The Little Mother Goose — Background and Themes

Jockey was a piper's son 40

John, come sell thy fiddle 14

Joseph Smith bought a rake 27

Ladies and gentlemen, come to supper 152

Lady bird, lady bird, fly away home 87

Lady-bug, lady-bug 48

Lazy Tom, with jacket blue 53

Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep 16

Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn 8

Little Cock Robin peeped out of his cabin 32

Little drops of water 31

Little girl, little girl, where have you been? 33

Little Jack Horner 100

Little King Boggen he built a fine hall 173

Little lad, little lad 32

Little maid, little maid 50

Little maid, pretty maid 34

Little Miss Donnet 41

Little Miss Muffet 32

Little Nancy Etticote 30

Little Poll Parrot 41

Little Polly Flinders 119

Little Robin Red-breast sat upon a rail 29

Little Tommy Grace 43

Little Tommy Tittlemouse 77

Little Tommy Tucker 99

Love your own, kiss your own 40

Lucy Locket lost her pocket 24

Make three-fourths of a cross 71

Margaret wrote a letter 11

Margery Mutton-pie and Johnny Bopeep 82

Mary had a little lamb 68

Mary had a pretty bird 86

Mary, Mary, quite contrary 73

Merry are the bells 130

Miss Jane had a bag 93

Monday's bairn is fair of face 139

Multiplication is vexation 60

My little old man and I fell out 77

My maid Mary, she minds the dairy 5

My mother, and your mother 71

My pussy-cat has got the gout 129

Nancy Dawson has grown so fine 128

Nose, nose, jolly red nose 108

Now go to sleep, my little son 104

Of all the gay birds that e'er I did see 114

Oh, dear, What can the matter be? Johnny's so long 62

Old Father Grey Beard 40

Old Grimes is dead 128

Old King Cole was a merry old soul 175

Old Mother Hubbard 162

One, he loves; two, he loves 46

One misty, moisty morning 37

One, two, buckle my shoe 51

One, two, three, four, Mary at the cottage door 114

One, two, three, four, five, catching fishes all alive 114

1, 2, 3, 4, 5! I caught a hare alive 67

On Saturday night it shall be my whole care 25

Over the water and under the water 15

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake 2

Pease-porridge hot 4-158

Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater 57

Peter Piper picked a peck 129

Peter White will ne'er go right 165

Phoebe rode a nanny-goat 13

Pickeleem, pickeleem pummis-stone 35

Pit, pat, well-a-day 31

Play, play every day 29

Polly, put the kettle on 13

Polly, Dolly, Kate and Molly 12

Pussy-Cat, pussy-cat, where have you been? 109

Pussy sits beside the fire 37

Rain, rain, go away 65

Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross to see a fine lady 89

Ride a cock-horse to Shrewsbury Cross 44

Riddle-me, riddle-me, riddle-me-ree 91

Ring-a-round-a roses 40

Robert Barnes, fellow fine 94

Robin and Richard were two pretty men 101

Robin the Bobbin, the big-bellied Ben 138

Rock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is green 74

Rosemary green, and lavender blue 44

Rowley Powley, pudding and pie 175

See a pin and pick it up 83

See-saw Jack in the hedge 29

See-saw, Margery Daw, Jacky shall have a new master 101

See-saw, Margery Daw, Jenny shall have a new master 9

See-saw, sacaradown, sacaradown 25

Shoe the horse and shoe the mare 27

Sing a song of sixpence 70

Sing, sing! What shall I sing? 10

Smiling girls, rosy boys 129

Sneeze on Monday, sneeze for danger 157

Some little mice sat in a barn to spin 20

Speak when you're spoken to 137

St. Swithin's Day, if thou dost rain 114

Swan, swam over the sea 107

Taffy was a Welshman 145

Ten little Injuns standing in a line 124

The calf, the goose, the bee 69

The cock's on the housetop blowing his horn 33

The cuckoo's a fine bird 74

The dove says, "Coo, coo, what shall I do?" 6

The girl in the lane, that couldn't speak plain 34

The greedy man is he who sits 45

The King of France went up the hill 7

The lion and the unicorn 174

The man in the moon came tumbling down 121

The man in the moon looked out of the moon 93

The man in the wilderness asked me 92

The North wind doth blow 152

The old woman must stand at the tub 54

The Queen of Hearts 146

The rose is red, the violet is blue 20

The winds they did blow 78

There dwelt an old woman at Exeter 85

There was a crooked man 71

There was a little boy and a little girl 31

There was a little girl who had a little curl 45

There was a little girl who wore a little hood 23

There was a little green house 79

There was a little man and he had a little gun 116

There was a little one-eyed gunner 80

There was a man in our town and he was wondrous wise 63

There was an old crow 29

There was an old woman, and what do you think 28

There was an old woman, as I've heard tell 153

There was an old woman and nothing she had 117

