This study considered the songs currently in use in Gaelic groups for 0-3 year olds in Scotland, whilst investigating how practitioners use them in the groups. In this article, I argue that Gaelic Early Years practitioners insufficiently understand the potential of song in relation to Gaelic language acquisition with young children and their families. Although it is common practice to integrate Gaelic translations of popular English children's songs into Gaelic playgroups, these songs often distort and misrepresent the Gaelic language's rhythms and grammar. With the connected aspects of phrasing, inflexion and rhythm, music and language are closely related. Shared singing activities hold great potential in advancing young children's growing linguistic skills in first and additional language acquisition. Maximising the benefit, however, requires a highly skilled, knowledgeable and responsive practitioner base and a clearly developed teaching strategy.