Itsy Bitsy Spider

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"Itsy Bitsy Spider" (also known as "Incy Wincy" or "Eency Weency Spider") is a popular nursery rhyme that describes the adventures of a spider as it ascends, descends and reascends the downspout of a gutter system (or, alternatively, the spout of a teapot). It is usually accompanied by a sequence of gestures that mimic the words of the song. The first published version was in 1962, though it is believed to have existed as a folk song before that.[1]

Contents 1 Lyrics 2 Movie 3 In popular culture 4 References

[edit] Lyrics

The lyrics come in various versions:

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout.

Down came the rain, and washed the spider out.

Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain

So the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.

The most common version of the song that most people sing would be:

The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout.

Down came the rain, and washed the spider out.

Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain

And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.

or

Incy wincy spider climbing up the spout.

Down came the rain, and washed poor Incy out.

Out came the sunshine, and dried up all the rain

So Incy wincy spider climbs up the spout again.

Recitation of the rhyme is often combined with actions representing the words. For the first (and last) line, alternately touch the thumb of one hand to the index finger of the other. For "Down came the rain" hold both hands up and wiggle the fingers as you lower the hands. For "washed the spider out" sweep the hands to the side. For the third line bring both hands up and then to the sides to sweep out a semi-circle (the sun).

There is a second, less well-known verse.

Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the tree.

Down came the snow and made poor Incy freeze.

Out came the sunshine, and melted all the snow

So Incy Wincy Spider had another go.

[edit] Movie

The Itsy-Bitsy Spider is also the title of an animated short (later made into a full series) released in 1992 with the movie Bebe's Kids. It featured Frank Welker as the title character, and Jim Carrey as the Exterminator.

Loosely based on the rhyme, the spider in question is the friend of a young girl who's taking piano lessons from a very strict Instructor (incidentially, she's learning to play the actual rhyme). When the Instructor is frightened by itsy, she calls an Exterminator, which uses more and more extreme measures to try to kill Itsy, most of which end up causing pain and destruction to the Instructor's home, cat, and the Exterminator himself, which turns out to be a heavily-armed android. The Exterminator's methods begin to get even more extreme, escalating from poison and vacuums to guns and explosives, until the Instructor's house is eventually blown up. Itsy is finally reunited with the girl (who had the sense to get out of the house before the flamethrowers came out), and they go home.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider was eventually made into an animated series on the USA Network.

[edit] In popular culture

• Bart Simpson sings it to Patty and Selma in The Simpsons episode "Lisa's First Word".
• Nicole Kidman's character in the movie Dead Calm sings it to her son at the beginning of the film.
• The character Cecilia sings it in the movie Dark Water.
• Carly Simon has made a cross-over song between "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and her own "Coming Around Again".
• Ike sings this song for an audition in the episode "Something You Can Do with Your Finger" on South Park.
• The Itsy Bitsy Spider is played by Ben Vereen in the movie Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme.
• Musician Ralph Covert recorded the song for his children's band Ralph's World. The song includes additional verses about the "great big hairy spider" and the "teensy weensy spider".

[edit] References