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The A.B.C. /ˌeɪˌbiːˈsiː/ or A.B.Cs /ˌeɪˌbiːˈsiːz/ is one of the best-known English language alphabet songs, and perhaps the one most frequently referred to as the alphabet song, especially in the United States.\r
Music for the alphabet song including some common variations on the lyrics\r
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The song was first copyrighted in 1835 by the Boston-based music publisher Charles Bradlee, and given the title The A.B.C., a German air with variations for the flute with an easy accompaniment for the piano forte. The musical arrangement was attributed to Louis Le Maire (sometimes Lemaire), an 18th-century composer. This was Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1835, by C. Bradlee, in the clerks office of the District Court of Massachusetts, according to the Newberry Library,[1] which also says, The theme is that used by Mozart for his piano variations, Ah, vous dirai-je, maman.[2] This tune is the same as the tune for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.\r
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Lyrics: (each line represents two measures, or eight beats) A-B-C-D-E-F-G, (/eɪ biː siː diː iː ɛf dʒiː,/) H-I-J-K-LMNO-P, (/(h)eɪtʃ aɪ dʒeɪ keɪ ɛlɛmɛnoʊ piː,/ l-m-n-o spoken twice as quickly as rest of rhyme) Q-R-S; T-U-V, (/kjuː ɑr ɛs, tiː juː viː,/ pause between s and t) W; X; Y and Z! (/dʌbɨjuː, ɛks, waɪ ænd ziː,/ pause between x y, w and x last for two beats) Now I know my ABCs; (/naʊ aɪ noʊ maɪ eɪ biː siːz,/) Next time wont you sing with me? (/nɛkst taɪm woʊnt juː sɪŋ wɪθ miː/).[3]\r
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Zed for Zee\r
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In the United States, Z is pronounced zee; in most other English-speaking countries it is pronounced zed. Generally, the absent zee-rhyme is not missed, although some children use a zee pronunciation in the rhyme which they would not use elsewhere. Variants of the song exist to accommodate the zed pronunciation. One variation shortens the second line and lengthens the last, to form a near-rhyme between N and zed: a-b-c-d-e-f-g h-i-j-k-lmnop q-r-s t-u-v w, x y z Now I know my ABCs, Next time wont you sing with me.\r
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In UK (Nursery Rhymes): a-b-c-d-e-f-g h-i-j-k-lmnop q-r-s t-u-v w, x and y and z Now I know my ABCs, Next time wont you sing with me\r
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Other variants make significantly more changes in order to rhyme with zed, and even alter the rest of the song to fit a new rhythm. For example: a-b-c-d-e-f-g h-i-j-k-lmnop lmnop-q-r-s-t u-v-w, x-y-z x-y-z Sugar on your bread Eat it all up Before you are dead.\r
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Phonics songs\r
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Because the English language has 40 sounds and only 26 letters, children and beginning readers also need to learn the different sounds (phonemes) associated with each letter. Many songs have been written to teach phonemic awareness and they are usually referred to as alphabet songs.\r
Acrostic songs\r
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There are also songs that go through the alphabet, making each letter stand for something in the process. An example was recorded in 1948, by Buddy Kaye, Fred Wise, Sidney Lippman, and later Perry Como, called A, Youre Adorable (also known as The Alphabet Love Song): A, youre adorable B, youre so beautiful C, youre a cutie full of charms D, youre a darling And E, youre exciting And F, youre a feather in my arms G, you look good to me H, youre so heavenly I, youre the one I idolize J, were like Jack and Jill K, youre so kissable L, is the love light in your eyes M, N, O, P I could go on all day Q, R, S, T Alphabetically speaking: Youre OK U, made my life complete V, means youre very sweet W, X, Y, Z Its fun to wander through the alphabet with you to tell you what you mean to me\r
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Backwards song (Verse 2)\r
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The group Wee Sing released an alphabet song with the letters in reverse order.[citation needed] It is called ZYXs. It goes as follows: Z-Y-X-W-V-and-U-- T-and-S-and-R-and-Q-- P-O-N-M-L-K-J--, I-H-G-F-EDCBA-- (EDCBA said like LMNOP in alphabet song) Now I know my CBAs Next time wont you lead the way\r
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Another version ends with Now I know my ZYXs, lets all go and walk to Texas.\r
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The Canadian childrens TV series The Big Comfy Couch used a version of the song in the episode Backwards.[citation needed]\r
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Comedian Soupy Sales released a song in 1966 called Backwards Alphabet which contained the reverse alphabet in lyrical style.[citation needed]
