The Real Mother Goose — Inside the Classic

There was an Old Woman A Thorn The Old Woman of Surrey The Little Mouse Boy and Girl When Sing, Sing London Bridge March Winds The Balloon A Cherry The Lost Shoe Hot Codlins Swan Three Straws The Man of Tobago Ding, Dong, Bell A Sunshiny Shower The Farmer and the Raven Christmas Willy Boy Polly and Sukey The Death and Burial of Poor Cock Robin The Mouse and the Clock Hot-Cross Buns Bobby Shaftoe The Bunch of Blue Ribbons The Woman of Exeter Sneezing Pussy-Cat by the Fire When the Snow Is on the Ground

AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF FIRST LINES

A, B, C, and D About the bush, Willie A carrion crow sat on an oak A diller, a dollar, a ten o'clock scholar! A duck and a drake A farmer went trotting, upon his gray mare A hill full, a hole full A little boy went into a barn A little cock-sparrow sat on a green tree A little old man of Derby A man went a-hunting at Reigate A riddle, a riddle, as I suppose A robin and a robin's son Around the green gravel the grass grows green As I walked by myself As I was going along, along As I was going to Derby all on a market-day As I was going to St. Ives As I was going to sell my eggs As I was going up Pippen Hill As I went through the garden gap As I went to Bonner As little Jenny Wren As round as an apple, as deep as a cup As soft as silk, as white as milk As the days grow longer As Tommy Snooks and Bessy Brooks A sunshiny shower A swarm of bees in May At the siege of Belleisle Away, birds, away!

Baa, baa, black sheep Barber, barber, shave a pig Bat, bat Bell horses, bell horses, what time of day? Bessy Bell and Mary Gray "Billy, Billy, come and play" Birds of a feather flock together Black within and red without Bobby Shaftoe's gone to sea Bow-wow-wow! Burnie bee, burnie bee Buttons, a farthing a pair! Bye, baby bunting

Christmas comes but once a year Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat Clap, clap handies Cock-a-doodle-do! "Cock, cock, cock, cock" Cocks crow in the morn Cold and raw the north wind doth blow Come when you're called Cross patch, draw the latch Cry, baby, cry Curly-locks, Curly-locks, wilt thou be mine? Cushy cow, bonny, let down thy milk

Daffy-down-dilly has come to town Dame Trot and her cat Dance, little Baby, dance up high! Dance, Thumbkin, dance Dance to your daddie Dear, dear! what can the matter be? Dickory, dickory, dare Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John Ding, dong, bell Doctor Foster went to Glo'ster Donkey, donkey, old and gray Doodle doodle doo

Elizabeth, Elspeth, Betsy, and Bess Every lady in this land

Flour of England, fruit of Spain For every evil under the sun For want of a nail, the shoe was lost Four and Twenty tailors Friday nights dream, on Saturday told

Georgy Porgy, pudding and pie Girls and boys, come out to play Goosey, goosey, gander Great A, little a Great A, little a

Handy Pandy, Jack-a-dandy Hark, hark! the dogs do bark! Hector Protector was dressed all in green Here am I, little jumping Joan Here goes my lord Here sits the Lord Mayor Here's Sulky Sue Here we go round the mulberry bush Hey, diddle, diddle! Hey diddle dinkety poppety pet Hey, my kitten, my kitten Hick-a-more, Hack-a-more Hickery, dickery, 6 and 7 Hickety, pickety, my black hen Hickory, dickory, dock! High diddle doubt, my candle's out Higher than a house, higher than a tree Hot-cross Buns! How many days has my baby to play? How many miles is it to Babylon? Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall Hush-a-bye, baby Hush-a-bye, baby, lie still with thy daddy Hush-a-bye, baby, on the tree top! Hush, baby, my dolly, I pray you don't cry

