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London Bridge

Quick Answer

A traditional singing-game rhyme: London Bridge breaks down, and everyone wonders how to build it up again—silver and gold, iron and steel, wood and clay. Repetitive, musical, and great for gentle chanting.

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

Its repetition is soothing, and the ‘build it up again’ theme can feel reassuring. Read softly as a lullaby rhyme rather than an energetic playground chant.

Story at a Glance

RECOMMENDED AGES

3-7 years

READING TIME

2 min

THEMES
easy to understandclassic talegentlegentleproblem solvingproblem solvingeasy to understandclassic tale
Also available inEspañol

Story Synopsis

“London Bridge” is a classic rhyme that many children learn as a singing game. The bridge is “broken down,” and the verses ask how to build it up again. Different materials are tried—silver and gold, iron and steel, wood and clay—each with its own little problem. Even though the bridge keeps failing in the song, the feeling is not gloomy; it’s rhythmic and persistent. For bedtime, it can be read like a gentle construction lullaby: we try, we learn, we rebuild—slowly and safely.

Story Excerpt

London Bridge is broken down, Dance o'er my Lady Lee ; London Bridge is broken down, With a gay lady. How shall we build it up again? Dance o'er my Lady Lee ; How shall we build it up again? With a gay lady. Silver and gold will be stole away, Dance o'er my Lady Lee ; Silver and gold will be stole away, With a gay lady. Build it up again with iron and steel, Dance o'er my Lady Lee ; Build it up with iron and steel, With a gay lady. Iron


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In One Glance

“London Bridge” is a traditional rhyme that repeats the idea of a bridge falling down and being rebuilt with different materials. It’s musical and repetitive, and when read softly it can feel reassuring: problems can be rebuilt and repaired, step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions

A repeating rhyme about a bridge falling down and trying to rebuild it with different materials.

No—it's a singing-game style rhyme.

Ages 3–7.

Whisper the repeated lines like a lullaby and slow the rhythm down.