Ten Little Indians

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Ten Little Indians is a children's counting rhyme. The term "Indians" in this sense is referring to American Indians. In 1868 (estimated), American songwriter Septimus Winner adapted the verse for a song, titling it “Ten Little Injuns.”[1] It was then adapted in 1869 by Frank J. Green as Ten Little Niggers and became a standard of the blackface minstrel shows in England and America. Over time, the N-word was deemed insensitive and changed back to Indians, then to soldiers, then teddy bears, then bunnies, and lately as bunnies dressed as Indians. [2]

Modern Lyrics

The modern lyrics for the children's rhyme are:

One little, two little, three little Indians

Four little, five little, six little Indians

Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians

Ten little Indian boys.

Ten little, nine little, eight little Indians

Seven little, six little, five little Indians

Four little, three little, two little Indians

One little Indian boy.

Original version

Ten little Indians standin' in a line,

One toddled home and then there were nine;

Nine little Indians swingin' on a gate,

One tumbled off and then there were eight.

Eight little Indians gayest under heav'n.

One went to sleep and then there were seven;

Seven little Indians cuttin' up their tricks,

One broke his neck and then there were six.

Six little Indians all alive,

One kicked the bucket and then there were five;

Five little Indians on a cellar door,

One tumbled in and then there were four.

Four little Indians up on a spree,

One got fuddled and then there were three;

Three little Indians out on a canoe,

One tumbled overboard and then there were two

Two little Indians foolin' with a gun,

One shot t'other and then there was one;

One little Indian livin' all alone,

He got married and then there were none.

Controversy

References