"I am a gold lock" I do not like thee, Doctor Fell If all the seas were one sea If all the world were apple pie If I'd as much money as I could spend If I'd as much money as I could tell If wishes were horses, beggars would ride If you are to be a gentleman If you sneeze on Monday, you sneeze for danger I had a little boy I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen I had a little hobby-horse I had a little husband no bigger than my thumb I had a little moppet I had a little pony I had two pigeons bright and gay I have seen you, little mouse I like little Pussy I'll tell you a story I love sixpence, a jolly, jolly sixpence In a cottage in Fife Intery, mintery, cutery corn I saw a ship a-sailing Is John Smith within? I went to the wood and got it "I went up one pair of stairs" I won't be my father's Jack

Jack and Jill went up the hill Jack be nimble, Jack be quick Jack Sprat "Jacky, come and give me thy fiddle" Jerry Hall, he was so small Johnny shall have a new bonnet

Ladies and gentlemen come to supper Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home! Leg over leg "Lend me thy mare to ride a mile" Little Betty Blue Little Bobby Snooks was fond of his books Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep Little Boy Blue, come, blow your horn! "Little girl, little girl, where have you been?" Little Jack Horner Little Jack Jelf Little Jack Jingle Little Jenny Wren fell sick Little King Boggen, he built a fine hall "Little maid, pretty maid, whither goest thou?" Little Miss Muffet Little Nanny Etticoat Little Polly Flinders Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree Little Tommy Tittlemouse Little Tom Tucker Lives in winter London Bridge is broken down Long legs, crooked thighs Lucy Locket lost her pocket

March winds and April showers Margaret wrote a letter Mary had a pretty bird Mary, Mary, quite contrary Master I have, and I am his man Mister East gave a feast Molly, my sister and I fell out Monday's child is fair of face Multiplication is vexation My little old man and I fell out My maid Mary she minds the dairy

Nancy Dawson was so fine Needles and pins, needles and pins

Oh, dear, what can the matter be? Oh, my pretty cock, oh, my handsome cock Old Grimes is dead, that good old man Old King Cole Old Mother Goose, when Old Mother Hubbard Old Mother Twitchett had but one eye "Old woman, old woman, shall we go a-shearing?" Once I saw a little bird One, he loves; two, he loves One misty moisty morning One, two, buckle my shoe One, two, three, four, five 1,2,3,4,5! On Saturday night Over the water Over the water, and over the sea

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake Pease porridge hot Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers Piping hot, smoking hot Polly, put the kettle on Poor old Robinson Crusoe! Pretty John Watts Pussy-cat ate the dumplings, the dumplings Pussy-cat Mew jumped over a coal "Pussy-cat, pussy-cat" Pussy-cat sits by the fire

Rain, rain, go away Rain, rain, go to Spain Read my riddle, I pray Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross Ride away, ride away Ring a ring o' roses "Robert Barnes, my fellow fine" Robin-a-Bobbin Robin and Richard were two pretty men Robin Hood, Robin Hood Rock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is green

Saw ye aught of my love a-coming from the market? See a pin and pick it up See-saw, Margery Daw See, see! What shall I see? Shoe the colt Simple Simon met a pieman Sing a song of sixpence Sing, sing, what shall I sing? Sleep, baby, sleep Solomon Grundy Swan, swan, over the sea

Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief The cock's on the housetop blowing his horn The dove says coo, coo, what shall I do? The fair maid who, the first of May The girl in the lane, that couldn't speak plain The greedy man is he who sits The hart he love's the high wood The King of France went up the hill The little robin grieves The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown The Man in the Moon came tumbling down The Man in the Moon looked out of the moon The man in the wilderness The north wind doth blow The Queen of Hearts There came an old woman from France There dwelt an old woman at Exeter There's a neat little clock There was a crooked man, and he went a crooked mile There was a fat man of Bombay There was a little boy and a little girl There was a little girl who had a little curl There was a little man There was a little man, and he had a little gun There was a little woman, as I've been told There was a man and he had naught There was a man in our town There was an old man There was an old man of Tobago There was an old woman There was an old woman, and what do you think? There was an old woman, as I've heard tell There was an old woman had three sons There was an old woman in Surrey There was an old woman of Gloucester There was an old woman of Harrow There was an old woman of Leeds There was an old woman sat spinning There was an old woman tossed in a basket There was an old woman who lived in a shoe There was a piper had a cow There were once two cats of Kilkenny There were two birds sat on a stone The two gray kits Thirty days hath September Thirty white horses upon a red hill This is the house that Jack built This is the way the ladies ride This little pig went to market Three blind mice! See how they run! Three children sliding on the ice Three straws on a staff Three wise men of Gotham "To bed! To bed" To make your candles last for aye To market, to market, to buy a fat pig Tommy's tears and Mary's fears Tom, Tom, the piper's son Trip upon trenchers 'Twas once upon a time, when Jenny Wren was young Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee Twelve pairs hanging high

Up at Piccadilly, oh!

