Version 1 - Chant
Lyrics
(Traditional chant)
Engine, engine number nine
Going down Chicago line
See it sparkle, see it shine
Engine, engine number nine
Lyrics
(Folk song)
Engine, engine number nine,
Going down Chicago line,
If she’s polished, won’t she shine?
Engine, engine number nine,
All aboard!
Recorder Notes G, A, B, D'
See also
- Country: Midwestern States (US)
- Subject: trains
- Type: chant
- Form: AB (see below)
- Harmony: ostinati
- Melody: G,A,B,D’
- Meter: 2
- Rhythm:
/ 
/ 
(see below) / steady beat - Scale: tetratonic
- Tones: drms
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3 thoughts on “Engine Engine Number Nine”
Do we know the history of this songs origin ?
I don’t know the history of the song.
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Origins & Cultural Context
Traditional Counting-Out Rhyme & Jump-Rope Chant
“Engine, Engine, Number Nine” is a classic U.S. counting-out chant—used by children to determine who’s “it” during games like tag or jump rope. Its simple, rhythmic phrasing lends itself naturally to movement and play.
Numerous Versions Across Regions
Popular versions include:
“Going down Chicago line… Will I get my money back?”
“Running on the Chicago Line… see it sparkle, see it shine…”
Even localized variants like “Mumbai line” appear in India.
In short, “Engine, Engine, Number Nine” began as a simple, rhythmic rhyme in children’s oral tradition. Its enduring appeal lies in its versatility—from playful chant to musical adaptation and thematic exploration in later songs.