I think everybody who grew up going to Vacation Bible School remembers a few of these songs. Sometimes they’re the music you hear when you wake up and you don’t remember why. They’re old classics I want my own kids to know, and I could never really track them down in one place. That’s why we wrote this blog post.
I remember very little about VBS as a kid. I was a bus kid, going to Bible school as much as my mom could get me out there — that was a small-town culture thing. What stayed with me was that the snacks were good (Kool-Aid and cookies) and the music was fun. I loved the action songs most of all, like “I’m in the Lord’s Army.”
Nobody really owns most of these songs, so they got passed down church to church and changed along the way. The version you sang may not be the version we printed here. I’ve researched back as far as I could to the oldest versions I could verify, but I know I’ve missed some. So leave a comment below — tell me the songs you remember, or the way your church sang the ones that are here. If you’ve got a YouTube link to your favorite version, post it, and I’ll add the good ones to this post as I read through them.
The 22 songs (tap one to jump to it)
- Jesus Loves Me
- This Little Light of Mine
- I’m in the Lord’s Army
- Deep and Wide (video only)
- Father Abraham (video only)
- Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man
- The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock (video only)
- The B-I-B-L-E
- I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart
- He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
- Jesus Loves the Little Children
- Rise and Shine (the Arky Arky Song)
- My God Is So Big (video only)
- If You’re Happy and You Know It (video only)
- O Be Careful Little Eyes (video only)
- Do Lord
- Hallelu, Hallelu (Praise Ye the Lord)
- I’ve Got Peace Like a River
- Give Me Oil in My Lamp (Sing Hosanna) (video only)
- I Am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N (video only)
- Only a Boy Named David (video only)
- Onward, Christian Soldiers
For every song you get where it came from and a recording so you can hear the tune again. For 13 of them you also get the words. Where we print words, we traced them to a hymnal record marked public domain or to the traditional text, so you can copy them for your church. The other 9 are owned or unsettled, so we point you to a recording instead. The recordings are other people’s versions, so a word here and there may differ from ours.
Classic VBS songs with lyrics and videos
1. Jesus Loves Me
Anna B. Warner wrote the words. They first appeared in Say and Seal, a novel she wrote with her sister, in 1860. William Bradbury added the tune and the refrain in 1862. Some hymnals add newer verses. We print only Warner’s.
Jesus loves me, this I know,
for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong;
they are weak, but he is strong.
Refrain:
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me he who died
heaven’s gate to open wide.
He will wash away my sin,
let his little child come in. (Refrain)
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
2. This Little Light of Mine
One of the two I still hear in my head. Nobody knows who wrote it. Harry Dixon Loes often gets the credit, but he never claimed it. Hymnals print the traditional words as public domain.
This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? NO!
I’m gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? NO!
I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Don’t let anyone blow it out,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Don’t let anyone blow it out,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube · Our longer page has the alternate verses and a printable sheet
3. I’m in the Lord’s Army
The action song I loved most as a kid. The motions are half the point: march, ride, aim, fly, salute. Hymnals list the words as traditional and public domain.
I may never march in the infantry,
ride in the cavalry, shoot the artillery;
I may never zoom o’er the enemy,
but I’m in the Lord’s army.
I’m in the Lord’s army.
I’m in the Lord’s army.
I may never march in the infantry,
ride in the cavalry, shoot the artillery;
I may never zoom o’er the enemy,
but I’m in the Lord’s army.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
4. Deep and Wide
Everybody knows this one, and the motions get funnier each time you drop a word and hum instead. We don’t print the words. Two publishers print the song with two different copyright lines, and we couldn’t settle which is right.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
5. Father Abraham
The song that wears out every adult in the room. Right arm, left arm, right foot, left foot, and keep going. We couldn’t document who wrote the church words or when, so we can’t show they are free to print.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
6. Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man
The first verse is traditional, and hymnals mark it that way. A second verse was added in 1980, and that one is owned, so we print only the first.
Zacchaeus was a wee little man,
a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree,
for the Lord he wanted to see.
And as the Savior passed that way,
he looked up in the tree,
(Spoken) and he said, “Zacchaeus, you come down,
for I’m going to your house today,
for I’m going to your house today.”
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
7. The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock
Usually credited to Ann Omley in 1948. Hymnals list the author as unknown, but no source we checked states plainly that the words are public domain. Until one does, we’re not printing them. The rain coming down and the house going splat are the whole show anyway.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
8. The B-I-B-L-E
The author is anonymous and the short original verse is public domain. The longer versions you’ll hear are newer, and some of those are owned.
The B-I-B-L-E,
Yes, that’s the Book for me;
I stand alone on the Word of God:
The B-I-B-L-E.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
9. I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart
A church retreat song for me as a teenager, not just a VBS song. George W. Cooke registered it in 1925. The copyright was never renewed, so it is public domain now.
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart;
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.
I’ve got the peace that passeth understanding,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart;
I’ve got the peace that passeth understanding,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.
I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart;
I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
10. He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
A traditional African-American spiritual. Hymnals mark it public domain. Churches add their own verses, so use your kids’ names.
He’s got the whole world in his hands.
He’s got the whole world in his hands.
He’s got the whole world in his hands.
He’s got the whole world in his hands.
Every verse after that works the same way. Sing the new line three times, then close with “He’s got the whole world in his hands.”
- He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands.
- He’s got the little tiny baby in his hands.
- He’s got you and me, brother, in his hands.
- He’s got you and me, sister, in his hands.
- He’s got everybody here in his hands.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
11. Jesus Loves the Little Children
C. H. Woolston wrote the words. The tune is George F. Root’s Civil War song “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp.” Both are public domain.
We print Woolston’s original words. Many churches now sing a rewritten middle, “Ev’ry color, ev’ry race, all are cover’d by His grace,” and there has been a public argument about the original line for years. We couldn’t find who wrote the rewrite, so we print the original and leave the choice to your church.
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world;
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
12. Rise and Shine (the Arky Arky Song)
This one followed me into youth group. The refrain comes from an older spiritual. Somebody added the Noah verses in the last century, and no author has ever been identified.
The Lord told Noah to build him an arky arky,
The Lord told Noah to build him an arky arky,
Build it out of hickory barky,
Children of the Lord.
Refrain:
So, rise and shine and give God the glory glory,
So, rise and shine and give God the glory glory,
Rise and shine and (clap) give God the glory glory,
Children of the Lord.
The animals, the animals, they came in by two-ey two-ey,
The animals, the animals, they came in by two-ey two-ey,
Elephants and kangaroos-eys,
Children of the Lord. (Refrain)
It rained and poured for forty days-ies days-ies,
Rained and poured for forty days-ies days-ies,
Almost drove those animals crazy-ies,
Children of the Lord. (Refrain)
The sun came out and dried up the land-y land-y,
The sun came out and dried up the land-y land-y,
Everything was fine and dandy dandy,
Children of the Lord. (Refrain)
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube · Our Noah’s Ark song page has a preschool lesson to go with it
13. My God Is So Big
Ruth Harms Calkin wrote it in 1959 and it is still licensed, so we don’t print the words. It is one of the best motion songs for preschoolers.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube · Our My God Is So Big page for preschool
14. If You’re Happy and You Know It
Churches sing it with “say Amen” as the last verse. There is a disputed 1971 copyright registration on a song with this title, so we leave the words off.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
15. O Be Careful Little Eyes
The tune is traditional, but a publisher holds a 1944 copyright on the words.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
16. Do Lord
A nineteenth-century spiritual. The original author is lost. Camps and Bible schools have been singing it for generations.
Do Lord, do Lord, do remember me.
Do Lord, do Lord, do remember me,
Do Lord, do Lord, do remember me,
O do Lord, remember me.
When I’m in trouble, do remember me.
When I’m in trouble, do remember me,
When I’m in trouble, do remember me,
O do Lord, remember me.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
17. Hallelu, Hallelu (Praise Ye the Lord)
The stand-up, sit-down song. Half the room sings “Hallelu” and the other half answers “Praise ye the Lord.” Hymnals mark it traditional and public domain.
Hallelu! Hallelu! Hallelu! Hallelujah!
Praise ye the Lord!
Hallelu! Hallelu! Hallelu! Hallelujah!
Praise ye the Lord!
Praise ye the Lord! Hallelujah!
Praise ye the Lord! Hallelujah!
Praise ye the Lord! Hallelujah!
Praise ye the Lord!
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
18. I’ve Got Peace Like a River
A traditional spiritual, public domain. It works with hand motions for the little ones, and it works sitting still.
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
I’ve got love like the ocean,
I’ve got love like the ocean,
I’ve got love like the ocean in my soul.
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube · Learn the motions: a preschool teacher leads it on our Peace Like a River page
19. Give Me Oil in My Lamp (Sing Hosanna)
One hymnal says anonymous and another shows a 1951 copyright. We couldn’t settle it, so no words here.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
20. I Am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N
The spelling song that gets faster every round. We found no documented author or date anywhere, so we can’t show the words are free to print.
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube
21. Only a Boy Named David
Arthur Arnott wrote it in 1931. By our count the copyright runs out at the end of 2026, and we plan to add the words after that.
Hear it: Good News Guys on YouTube
22. Onward, Christian Soldiers
Not a children’s chorus, but a lot of us sang it at VBS opening assembly. Sabine Baring-Gould wrote the words in 1865 and Arthur Sullivan wrote the tune. Both are long past copyright. If you remember this one, you probably remember the flags too: see the VBS pledges to the Bible, the Christian flag and the American flag.
Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!
Christ, the royal Master,
leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
see his banner go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before!
Like a mighty army
moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
one in charity. (Refrain)
Hear it: Cedarmont Kids on YouTube · There are two more verses. All four are at Hymnary
Why I think these ones stuck
These songs were carried by the lyrics alone. We had a Church of Christ in our town that sang a cappella, and the Baptist church had a music leader with a guitar, and it didn’t matter — the songs worked either way. They were fun, and they were built for everybody to join in.
I also remember “Onward, Christian Soldiers” and “This Little Light of Mine.” I’m wondering now how much those songs shaped my own faith before I ever knew Jesus personally. I think it’s a beautiful thing for kids to have gospel songs, and songs about the Bible and what it means to be a Christian, folded into their memories from a young age.
Some of them carried past childhood, too. “I’ve Got the Joy” and “Rise and Shine” were church retreat songs for me as a teenager.
I like the modern VBS music, and we’ve made some of our own recently for Camp Courage. But I still remember these fondly. They were just part of growing up for kids like me.
Can’t remember the song? Leave the words you do remember
There is a whole category of VBS song that nobody can find. You remember one line, or the motions, and that’s it. People search for years.
We found a blog post from 2007 where readers did this for each other in the comments, on and off, for seven years. Somebody would post a fragment — “How deep is the ocean, how wide is the sky?” — and a stranger would name the song. Credit where it’s due: that thread is Memory Lane: Sunday School Songs at Wyatt’s World, and it is worth a read.
So let’s do it here too. Leave a comment with whatever you’ve got:
- The line you remember, even if it’s three words
- The motions, if there were any
- Roughly what year, and what part of the country
- Your church’s version of a song that’s already on this page
I read these, and other readers can answer too.
One thing worth knowing if you print your own song sheets: “traditional” on a lyrics website is not permission. Even when the old words and melody are free, a newer arrangement, an added verse, the printed sheet music, a recording or a motion video can each be owned by somebody.
Where to get VBS music free
If your church can’t buy a music package this year, you are not stuck. The words we print above are free to sing and copy, and a piano or a guitar or nothing at all will do.
Our team also made a set of new songs for our own VBS, and the videos are free to use on YouTube: the Camp Courage song playlist. The bonus resources page has the craft videos and object lessons alongside them.
More VBS help
- VBS for small churches — six schedules, a six-volunteer plan and a free printable planning pack
- VBS themes through the years — what every publisher ran, by year
- The VBS pledges — the Bible, Christian flag and American flag pledges
- Free Vacation Bible School curriculum — complete programs you can download
- Our favorite worship songs for kids — the video playlist we keep for children’s church
New Sunday School Curriculum: Our Bible lessons are designed to keep the kids’ attention and show how God's Word makes a difference. Every series is flexible enough for a wide-age group and affordable enough for small churches. Download a free Bible lesson in pdf or view our latest Sunday School curriculum for small churches.
