it seems I learned (in N Ireland) a much simplified version of JB3's contribution:
One man went to mow, went to mow a meadow
One man and his dog, went to mow a meadow

Two men went to mow, went to mow a meadow
Two men, one man and his dow, went to mow a meadow

Three men... three men, two men, one man and his dog (etc)

(the pattern reminds me a bit of the Rattling Bog or The Old Woman who swallowed a fly - but those don't count numbers


There were ten in the bed and the little one said "roll over, roll over"
So they all rolled over and one fell out
There were nine in the bed and the little one said:
"Please remeber to tie a know in your pyjamas,
Single beds were only meant for [shouted:]one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,
[sung]Nine in the bed and the little one said...
....there were eight in the bed and the little one said,
"Please remember...single beds were only meant for 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7,
Eight in the bed....