There was an old woman called Nothing-at-all 73

There was an old woman had three cows 44

There was an old woman, her name it was Peg 38

There was an old woman in Surrey 43

There was an old woman lived under a hill, and if she's not gone 19

There was an old woman lived under a hill, she put a mouse in a bag 14

There was an old woman of Harrow, 87

There was an old woman of Leeds, 82

There was an old woman tossed up in a basket 75

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe 88

There was an owl lived in an oak 127

There was a rat for want of stairs 62

There once were two cats of Kilkenny 115

There's a neat little clock 96

There were two blackbirds 52

Thirty days hath September 83

This is the house that Jack built 140

This is the way the ladies ride 126

This little pig went to market 7

This pig went to the barn 115

Three children sliding on the ice 102

Three little kittens they lost their mittens 159

Three wise men of Gotham 71

To market, to market a gallop, a trot 173

To market, to market, to buy a plum cake 22

Tommy Trot, a man of laws 95

Tom, Tom, the Piper's son, he learnt to play when he was young, 20

Tom, Tom, the Piper's son, stole a pig 123

Trip and go, heave and ho 10

Tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee 122

Twinkle, twinkle, little star 120

Up at Piccadilly, oh! 67

Up hill and down dale 67

Upon my word and honor 172

Was ever heard such noise and clamor 60

Wear you a hat, or wear you a crown 52

What do they call you? 73

What God never sees 53

What is the rhyme for porringer 82

When I was a bachelor, I lived by myself 98

When I was taken from the fair body 13

When Jacky's a very good boy 133

When little Fred went to bed 59

When the days begin to lengthen 1

Where are you going, my pretty maid? 72

Whistle, daughter, whistle 38

Who killed Cock Robin? 170

"Will you walk into my parlor?" 110

Willy boy, Willy boy 79

Yankee Doodle went to town 174

Hush-a-bye, baby, on the tree top, When the wind blows, the cradle will rock; When the bough bends, the cradle will fall. Down will come baby, cradle, and all.

Currahoo, curr dhoo, Love me, and I'll love you! [Imitate a Pigeon]

When the days begin to lengthen The cold begins to strengthen.

Cantaloupes! Cantaloupes! What is the price? Eight for a dollar, and all very nice.

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man! Make me a cake as fast as you can: Pat it, and prick it, and mark it with T, And there will be enough for Baby and me.

As I was going to St. Ives, I met a man with seven wives, Every wife had seven sacks, Every sack had seven cats, Every cat had seven kits: Kits, cats, sacks, and wives, How many were there going to St. Ives? [One]

Bye, baby, bunting, Daddy's gone a-hunting, To get a little rabbit skin To wrap his baby bunting in.

As Tommy Snooks and Bessy Brooks Were walking out one Sunday, Says Tommy Snooks to Bessy Brooks, "To-morrow will be Monday."

Bow-wow-wow, Whose dog art thou? Little Tom Tucker's dog, Bow-wow-wow.

Pease-porridge hot, Pease-porridge cold, Pease-porridge in the pot Nine days old. Spell me _that_ in four letters. I will. T-H-A-T.

Ring the bell! Knock at the door! Lift up the latch! And walk in!

Rub-a-dub-dub, Three men in a tub; And who do you think they be? The butcher, the baker, The candlestick-maker; Turn 'em out, knaves all three!

Please to remember The Fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason, and plot; I know no reason Why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.

My maid Mary she minds the dairy, While I go a-hoeing and mowing each morn; Gaily run the reel and the little spinning wheel, While I am singing and mowing my corn.

Poor Dog Bright Ran off with all his might, Because the cat was after him-- Poor Dog Bright!

Poor Cat Fright Ran off with all her might, Because the dog was after her-- Poor Cat Fright!

All of a row, Bend the bow, Shot at a pigeon, And killed a crow.

The cock doth crow, To let you know, If you be well, 'Tis time to rise.

The dove says, "Coo, coo, what shall I do? I can scarce maintain two." "Pooh! pooh!" says the wren; "I have got ten, And keep them all like gentlemen."

This little pig went to market. This little pig stayed home. This little pig had roast meat. This little pig had none. This little pig went to the barn door And cried week, week, for more.

The King of France went up the hill With twenty thousand men; The King of France came down the hill, And ne'er went up again.

Little boy blue, come blow your horn; The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn. Where's the little boy that looks after the sheep? He's under the hay-cock, fast a-sleep. Will you wake him? No, not I; For if I do, he'll be sure to cry.

