By Melissa Blewitt

Younger children can take part in Baby Rhyme Time at the Condobolin Library on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.30am to 10am.
Children get to sing nursery rhymes and dance. It’s all fun and the best part is its free!
On the first Rhyme Time back from the Lachlan Shire Library technician Abby Grimshaw and her enthusiastic participants sang The Good Morning Song, The Zoom Song, Incy Wincy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Open, Shut Them, Pat a Cake, Pat a Cake, Two Little Fingers, The Frog Song – Galoomp Went the Little Green Frog, Humpty Dumpty, Higgerty Piggerty My Black Hen, The Bullfrog Song, The Balloon Song, The Crocodile Song, The Monkey Song, Row, Row Your Boat and Old McDonald Had a Farm (complete with Finger Puppets).
‘Incy Wincy Spider’ tells of an eight-legged critter, small in stature, that climbs up a steadfast spout, only to be washed away again by the rain – Before doing it all again.
Incy Wincy Spider’ is a folk song, first seen in various US publications in the 20th century – including with the title ‘Spider Song’ in a 1910 publication of Arthur Walbridge North’s Camp and Camino in Lower California, and in Mike and Peggy Seeger’s American Folk Songs for Children in 1948.
Different publications use different versions of the lyrics, including ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider’ in the United States. The version used in the United Kingdom, and Australia, is ‘Incy Wincy’.
The rhyme is set to a lilting, cheerful melody which follows the ups and downs of the spider in the rhyme. It’s sung in different languages all over the world. The original author of the rhyme and melody is unknown.
“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” is a traditional children’s song about a farmer and a plethora of animals he keeps on his land, his farm.
As each verse is sung, the primary names change and include the noise the animal makes.
The song is attributed to playwright Thomas d’Urfey who penned the tune in 1706. The earliest version of the song is known as “In the Fields in Frost and Snow” from the opera, The Kingdom of the Birds.
The lyrics for the song have been translated from English into many other languages. For example, in Egyptian Arabic, the song is called “Grandpa Ali.” In Chinese, it’s translated to “Old Mr. Wang had some land.” In Finland, it’s “Grandpa Piippola had a house.” In French, it’s In Mathurin’s farm.” In Ukrainian, it’s “Uncle Ivan has a cow.”
Like many traditional children’s folk songs and nursery rhymes, the original author of Row, Row Your Boat is unknown.
The earliest publication of the song found in history is from 1852, and American teacher and textbook author Eliphalet Oram Lyte has a name credit next to the publication of the song in the 1881 Franklin Square Song Collection. Lyte’s version has the tune most widely known today, whereas previous versions have a different melody.
But what is the meaning of Row, Row Your Boat? There is the positive messages of rowing determinedly and the merriment of it all. Then there could be messages of keeping going, staying focused, having a positive outlook and keeping things in perspective.
For more information on Baby Rhyme Time contact the Condobolin Library on 02 6895 2253.