Thanksgiving Poetry and Songs
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There are some beautiful verses of Thanksgiving poetry and songs.
One of the most famous is perhaps this Thanksgiving traditional song:
Over the River and Through the Woods
Over the river and through the woods
To Grandmother's house we go.
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
Through the white and drifted snow.
Over the river and through the wood -
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes and bites the nose
As over the ground we go.
Over the river and through the woods
To have a first rate play.
Hear the bells ring ting-a-ling-ling!
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!
Over the river and through the woods
Trot fast, my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground like a hunting hound
For this is Thanksgiving Day.
Over the river and through the woods
And straight through the barnyard gate.
We seem to go extremely slow
It is so hard to wait!
Over the river and through the woods
Now Grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!
The basis for this popular Thanksgiving song was the Thanksgiving poem by Lydia Maria Child and was first published in 1844. It is included here to give you this Thanksgiving poetry and songs list a version of both so you can compare! The poem reads as:
A Boy's Thanksgiving Day
By Lydia Maria Francis Child
Over the river, and through the wood
to Grandfather’s house we go;
the horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
through the white and drifted snow.
Over the river, and through the wood
to Grandfather’s house away!
We would not stop for doll or top,
for ’tis Thanksgiving Day.
Over the river, and through the wood
oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes and bites the nose,
as over the ground we go.
Over the river, and through the wood
with a clear blue winter sky,
The dogs do bark and the children hark,
as we go jingling by.
Over the river, and through the wood
to have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring, “Ting a ling ding!”
Hurray for Thanskgiving Day!
Over the river, and through the wood
no matter for winds that blow;
Or if we get the sleigh upset
into a bank of snow.
Over the river, and through the wood
to see little John and Ann;
We will kiss them all, and play snowball
and stay as long as we can.
Over the river, and through the wood
trot fast my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound!
For ’tis Thanksgiving Day.
Over the river, and through the wood
and straight through the barnyard gate.
We seem to go extremely slow
it is so hard to wait!
Over the river, and through the wood
Old Jowler hears our bells;
He shakes his paw with a loud bow-wow,
and thus the news he tells.
Over the river, and through the wood
when Grandmother sees us come,
She will say, “O, dear, the children are here,
bring pie for everyone.”
Over the river, and through the wood
now Grandmother’s cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!
Another famous song that made our Thanksgiving poetry and songs list is the Turkey in the Straw:
Turkey in the Straw
As I was going on down the road
With a tired team and a heavy load
I cracked my whip and the leader sprung
I says day-day to the wagon tongue
Turkey in the straw turkey in the straw
Roll 'em up and twist 'em up a high tuck a-haw
And hit 'em up a tune called
Turkey in the Straw
Went out to milk and I didn't know how
I milked the goat instead of the cow
A monkey sitting on a pile of straw
A winking at his mother-in-law
Turkey in the straw turkey in the straw
Roll 'em up and twist 'em up a high tuck a-haw
And hit 'em up a tune called
Turkey in the Straw
I came to the river and I couldn't get across
So I paid five dollars for a big bay hoss
Well, he wouldn't go ahead and he wouldn't stand still
So he went up and down like an old saw mill
Turkey in the straw turkey in the straw
Roll 'em up and twist 'em up a high tuck a-haw
And hit 'em up a tune called
Turkey in the Straw
Did you ever go fishing on a warm summer day
When all the fish were swimming in the bay
With their hands in their pockets and their pockets in their pants
Did you ever see a fishie do the hootchy kootchy dance?
Turkey in the straw turkey in the straw
Roll 'em up and twist 'em up a high tuck a-haw
And hit 'em up a tune called
Turkey in the Straw
A link for fun Thanksgiving poetry and songs for preschoolers is preschooleducation.com. Here you’ll find versus of Thanksgiving poetry and songs written for well-known children’s melodies.
More Favorite Thanksgiving Poetry and Songs:
Thanksgiving
Anonymous
The year has turned its circle,
The seasons come and go.
The harvest all is gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.
Orchards have shared their treasures,
The fields, their yellow grain,
So open wide the doorway -
Thanksgiving comes again!
Giving Thanks
Anonymous
For the hay and the corn and wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song, and the harvest brought home —
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!
For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
for the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought —
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!
For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well deserved rest,
for our country extending from sea to sea,
The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" —
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Day
by Henry Alford
Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of Harvest home
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied;
Come to God's own temple, come;
Raise the song of Harvest home!
What is earth but God's own field,
Fruit unto his praise to yield?
Wheat and tares therein are sown,
Unto joy or sorrow grown;
Ripening with a wondrous power,
Till the final Harvest-hour:
Grant, O Lord of life, that we
Holy grain and pure may be.
Come, then, Lord of Mercy, come,
Bid us sing the Harvest-home!
Let thy saints be gathered in!
Free from sorrow, free from sin;
All upon the golden floor
Praising thee forevermore;
Come, with thousand angels, come;
Bid us sing thy Harvest home.
Thanksgiving
Ralph Waldo Emerson
For flowers that bloom about our feet,
Father, we thank Thee.
For tender grass so fresh, so sweet,
Father, we thank Thee.
For the song of bird and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
For blue of stream and blue of sky,
Father, we thank Thee.
For pleasant shade of branches high,
Father, we thank Thee.
For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
For this new morning with its light,
Father, we thank Thee.
For rest and shelter of the night,
Father, we thank Thee
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
For more Thanksgiving poetry and songs, check out a copy of Thanksgiving: Its Origin, Celebration and Significance as Related in Prose and Verse By Robert Haven Schauffler, Published by Moffat, Yard & company, 1907. It is a great volume, full of Thanksgiving poetry and songs!
You'll also find more great Thanksgiving poetry and songs at your local library.
All verses of Thanksgiving poetry and songs included in this page are copyright to their owners.
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