See saw, Margery Daw, Jenny shall have a new master; She shall have but a penny a-day, Because she can't work any faster.

A duck and a drake, And a halfpenny cake, With a penny to pay the old baker. A hop and a scotch Is another notch, Slitherum, slatherum, take her.

Here stands a post,-- Who put it there? A better man than you: Touch it if you dare?

I'll tell you a story, About John-a-Nory: And now my story's begun. I'll tell you another, About Jack and his brother, And now my story's done.

Toss up my darling, toss him up high, Don't let his head, though, hit the blue sky.

Trip and go, heave and ho! Up and down, to and fro; From the town to the grove, Two and two, let us rove, A-maying, a-playing; Love hath no gainsaying! So merrily trip and go! So merrily trip and go!

Sing, sing!--What shall I sing? The cat's run away with the pudding-bag string!

Great A, little A, This is pancake day; Toss the ball high, Throw the ball low, Those that come after May sing Heigh-ho!

Jack Sprat Had a cat, It had but one ear; It went to buy butter When butter was dear.

Margaret wrote a letter, Sealed it with her finger, Threw it in the dam For the dusty miller.

Dusty was his coat, Dusty was the siller, Dusty was the kiss I'd from the dusty miller.

If I had my pockets Full of gold and siller, I would give it all To _my dusty miller_.

Polly, Dolly, Kate and Molly, All are filled with pride and folly.

Polly tattles, Dolly wriggles, Katy rattles, Molly giggles;

Whoe'er knew such constant rattling, Wriggling, giggling, noise, and tattling.

When I was taken from the fair body, They then cut off my head, And thus my shape was altered. It's I that make peace between King and ring, And many a true lover glad. All this I do, and ten times more, And more I could do still; But nothing can I do Without my guider's will. [A quill pen]

Polly put the kettle on, Susy took it off; Aunt Jemima's little girl Has got the whooping cough.

Phoebe rode a nanny goat, Susy broke her leg, Father took his wedding coat And hung it on a peg.

There was an old woman Lived under a hill; She put a mouse in a bag, And sent it to the mill.

The miller declar'd By the point of his knife, He never took toll Of a mouse in his life.

"John, come sell thy fiddle, And buy thy wife a gown." "No, I'll not sell my fiddle, For ne'er a wife in town."

Ding, dong, bell, Pussy's in the well! Who put her in? Little Johnny Green; Who pulled her out, Big Tom Stout; What a naughty boy was that To try and drown poor pussy cat, Who never did any harm, And killed the mice in his father's barn.

As I was going up Pippen Hill, Pippen Hill was dirty; There I met a pretty Miss, And she dropped me a curtsy.

Little Miss, pretty Miss, Blessing light upon you; If I had half a crown a-day, I'd spend it all upon you.

Over the water, And under the water, And always with its head down. [Icicle]

Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, And can't tell where to find them; Let them alone, and they'll come home, And bring their tails behind them.

Little Bo-Peep fell fast asleep And dreamt she heard them bleating: But when she awoke she found it a joke, For still they all were fleeting.

Then up she took her little crook, Determined for to find them; She found 'em indeed, but it made her heart bleed, For they'd left their tails behind 'em.

It happened one day, as Bo-Peep did stray Unto a meadow hard by, There she espied their tails, side by side, All hung on a tree to dry.

Higher than a house, higher than a tree, Oh, whatever can it be? [A Star]

The two gray kits And the gray kits' mother All went over The bridge together. The bridge broke down, They all fell in; May the rats go with you, Says Tom Robin.

Elsie Marley has grown so fine, She won't get up to serve the swine; But lies in bed till eight or nine, And surely she does take her time.

[Game on a child's features]

Here sits the Lord Mayor _forehead_ Here sit his two men _eyes_ Here sits the cock _right cheek_ Here sits the hen _left cheek_ Here sit the little chickens _top of nose_ Here they run in _mouth_ Chinchopper, chinchopper, Chinchopper, chin! _chuck the chin_

There was an old woman she lived under a hill, And if she's not gone, she lives there still. Baked apples she sold, and cranberry pies, And she's the old woman that never told lies.

The rose is red, the violet is blue, The gillyflower is sweet and so are you: These are the words you bade me say For a pair of new gloves on Easter-day.

Tom, Tom, the piper's son, He learnt to play when he was young. He with his pipe made such a noise, That he pleased all the girls and boys.

Some little mice sat in a barn to spin, Pussy came by, and she popped her head in; "Shall I come in and cut your threads off?" "Oh, no, kind sir, you will snap our heads off."

