I Saw a Ship A-Sailing
Quick Answer
A traditional rhyme packed with playful, dreamlike images about a ship sailing and surprising sights. A quick bedtime verse that’s more about sound and smiles than plot.
Why This Story Works for Bedtime
No plot to track means a relaxed brain. The rhythm is steady, making it a light, soothing ‘last rhyme’ before sleep.
Story at a Glance
RECOMMENDED AGES
2-6 years
READING TIME
1 min
Story Synopsis
I Saw a Ship A‑Sailing is a classic nonsense-style rhyme: it begins with a ship on the sea and then drifts into unexpected, funny images. Children enjoy it for the sound and the surprise—not because it’s logical. For bedtime, read it slowly, and invite your child to pick one favorite line to whisper again as the final goodnight.
Story Excerpt
I saw a ship a-sailing, A-sailing on the sea; And it was full of pretty things For baby and for me. There were sweetmeats in the cabin, And apples in the hold; The sails were made of silk, And the masts were made of gold. The four-and-twenty sailors That stood between the decks, Were four-and-twenty white mice, With chains about their necks. The captain was a duck, With a packet on his back; And when the ship began to move, The captain cried, "Quack, quack!"
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In One Glance
I Saw a Ship A‑Sailing is a short traditional rhyme built on playful, imaginative images. Its steady rhythm makes it a light bedtime verse for young children.
Frequently Asked Questions
A playful rhyme with a ship and surprising, dreamlike images.
Ages 0–7.
No—enjoy the rhythm and imagery.
Read once, then whisper a favorite line to end.