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Ten Little Injuns (1864)
by Septimus Winner

Ten Little Injuns

Medium: nursery rhyme

Publication date: 1864

Publisher: unknown
Written by: Septimus Winner

Roud Folk Song Index Number: 13512


1 characters in this story:

Character
(Click links for info about character
and his/her religious practice, affiliation, etc.)
Religious
Affiliation
Team(s)
[Notes]
Pub. #
app.
Ten Little Indians Ten Little Indians
(lead character)
supporting character group
CBR Scale: D Native American religion
Native American Peter Pan Records Universal Studios 4

The original version of "Ten Little Indians" was called "Ten Little Injuns" and was written by Septimus Winner in 1864 for a party the Winners threw for neighborhood children. The song was so well received that Winner was persuaded to publish it, which he did in 1868.

The original published words, which differ somewhat from the modern version known today, are as follows:

Ten little Injuns standin' in a line,
One toddled home and then there were nine;

Nine little Injuns swingin' on a gate,
One tumbled off and then there were eight.

Eight little Injuns gayest under heav'n.
One went to sleep and then there were seven;

Seven little Injuns cuttin' up their tricks,
One broke his neck and then there were six.

Six little Injuns all alive,
One kicked the bucket and then there were five;

Five little Injuns on a cellar door,
One tumbled in and then there were four.

Four little Injuns up on a spree,
One got fuddled and then there were three;

Three little Injuns out on a canoe,
One tumbled overboard and then there were two.

Two little Injuns foolin' with a gun,
One shot t'other and then there was one;

One little Injun livin' all alone,
He got married and then there were none.