This song is available on Andrew Queen's Music & Movement Volume 2.

In this favourite old chant, the actions get added up on top of each other, getting busier every verse. Once you’ve got the actions down, try singing along at the same time. I’ve heard many different versions of Joe over the years and when I decided to sing it with a melody, I added the line, “And this is what happened to me”. This small change allowed me to fit the existing lyrics into the music I wrote.

Hello! My name is Joe.
I’ve got a wife and a dog and a family.
I go to work in a button factory
And this is what happened to me.
One day my boss came up to me and said,
“Hey Joe! Are you busy?” I said, “No.”
“Then push this button with your right hand.”

Hello! My name is Joe.
I’ve got a wife and a dog and a family.
I go to work in a button factory
And this is what happened to me.
One day my boss came up to me and said,
“Hey Joe! Are you busy?” I said, “No.”
“Then turn this crank with your left hand.”

Hello! My name is Joe.
I’ve got a wife and a dog and a family.
I go to work in a button factory
And this is what happened to me.
One day my boss came up to me and said,
“Hey Joe! Are you busy?” I said, “No.”
“Then push this pedal with your right foot.”

Hello! My name is Joe.
I’ve got a wife and a dog and a family.
I go to work in a button factory
And this is what happened to me.
One day my boss came up to me and said,
“Hey Joe! Are you busy?” I said, “No.”
“Then move this lever with your left knee.”

Hello! My name is Joe...

(Complete lyrics available with download)

See more of our Action, Early Childhood, Silly and Folk Songs.

Many thanks to Andrew Queen for permission to publish these lyrics.
© Andrew Queen. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Action Song Lyrics

Folk Song Lyrics

Early Childhood
Song Lyrics

Exercise & Movement
Music Products