The English lyrics were written as a poem by Jane Taylor (1783-1824) and published with the title "The Star" in Rhymes for the Nursery by Jane and her sister Ann Taylor (1782-1866) in London in 1806:

The lyrics were first published with the tune "Ah! vous dirai-je, maman" in The Singing Master: First Class Tune Book in 1838. When sung, the first two lines of the entire poem are repeated as a refrain after each