The traditional American song "The Wheels on the Bus" was written in the 30's by Verna Hills but it is often referred to as a folk song due to the fact that many alternative verses have been created. The song shares the same tune with the nursery rhyme "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush".
Read the traditional lyrics and them watch the video and find the differences between the versions.
Traditional Lyrics
The wheels on the bus go round and round,round and round,
round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
all through the town.
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish;
Swish, swish, swish;
Swish, swish, swish.
The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish,
all through the town.
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep;
Beep, beep, beep;
Beep, beep, beep.
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep,
all through the town…
The money on the bus goes, clink, clink, clink;
Clink, clink, clink;
Clink, clink, clink.
The money on the bus goes, clink, clink, clink,
all through the town.
The Driver on the bus says “Move on back,
move on back, move on back;”
The Driver on the bus says “Move on back,”
all through the town.
The baby on the bus says “Wah, wah, wah;
Wah, wah, wah;
Wah, wah, wah”.
The baby on the bus says “Wah, wah, wah,”
all through the town.
The mommy on the bus says “Shush, shush, shush;
Shush, shush, shush;
Shush, shush, shush.”
The mommy on the bus says “Shush, shush, shush,”
all through the town.
The version with movements
Here is an example of using "The Wheels on the Bus" for teaching English in primary school. Remember it's essential for pupils to have fun in the process of learning and this song offers a great opportunity to relax and move.
Alternative Versions
(only the first line is given)The doors on the bus go open and shut.
The bell on the bus goes ding-ding-ding.
The lady on the bus says, “Get off my feet”…
The people on the bus say, “We had a nice ride”…
“Your name” on the bus says Let Me Off!
The Grandma on the bus goes (kiss, kiss, kiss)
The Grandpa on the bus goes (snore, snore, snore)
Librarians on the bus go shh, shh, shh,
Mummy and daddy on the bus says, I love you,
Policeman on the bus, goes allo, allo allo,
Grannies on the bus, shake their heads,
Grannies on the bus knit, knit, knit,
Grannies on the bus knit, knit, knit,
Dentists on the bus say open wide,
Brakes on the bus, go screech, screech, screech,
Friends on the bus say, how are you?
Teenagers on the bus go like OMG,
Animal Sounds Versions
Dogs on the bus go woof, woof, woof, (or the dog on the bus goes...)
Cats on the bus go meow, meow, meow,
Mice on the bus go squeak, squeak, squeak,
Chickens on the bus go cluck, cluck, cluck,
Ducks on the bus go quack, quack, quack,
Turkeys on the bus go gobble, gobble, gobble,
Parrots on the bus say Who’s a pretty boy?
Sheep on the bus go baa, baa, baa,
Cows on the bus go moo, moo, moo,
Pigs on the bus go oink, oink, oink,
Horses on the bus go neigh, neigh, neigh,
Cockroaches on the bus go skitter, skitter, skitter,
