The ABC Song

The melody of "The ABC Song" was first published in the French book of music ''Les Amusements d'une Heure et Demy ('') (1761) without lyrics. It was adapted in Mozart's Twelve Variations and used in many nursery rhymes around the world, including "Ah! vous dirai-je, maman", "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and later "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep", before being used in this song. The author of the lyrics is unknown. "The ABC Song" was first copyrighted in 1835 by Boston music publisher Charles Bradlee under the title "The A.B.C., a German air with variations for the flute with an easy accompaniment for the piano forte." The melody was attributed to 18th-century composer Louis Le Maire. "The ABC Song" is commonly used in preschools across English-speaking countries. The television series Sesame Street has covered the song many times, collaborating with popular artists such as Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry, Nina Simone and Usher. Due to the speed at which L, M, N, O, P is sung, it is possible for listeners to mistake these for a single letter "elemenopee". One variation avoids this by singing them evenly (H-I-J-K-L-M-N, O-P-Q, R-S-T, U-V-W, X-Y-Z), but has been criticized by fans of the original song, as it eliminates the end rhymes between G, P, V, and Z. == Composition and variations ==

Lyrics: (each line represents two measures, or eight beats) :A, B, C, D, E, F, G... () :H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P... (; "L, M, N, O" spoken twice as quickly as rest of rhyme) :Q, R, S.../ T, U, V... (; pause between S and T, though in some variants, "and" is inserted) :W... X.../ Y and(/&) Z. (; pause between X and Y, and W and X last for two beats) :Now I know my ABCs. :''Next time, won't you sing with me?'' \relative c' { \key c \major \time 4/4 c4 c4 g'4 g4 \bar "|" a4 a4 g2 \bar "|" f4 f4 e4 e4 \bar "|" d8 d8 d8 d8 c2 \bar "|" \break g'4 g4 f2 \bar "|" e4 e4 d2 \bar "|" g8 g8 g4 f2 \bar "|" e4 e4 d2 \bar "|" \break c4 c4 g'4 g4 \bar "|" a4 a4 g2 \bar "|" f4 f4 e4 e4 \bar "|" d4 d4 c2 \bar "|." } \addlyrics { A B C D E F G, H I J K L M N O P, Q R S, T U V, W X, Y and Z. Now I know my A B Cs. Next time, won't you sing with me? } Lyrics for the alternate Zed version: (each line represents two measures or eight beats) :A, B, C, D, E, F, G... () :H, I, J, K, L, M, N... () :O, P, Q, R, S, T, U... () :V, W... X, Y and(/&) Z. (; W lasts for two beats) :Now I know my ABCs. :''Next time, won't you sing with me?'' { \time 4/4 c'4 c' g' g' | a' a' g'2 | f'4 f' e' e' | d' d' c'2 | g'4 g' f' f' | e' e' d'2 | g'4 \times 2/3 { f'8 f' f' } e'4 d' | c' r r2 | \bar "|." } \addlyrics { A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V dub- a- U X Y "Z(ed)" } :a-b-c-d-e-f-g :h-i-j-k-l-m-n :o-p-q-r-s-t-u :v-w-x-y-z(ed) This version does not have a closing line, and the tune is modified accordingly. The W is not lengthened in this version. Backwards alphabet Several versions exist covering the alphabet backward, i.e., Z to A. One version is shown below. :z-y-x and(/&) w :v-u-t, s-r-q :p-o-n-m-l-k-j :i-h-g-f-e-d-c-b-a :Now you know your ZYXs :''I bet that's not what you expected!'' The e-d-c-b-a part is as fast as the l-m-n-o-p part in the normal alphabet song. Versions for other languages The same melody used for "The ABC Song" has also been used for the Spanish, German, French, and Arabic alphabets. A French-language version of the song is also taught in Canada, with generally no alterations to the melody except in the final line that requires adjustment to accommodate the two-syllable pronunciation of the French y. == See also ==