Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is arguably one of the most popular nursery rhymes ever written with its origin dating back to the early 19th Century. The lyrics of the rhyme are from a collection of poems known as Rhymes For the Nursery written by English poet Jane Taylor.
One of the poems in the collection published in 1806 was the Star. Jane wrote the poem with the intention of bringing out the tender affection and love between a mother and child as they marveled at the night sky.
The Star shares the tune with a well-known French song known as Ah! Vous Dirai-Je, Maman, which was first published back in 1761. Music composers like the great Mozart created several variations and improvisations of the French melody in later years so we can assume that Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was as popular then as it is now. The simple tune is one of the most easily recognized ones as it is used by other very popular nursery rhymes such as Baa Baa, Black Sheep.
Today, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is arguably the most famous lullaby, sung in over 100 languages!
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Lyrics
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
How could he see where to go,
If you did not twinkle so?
In the dark blue sky you keep,
Often through my curtains peep
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveler in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Music Sheet
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is one of the first songs kids learn when playing the piano as the familiar tune is quite easy to master. Below you can find both the music sheet and the piano notes for the song. Enjoy playing the tune!