Wee Willie Winkle runs through the town What are little boys made of, made of? "What is the news of the day" What is the rhyme for porringer? When I was a bachelor When I was a little girl, about seven years old When little Fred went to bed "Where are you going, my pretty maid?" "Whistle, daughter, whistle" Who killed Cock Robin? "Willy boy, Willy boy, where are you going?" Willy, Willy Wilkin

Young Roger came tapping at Dolly's window "You owe me five shillings" You shall have an apple

THE REAL MOTHER GOOSE

Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, And can't tell where to find them; Leave 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 them indeed, but it made her heart bleed, For they'd left all 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.

She heaved a sigh and wiped her eye, And over the hillocks she raced; And tried what she could, as a shepherdess should, That each tail should be properly placed.

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? Under the haystack, fast asleep!

Rain, rain, go away, Come again another day; Little Johnny wants to play.

There's a neat little clock,-- In the schoolroom it stands,-- And it points to the time With its two little hands.

And may we, like the clock, Keep a face clean and bright, With hands ever ready To do what is right.

Cold and raw the north wind doth blow, Bleak in the morning early; All the hills are covered with snow, And winter's now come fairly.

Every lady in this land Has twenty nails, upon each hand Five, and twenty on hands and feet: All this is true, without deceit.

Piping hot, smoking hot. What I've got You have not. Hot gray pease, hot, hot, hot; Hot gray pease, hot.

DAME TROT AND HER CAT

Dame Trot and her cat Led a peaceable life, When they were not troubled With other folks' strife.

When Dame had her dinner Pussy would wait, And was sure to receive A nice piece from her plate.

THREE CHILDREN ON THE ICE

Three children sliding on the ice Upon a summer's day, As it fell out, they all fell in, The rest they ran away.

Oh, had these children been at school, Or sliding on dry ground, Ten thousand pounds to one penny They had not then been drowned.

Ye parents who have children dear, And ye, too, who have none, If you would keep them safe abroad Pray keep them safe at home.

Cross patch, draw the latch, Sit by the fire and spin; Take a cup and drink it up, Then call your neighbors in.

THE OLD WOMAN UNDER A HILL

There was an old woman Lived under a hill; And if she's not gone, She lives there still.

TWEEDLE-DUM AND TWEEDLE-DEE

Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee Resolved to have a battle, For Tweedle-dum said Tweedle-dee Had spoiled his nice new rattle.

Just then flew by a monstrous crow, As big as a tar barrel, Which frightened both the heroes so, They quite forgot their quarrel.

Dear, dear! what can the matter be? Two old women got up in an apple-tree; One came down, and the other stayed till Saturday.

Old Mother Goose, when She wanted to wander, Would ride through the air On a very fine gander.

Here am I, little jumping Joan, When nobody's with me I'm always alone.

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, Baker's man! So I do, master, As fast as I can.

Pat it, and prick it, And mark it with T, Put it in the oven For Tommy and me.

"Lend me thy mare to ride a mile." "She is lamed, leaping over a stile."

"Alack! and I must keep the fair! I'll give thee money for thy mare."

"Oh, oh! say you so? Money will make the mare to go!"

Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree, Up went Pussy-Cat, down went he, Down came Pussy-Cat, away Robin ran, Says little Robin Redbreast: "Catch me if you can!"

Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a spade, Pussy-Cat jumped after him, and then he was afraid. Little Robin chirped and sang, and what did Pussy say? Pussy-Cat said: "Mew, mew, mew," and Robin flew away.

