Have you ever heard of Dem Bones? If not, we are here with all that you would like to know about a fun teaching song.
Dem Bones is a well-known song for children. One can say that it is also the first anatomy lesson that small children receive on the nursery carpet. More like a halloween song, it is a powerhouse of energy for the kids. And, the fun part of the song is the lyrics.
The rhyming terms and amazing melody act as catalysts. Words like knee bone, hip bone, and thigh bone, make the children laugh and giggle and make it easy for them to be a part of active learning.
Scroll down to find the lyrics and more details.
Written Lyrics
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,
Now shake dem skeleton bones!
The toe bone's connected to the foot bone,
The foot bone's connected to the ankle bone,
The ankle bone's connected to the leg bone,
Now shake dem skeleton bones!
The leg bone's connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone's connected to the thigh bone,
The thigh bone's connected to the hip bone,
Now shake dem skeleton bones!
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,
Now shake dem skeleton bones!
The hip bone's connected to the back bone
The back bone's connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone's connected to the head bone,
Now shake dem skeleton bones!
The finger bone's connected to the hand bone,
The hand bone's connected to the arm bone,
The arm bone's connected to the shoulder bone,
Now shake dem skeleton bones!
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk around
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk around
Now shake dem skeleton bones!
Printable Lyrics
Check out the printable lyrics. Click here to download.
Photo Lyrics
Video Links
Click on the following links to directly access Dem Bones videos with subtitles and informative graphics for easy understanding:
Origin & History
The older version of Dem Bones was recorded in 1928 by the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Another rendition is called ‘Dry Bones,’ which is often found as a title in the modern versions. The melody was written by the African-American author & composer James Weldon Johnson in the 1920s.
The main purpose was to offer some motivation to the Old Testament tale of Ezekiel when spirituality was at the highest among black Americans. It is said that the prophet Ezekiel used to be a young priest when the temple in his hometown, Jerusalem, was reduced to rubble by the Babylonians during 587BC.
Ezekiel realized that his people had started losing faith in God for not protecting them. And, then Ezekiel had a vision where dusty skeletons rose from the ground and got covered with flesh and skin.
This is how Dem Bones got its foundation.
FAQs
It is based on the spiritual story from Jerusalem where prophet Ezekiel had a vision of skeletons rising from the ground and turning alive.
Yes, it is a very lively song having musical lyrics, which makes it fun for the kids to improve their auditory and learning skills.
It is sometimes read at funerals anticipating life after death. However, prophet Ezkeil’s vision interpreted that his people will survive.
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