Little Jumping Joan
Here am I, little jumping Joan,
When nobody’s with me
I'm always alone.
Origins
This tiny rhyme first appeared in print in Mother Goose’s Melody (London, c. 1765), one of the earliest English nursery collections. Its survival for more than two centuries shows the power of short, catchy verses to stay in children’s lore. Unlike moralistic rhymes, Little Jumping Joan is pure play — it offers rhythm and nonsense rather than a lesson.
Play and Meaning
The rhyme is built on a tautology: “When nobody’s with me, I’m always alone.” To a child, the joke lies in saying something that is obviously true but still sounds clever. To adults, it can even read as a wry little philosophy of solitude. The name “Jumping Joan” was also used in the 18th and 19th centuries to describe fidgety or restless children. Reciting the verse while hopping or skipping gave it an added physical humor.
Little Jumping Joan remains memorable because of its brevity and bounce. It is a rhyme that children can easily learn in seconds and repeat endlessly, often with movement. Like many early nursery jingles, it endures not through meaning but through rhythm, silliness, and the sheer fun of saying it aloud.
1. A simple retelling
A girl named Jumping Joan says she is alone when no one is with her.
2. The characters
Main character: Jumping Joan
Other characters: None
3. Setting
Not specified
4. Theme
Solitude and playful self-expression.
5. Moral
No clear lesson.