Trip upon trenchers, And dance upon dishes, My mother sent me for some barm, some barm; She bid me go lightly, And come again quickly, For fear the young men should do me some harm. Yet didn't you see, yet didn't you see, What naughty tricks they put upon me? They broke my pitcher And spilt the water, And huffed my mother, And chid her daughter, And kissed my sister instead of me.

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick.

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 going to St. Ives?

THIRTY DAYS HATH SEPTEMBER

Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; February has twenty-eight alone, All the rest have thirty-one, Excepting leap-year, that's the time When February's days are twenty-nine.

Hush, baby, my dolly, I pray you don't cry, And I'll give you some bread, and some milk by-and-by; Or perhaps you like custard, or, maybe, a tart, Then to either you're welcome, with all my heart.

A swarm of bees in May Is worth a load of hay; A swarm of bees in June Is worth a silver spoon; A swarm of bees in July Is not worth a fly.

Girls and boys, come out to play, The moon doth shine as bright as day; Leave your supper, and leave your sleep, And come with your playfellows into the street. Come with a whoop, come with a call, Come with a good will or not at all. Up the ladder and down the wall, A half-penny roll will serve us all. You find milk, and I'll find flour, And we'll have a pudding in half an hour.

IF WISHES WERE HORSES

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. If turnips were watches, I would wear one by my side. And if "ifs" and "ands" Were pots and pans, There'd be no work for tinkers!

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig. Home again, home again, jiggety jig. To market, to market, to buy a fat hog, Home again, home again, jiggety jog. To market, to market, to buy a plum bun, Home again, home again, market is done.

If I'd as much money as I could spend, I never would cry old chairs to mend; Old chairs to mend, old chairs to mend; I never would cry old chairs to mend.

If I'd as much money as I could tell, I never would cry old clothes to sell; Old clothes to sell, old clothes to sell; I never would cry old clothes to sell.

Robin and Richard were two pretty men, They lay in bed till the clock struck ten; Then up starts Robin and looks at the sky, "Oh, brother Richard, the sun's very high! You go before, with the bottle and bag, And I will come after on little Jack Nag."

There was a little man, Who wooed a little maid, And he said, "Little maid, will you wed, wed, wed? I have little more to say, So will you, yea or nay, For least said is soonest mended-ded, ded, ded."

The little maid replied, "Should I be your little bride, Pray what must we have for to eat, eat, eat? Will the flame that you're so rich in Light a fire in the kitchen? Or the little god of love turn the spit, spit, spit?"

Here goes my lord A trot, a trot, a trot, a trot, Here goes my lady A canter, a canter, a canter, a canter!

Here goes my young master Jockey-hitch, jockey-hitch, jockey-hitch, jockey-hitch! Here goes my young miss An amble, an amble, an amble, an amble!

The footman lags behind to tipple ale and wine, And goes gallop, a gallop, a gallop, to make up his time.

I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen, She washed me the dishes and kept the house clean; She went to the mill to fetch me some flour, She brought it home in less than an hour; She baked me my bread, she brewed me my ale, She sat by the fire and told many a fine tale.

There were two birds sat on a stone, Fa, la, la, la, lal, de; One flew away, and then there was one, Fa, la, la, la, lal, de; The other bird flew after, And then there was none, Fa, la, la, la, lal, de; And so the stone Was left alone, Fa, la, la, la, lal, de.

Leg over leg, As the dog went to Dover; When he came to a stile, Jump, he went over.

Lucy Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it; Nothing in it, nothing in it, But the binding round it.

WHEN JENNY WREN WAS YOUNG

'Twas once upon a time, when Jenny Wren was young, So daintily she danced and so prettily she sung, Robin Redbreast lost his heart, for he was a gallant bird. So he doffed his hat to Jenny Wren, requesting to be heard.

"Oh, dearest Jenny Wren, if you will but be mine, You shall feed on cherry pie and drink new currant wine, I'll dress you like a goldfinch or any peacock gay, So, dearest Jen, if you'll be mine, let us appoint the day."

Jenny blushed behind her fan and thus declared her mind: "Since, dearest Bob, I love you well, I'll take your offer kind. Cherry pie is very nice and so is currant wine, But I must wear my plain brown gown and never go too fine."