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A cherished memory from countless childhoods, 'The Itsy Bitsy Spider' recounts the tale of a spider's relentless climb up a waterspout, only to be swept away by rain, and its triumphant return once the sun reappears. The song is often accompanied by playful hand gestures that bring its simple yet engaging narrative to life:
“The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the waterspout.Down came the rainAnd washed the spider out.Out came the sunAnd dried up all the rainAnd the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.”
But where did this iconic rhyme originate? Some theories suggest a darker undertone, with one interpretation linking it to a song titled 'Tipsy Dipsy Hobo,' which allegedly warned of the perils of drunkenly attempting to board trains. However, no credible evidence supports this claim, nor any other theories about hidden meanings. The true author remains unknown, and the earliest documented references to the rhyme only emerge in the early 1900s.
Tracing the Roots—and Transformation—of 'The Itsy Bitsy Spider'
Although the rhyme is widely recognized today as 'The Itsy Bitsy Spider' (particularly in the United States—more details to follow), its earlier iteration bore a more generic name. The song appears in Arthur Walbridge North’s 1910 publication, Camp and Camino in Lower California, offering a glimpse into its transformation over time. North labels it as 'that classic, the ‘Spider Song,’' and provides the following lyrics:
“Oh, the blooming, bloody spider went up the water spout,The blooming, bloody rain came down and washed the spider out,The blooming, bloody sun came out and dried up all the rain,And the blooming, bloody spider came up the spout again.”
This version, believed to be the earliest printed form of the rhyme, differs significantly from today’s rendition. The inclusion of the terms bloody and blooming (the former often deemed inappropriate) suggests it was originally intended for a more mature audience. North’s reference to it as a 'classic' hints at its long-standing popularity even before its inclusion in his book. Interestingly, spiders weren’t the sole focus; a 1913 Collier’s article referenced a 'deathless Cockney lyric' featuring a 'bloody sparrow' residing in a 'blooming spout,' washed away by a 'bloody blooming rain.'
By the mid-1900s, 'The Itsy Bitsy Spider' had firmly transitioned into a children’s rhyme. In 1948, Ruth Crawford Seeger released American Folk Songs for Children, which included the rhyme under the title 'Eency Weency Spider,' complete with musical notation. That same year, Western Folklore featured it as 'The Eenzy Weenzy Spider' in an article titled 'Children’s Rhymes With Gestures,' solidifying its place in children’s literature.
LYRICS | GESTURES |
|---|---|
Eenzy, weenzy spider | Raise arms [...] |
Went up the waterspout. | [...] alternating thumb and index fingers of opposite hands. |
Down comes the rain | Bring both hands down. |
And washes spider out. | Then to right side. |
Up comes the sun | Bring both hands up. |
And drives away the rain. | Then to right side. |
Eenzy, weenzy spider, etc. | Commence action again. |
The Global Reach of 'The Itsy Bitsy Spider'
The enduring appeal of 'The Itsy Bitsy Spider' has led to its widespread adoption, with numerous variations now existing across the globe.
In the UK and Australia, the rhyme is commonly referred to as 'Incy Wincy Spider' (incy-wincy being a variation of eensy-weensy, which signifies 'extremely small,' as noted by the Oxford English Dictionary). It is taught in UK schools under this name. The British version occasionally replaces 'washed the spider out' with 'washed poor Incy out,' introducing a touch of empathy for the spider’s struggles [PDF].
In the Philippines, the song is titled 'Ang gagmay nga lawa' ('The Small Spiders'), where the spiders ascend a branch before being drenched by rain. The French rendition, 'L’araignée Gypsy' ('The Gypsy Spider'), depicts the spider falling to the ground ('Gypsy tombe par terre') during the rain and dozing off when the sun emerges ('L’araignée Gypsy s’est endormie'). In the Netherlands, the song features a beetle scaling the waterspout, while in Finland, the word for spider, hämä-hämä-häkki, is repeated, translating roughly to 'Spi-spi-der.' In Norway, the spider is given a name: Peter.
The Cultural Impact of 'The Itsy Bitsy Spider'
The influence of 'The Itsy Bitsy Spider' has also permeated pop culture. It has been performed by notable artists such as Carly Simon (on her album Coming Around Again), Little Richard (on the Disney record For Our Children), and Aqua (who recorded it under the name Joyspeed).
The melody also made an appearance in Jordan Peele’s 2019 movie Us, where the main character, Adelaide, is seen whistling the tune while navigating a funhouse mirror maze. The repetition of the song later in the film plays a pivotal role in a significant character moment for her.
