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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Old MacDonald Had a Farm

"Old MacDonald Had a Farm" is a traditional children's song and nursery rhyme about a farmer and the animals on his farm.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

"Old MacDonald Had a Farm" is a traditional children's song and nursery rhyme about a farmer and the animals on his farm. Each verse names a different animal and its sound, and many versions are cumulative, repeating earlier animal sounds as the song continues. The song is widely known in English-speaking countries and has roots in older folk and opera traditions.

Origin and history

The song has been linked to a 1706 opera by Thomas d'Urfey, and it circulated in folk forms in Britain, Ireland, and North America for many years. It was standardized in the twentieth century under the familiar title "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."

Lyrics and structure

The song follows a repetitive pattern in which each verse introduces a new farm animal and its sound. In cumulative versions, each new verse repeats the sounds from earlier verses as well.

Cultural significance

"Old MacDonald Had a Farm" is one of the best-known children's songs in English. It is often used to introduce young children to animal names and animal sounds.

Variants and adaptations

The song appears in many versions, with different animal choices, spellings of the farmer's name, and local adaptations. It has also been translated and adapted into other languages.

Key facts

  • The song centres on a farmer named Old MacDonald and the animals on his farm.
  • Each verse replaces the animal and its sound, such as a cow saying "moo."
  • Many versions are cumulative, adding each earlier animal sound to later verses.
  • The song is described as a traditional folk song in Great Britain, Ireland, and North America.
  • A version was attributed to Thomas d'Urfey in an opera from 1706, though the song existed in folk forms before its twentieth-century standardization.
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Canadian context

The song is widely familiar in Canada as part of the English-language children's music tradition and is commonly used in early childhood settings.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of song is "Old MacDonald Had a Farm"?
It is a traditional children's song and nursery rhyme about a farmer and the animals on his farm.
What is the song's main repeating line?
The familiar refrain is "E-I-E-I-O," which appears in each verse.
Is the song cumulative?
Many versions are cumulative, meaning later verses repeat the animal sounds from earlier verses as the song continues.
Where did the song come from?
It is a folk song with roots in Great Britain, Ireland, and North America, and an early attributed version appears in a 1706 opera by Thomas d'Urfey.
What is the Roud number for the song?
Its Roud Folk Song Index number is 745.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_MacDonald_Had_a_Farm
    Supports: Traditional children's song, cumulative structure, folk-song origins, 1706 attribution, twentieth-century standardization, Roud number
  2. Words for Life — https://wordsforlife.org.uk/activities/sing-old-macdonald-your-child/
    Supports: Example lyrics and verse structure for the children's song
  3. The Good and the Beautiful — https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/blogs/inspiration/old-macdonald
    Supports: History of the song's earlier titles and later standardization
  4. Classic FM — https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/old-macdonald-had-farm-opera-lyrics/
    Supports: Operatic origins and example of the song's repeated structure