The centuries-old lyrics are often incomprehensible to modern Japanese (especially to children who are singing it), and others can be quite sinister on close analysis.
[citation needed] Like many children's songs around the world, because people are used to them from an early age, they are often oblivious to the real meanings.
See Shichigosan) This particular warabe-uta is sung as part of a traditional game identical to "London Bridge Is Falling Down".
There is a famous warabe uta which is about the small ghost-like dolls which people can see hanging on rainy days.
Teru-teru-bōzu, teru bōzu Ashita tenki ni shite o-kure Sore de mo kumotte naitetara Sonata no kubi wo chon to kiru zo Translation: Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu Do make tomorrow a sunny day Like the sky in a dream sometime If it's sunny I'll give you a golden bell
雪やこんこ 霰やこんこ 降っても降っても まだ降りやまぬ 犬は喜び 庭駈けまわり 猫は火燵で 丸くなる Romaji: yuki ya konko, arare ya konko futtewa futtewa zunzun tsumoru yama mo nohara mo wataboshi kaburi kareki nokorazu hana ga saku
yuki ya konko, arare ya konko futtemo, futtemo, mada furiyamanu inu wa yorokobi, niwa kakemawari neko wa kotatsu de marukunaru Translation: The snow falls densely, the hail falls densely!