Cock crows in the morn, To tell us to rise. And he who lies late Will never be wise:

For early to bed, And early to rise, Is the way to be healthy And wealthy and wise.

Ding, dong, darrow, The cat and the sparrow; The little dog has burnt his tail, And he shall be hanged to-morrow.

To market, to market, to buy a plum cake, Home again, home again, market is late; To market, to market, to buy a plum bun, Home again, home again, market is done.

There was a little girl who wore a little hood, And a curl down the middle of her forehead; When she was good, she was very, very good, But when she was bad, she was horrid.

Bryan O'Lin had no breeches to wear, So he bought him a sheepskin and made him a pair. With the skinny side out, and the woolly side in, "Ah, ha, that is warm!" said Bryan O'Lin.

Dogs in the garden, catch 'em, Towser; Cows in the cornfield, run, boys, run; Cats in the cream-pot, run, girls, run, girls; Fire on the mountains, run, boys, run.

Lucy Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it: Not a penny in it, But a ribbon 'round it.

See-saw, sacaradown, sacaradown. Which is the way to London town? One foot up, and the other foot down, That is the way to London town.

On Saturday night, it shall be my care To powder my locks and curl my hair. On Sunday morning, my love will come in, When he will marry me with a gold ring.

Daffy-down-dilly has come up to town In a fine petticoat and a green gown.

Baa, baa, black sheep, Have you any wool? Yes, sir, yes, sir, Three bags full:

One for the master, One for the dame, But none for the little boy Who cries in the lane.

Pitty Patty Polt, Shoe the wild colt; Here a nail, And there a nail, Pitty Patty Polt.

As high as a castle, As weak as a wastle; And all the king's horses Cannot pull it down. [Smoke]

Eggs, butter, cheese, bread, Stick, stock, stone, dead. Stick him up, stick him down, Stick him in the old man's crown.

Joseph Smith bought a rake, And sold it for some corn; He lived a week on johnny cake, And now he's dead and gone.

Shoe the horse, and shoe the mare, But let the little colt go bare.

There was an Old Woman, And what do you think? She lived upon nothing but Victuals and drink; And though victuals and drink Were the chief of her diet, This little Old Woman Could never be quiet.

My story's ended, spoon is bended; If you don't like it, Go to the next door, And get it mended.

Come when you're called, Do what you're bid; Shut the door after you, Never be chid.

There was an old crow Sat upon a clod; There's an end of my song, That's odd!

Little Robin Red-breast Sat upon a rail, Needle, naddle, went his head, Wiggle, waggle, went his tail.

Play, play every day, Harry throws his time away. He must work and he must read, And then he'll be a man indeed.

See-saw-Jack in the hedge, Which is the way to London Bridge?

Little Nancy Etticote, In a white petticoat, With a red nose; The longer she stands, The shorter she grows. [A Candle]

A red sky at night Is the shepherd's delight. A red sky in the morning Is the shepherd's warning.

There was a little boy and a little girl Lived in our alley; Says the little boy to the little girl, "Shall I, oh, shall I?" Says the little girl to the little boy, "What shall we do?" Says the little boy to the little girl, "I will kiss you!"

A good child, a good child, As I suppose you be; Never laugh nor smile, At the tickling of your knee.

Little drops of water, Little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean, And the pleasant land.

Made in London, Sold at New York, Stops a bottle, And is a cork.

Pit, pat, well-a-day, Little Robin flew away; Where can little Robin be? Gone into the cherry-tree.

Little Miss Muffet Sat on a tuffet, Eating of curds and whey; There came a spider, And sat down beside her, And frightened Miss Muffet away.

Little lad, little lad, Where wast thou born? Far off in Lancashire, Under a thorn; Where they sup sour milk From a ram's horn.

Hink minx! the old witch winks, The fat begins to fry: There's nobody home but jumping Joan, Father, Mother, and I.

Little Cock Robin peeped out of his cabin To see the cold winter come in. Tit for tat, what matter for that? He'll hide his head under his wing!

Little girl, little girl, where have you been? Gathering roses to give to the queen. Little girl, little girl, what gave she you? She gave me a diamond as big as my shoe.

The cock's on the housetop blowing his horn; The bull's in the barn a-threshing of corn; The maids in the meadows are making of hay; The ducks in the river are swimming away.

"Little maid, pretty maid, whither goest thou?" "Down in the forest to milk my cow." "Shall I go with thee?" "No, not now; When I send for thee, then come thou."

The girl in the lane, that couldn't speak plain, Cried, "Gobble, gobble, gobble:" The man on the hill, that couldn't stand still, Went hobble, hobble, hobble.