The Twinkle Story

So you think you know the lullaby “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”?

Chances are you know the first verse, but there are actually three more verses that didn’t make it onto the charts. The poem was written in 1806, by a young Englishwoman named Jane Taylor, and published with the title, “The Star.”

Here’s the whole poem:

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!

Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark;
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

In the dark blue sky you keep,
While you thro' my window peep,
And you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

Of course then came other versions, like this one from Alice in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll in 1865:

Twinkle, twinkle little bat
How I wonder what you’re at
Up above the world you fly
Like a teatray in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little bat
How I wonder what you’re at

And from Sesame Street:

Whistle whistle little bird
Isn’t eating crumbs absurd?
Try a ham and cheese on rye
And a piece of cherry pie
If those crumbs are all you want
Don’t come in my restaurant!

So try these silly versions out on your baby, or better yet, make up your own and share it with us! You could have a hit just waiting to be created.

And next time I’ll tell you the story of the equally famous melody. In the meantime here is a beautiful version of the song with a different melody, by the Hawaiian legend Israel Kamakawiwo’ole:

Listen to "Twinkle" by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole: