The Gingerbread Man Run Run

Lyric

Run, run, run, as fast as you can,
You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!

Over the hill and across the land,
Everyone chased, but he ran and ran!

Run, run, run as fast as you can,
You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!
Run, run, run as fast as you can,
Clap your hands if you can!

The fox said “Come, I’ll help you cross,”
But oh no — he was the boss!

Run, run, run as fast as you can…

Run and laugh, run and play,
But be careful every day!

Run, run, run as fast as you can!
You can’t catch me — I’m the Gingerbread Man!

THE STORY

The Gingerbread Man

A little old woman baked a gingerbread man for her husband. When she opened the oven door, to her surprise, the little cake leaped out and ran away. The woman and her husband gave chase, but the Gingerbread Man laughed and cried, “Run, run, as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!” He sped past a cow and a horse, who both joined the pursuit, but he outran them all, tossing his taunting rhyme over his shoulder.

Soon, the Gingerbread Man came to a river, which he could not cross. A sly fox, sitting on the bank, offered to carry him safely to the other side. “Jump on my back,” said the fox, “and I will swim across.” The Gingerbread Man did so, but as the fox swam, the water began to rise. “You are too heavy for my back,” said the fox. “Climb onto my nose so you stay dry.” The Gingerbread Man, eager to escape the water, obliged.

No sooner had the Gingerbread Man scrambled onto the fox’s nose, than the fox tossed his head back, opened his mouth, and snapped up the tasty morsel. And that was the end of the Gingerbread Man, who had outrun everyone, but could not outwit the cunning fox.

With grateful thanks to the original, anonymous storytellers who first created this classic American folktale in the 19th century. It has been passed down through generations and is now a beloved story in the public domain.