanese, which is the form that became established in Japan.
Since the original depicts aspects of workers’ lives with a touch of humor, getting to know it will make the song feel even more familiar.
Buzz buzz buzzGerman folk song
It’s quite common to find that a familiar children’s song about bees buzzing from flower to flower actually originated as a German folk song, and delving into Europe’s traditional music often leads to such delightful discoveries.
The song widely loved in Japanese kindergartens and nursery schools also traces back to the German piece “Summ, summ, summ.” The original lyrics were written in 1843 by Hoffmann von Fallersleben, also known as the author of the German national anthem.
The way this affectionate ode to nature was transformed into beautiful Japanese lyrics—richly visual and stimulating to the imagination—is truly remarkable.
[Surprising!] Nursery rhymes that originated overseas. That familiar nursery rhyme is actually (11–20)
little foxGerman folk song
It is a charming children’s song depicting a little fox living in the mountains who wishes to dress up like a human.
The original tune is the German folk song “Fuchs, du hast die Gans gestohlen,” which portrays humans complaining to a fox.
In it, they threaten to shoot the fox with a gun unless it returns the goose it stole.
The sly image of the fox, common in foreign folktales, and the seemingly cruel threat make a strong impression.
Black Cat TangoItalian nursery rhyme
This song, which features a black cat as its protagonist, is based on the Italian children’s song “Volevo un gatto nero,” born in 1969.
That same year, Osamu Minagawa’s Japanese cover became a massive hit.
While the original expresses a pure wish for a cat, the Japanese version—true to its tagline, “a children’s song for adults”—stands out with its mature portrayal of the cat as a symbol of a lover.
From 1969 to 1970, the song topped the Oricon charts for 14 consecutive weeks and sold 2.
6 million copies.
Its friendly melody set to a tango rhythm is not only passed down as a children’s song, but also offers the pleasure of discovering the deeper meaning of the lyrics when you listen again as an adult.
It’s a great recommendation for parents and children to enjoy together!
butterflyOriginating in Germany
The children’s song “Chōchō,” which depicts a butterfly fluttering from flower to flower, is a piece based on a German nursery rhyme with original Japanese lyrics added.
It is said that educational scholar Shuji Izawa brought it back from the United States and introduced it as a Spanish folk song, a background that also shows how it has been loved across various Western countries.
The original, the old German nursery rhyme “Hänschen klein,” means “Little Hans” and tells the story of a child named Hans growing up.
Its strong narrative—parting at the start of a journey and a reunion at the end—stands in marked contrast to the Japanese “Chōchō,” which is beloved for its different character.
Watermelon-producing regionAmerican folk song
Did you know that this song with the catchy, upbeat melody is actually based on the American folk song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”? Around 1965, Mikuzo Takada wrote original Japanese lyrics, giving the song new life as a tune to sing at campfires and for recreation.
In 1977, it was included on the LP “From the NHK TV Program ‘Uta wa Tomodachi’ / Let’s Sing Fun Game Songs,” released by Victor, with Seiji Tanaka on vocals.
You can easily picture children in nursery schools and kindergartens happily singing this piece—and part of its charm is that it can be enjoyed together with hand games and choreography.