I had a dream about my grandmother last night.
She was reciting a rhyme, one that she taught me as a child.
When I woke I remembered it, in its entirety
Has anyone heard this before?
I went to my grandmother's garden
I went to my grandmother's garden,
and I found an Irish Farthing,
I gave it to my mother,
who bought a little brother,
The brother was so cross,
We put him on a hoss,
the horse was such a dandy,
we gave him a glass of brandy,
the brandy was too strong,
we put it in a pond,
the pond was too deep,
we put it on a heap,
the heap was too high,
we put it in a pie,
the pie was too little ,
we put it in a kettle,
the kettle had a spout ,
and they all jumped out!
What rhyme do you remember?
While I remember my fraternal grandmother used to sing this
My grandmother said this to me whenever I spent the night with her, and I said it to my grandchildren (now almost grown): Good night. Sleep tight. Wake up bright in the morning light to do what's right with all your might. Good night! (Sweet memories to start the day. Thanks, John.) Texas Dee
ReplyDeleteDon’t let the bed bugs bite
ReplyDeleteA relative from Scotland used to spend Summers with us and when my son was very little she recited a rhyme called "Ride a Cock Horse to Mulberry Court..." Sadly I do not remember the rest but that was the first rhyme my son recited at a very young age.
ReplyDeleteWhat was a cock horse?
DeleteOriginally it meant a feisty horse, but is now an alternative name for a child's hobby-horse. There is a statue of said lady on the site of the original Banbury Cross in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Apparently...
DeleteRide a cock horse to Banbury Cross
DeleteTo see a fine lady upon a white horse.
With bells on her fingers and bells on her toes,
She will make music wherever she goes.
Or so I learned it when the world was young and so was I!
Hugs!
Many thanks to everyone for providing the full text of the poem as well as identifying the statue of the lady and horse in Oxfordshire. I've copied the poem to keep forever. I've also found the Fine Lady statue online and it is beautiful.
DeleteRide a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,
ReplyDeleteTo see a fine lady upon a white horse;
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
And she shall have music wherever she goes.
I have recited it to my small grandchildren over the years. They sit on my knee facing me and holding my hands while I bounce them up and down until I say the last line when I slide them down my leg to the floor. Laughter ensues and many a repeat ride is required--until my leg gives out. :)
Banbury Cross
ReplyDeleteSee af fine lady on a white horse
Rings on her fingers
Bells on her toes
She shall have music whereever shegoes
My dad gave my mum a book of nursery rhymes when she was pregnant with me -76 years later I still have the book.
Never heard that rhyme before, something similar is better known if only I could remember it!
ReplyDeleteOne night in the middle of the night when I was wide awake in my sleep I heard a noise that came from the barn out. I got the bed up, ran the stairs down and when I got there what do you think? It was the old grey mare, he was tied loose.
ReplyDeleteA rhyme ?
DeleteMy grandfather was working on the railroad in the late 1920’s near Cleveland Ohio and a Pennsylvania Dutch man taught this to him.
DeleteI've heard said, One fine day in the middle of the night" i wonder if its the start of your rhyme, Gayle
DeleteOne fine day in the middle of the night
DeleteTwo dead men got up to fight
Back to back they faced each other
Drew their swords and shot each other
I'm of an age of Ladybird books. My most favourite was the three billygoats. I remember the terror of the troll under the bridge quite vividly. I've had a love of horror stories ever since.
ReplyDeleteThat is my grand daughters favourite at the moment Mavis! I read it regularly to her....she now insists that the troll is just lonely and looking for friends though.....
DeleteLibby, she'll grow up to be a compassionate human. The world needs her x
DeleteYes...I loved the three billygoats gruff
DeleteHave you heard the song?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaoxI1DO6Sk
The pictures are lovely...Made me wonder...do you think there are trolls in Lllandudno?!
I've never heard this one before! I just remember all the standard "nursery rhymes."
ReplyDeleteI suspect this is considered un-PC nowadays but this is what my grandmother would say to me:
ReplyDelete'Austria was Hungary
Took a piece of Turkey
Dipped it in Greece
Greece was very slippery
Slipped into Italy
Long-legged Italy
Kicked little Sicily
Into the Mediterranean Sea.'
I’m liking the different ones
DeleteThe version my mother's father used to recite was:
DeleteGermany was Hungary,
Stole a bit of Turkey,
Slipped on Greece,
Broke a bit of China
and had to pay a New Guinea
I remember many but here you go....
ReplyDeleteone, two buckly my shoe
three, four shut the door
five, six pick up sticks
seven, eight lay them straight
nine, ten a big fat hen..........
I had a little pony
ReplyDeleteHis coat was dappled grey.
I loaned him to a lady
To ride a mile away.
She whipped him, she spurred him
She rode him through the mire.
I would not lend my pony now
For all a lady's hire.
There's a heavy lesson in this one that has taken me some decades to decipher.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
ReplyDeleteHumpty Dumpty had a great fall...
I think we aknow this one lol
DeleteA lot of these rhymes are very regional John. I have never heard the one you tell before. Can't say I remember any from my own childhood - plenty from my sons.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the regional ones
DeleteAlthough I grew up knowing most of the nursery rhymes,my old granny told me this one and it still sticks in my mind...There was an old lady of 92,who let out a fart and away it blew,up the valley and down the lane,then through the butchers window pane.The butcher came out with a rusty gun and Yes,you young bugger,Ill make you run....My Mam says I used to like that one the best when I was about 4 years old and always asked my granny to say it,lol.xx
ReplyDeleteSo sweet!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember any nursery rhymes. I do remember many of the fairy tales my mom used to read to me, though..
XOXO
Ten green bottles standing on the wall-Ten green bottles standing on the wall-but if One green bottle should accidentally fall-there'd be 9 green bottles standing on the wall-9 green bottles standing on the wall and if one green bottle should accidentally fall-there'd be 8 green bottles standing on the wall-8 green bottles standing on the wall-and if one green bottles-(oh dear I'm exhausted) x
ReplyDeleteI don't know the one you recited - I think it is one to learn. I am reading at the moment 'Dancing by the light of the moon' by Giles Brandreth, and he is expounding the delights and importance of learning poetry at what ever age. So, for fun, I have been quietly learning some to help keep the old grey matter ticking over.
ReplyDeleteI was learning the Eugene Field 'Wynken, Blynken and Nod' and decided to look him up - he is reputed to have written and published anonymously 'Only a boy' in the 1920s.
Brilliant book! On the strength of reading it over Christmas I decided my New Year's Resolution would be to learn some of the poems. I'm currently working through 'Casabianca' (The boy stood on the burning deck ...).
DeletePiggly Plays Truant. A Ladybird book. 'Old Salt Pork upon his lighthouse/Took his telescope to see/Saw the oar and spotted hanky/'That must be a wreck!' said he.' And, of course, Rupert. ''I do declare,' said Mrs Bear,/'If that's not Rupert flying up there!'
ReplyDeletethere was an old man from nantucket.....
ReplyDeleteLol
DeleteThis is the way the Gentlemen ride, gallop, gallop, gallop, gallop,
ReplyDeleteThis is the way the Lady rides, trit trot, trit trot, trit trot, trit trot.
This is the way the Farmer rides, hobble di, hobble di, hobble di and down in the ditch.
All of the above whilst bouncing baby/ small child on knee, with appropriate vigour.
Never heard of this one either
DeleteOh, this brings back fond memories! This is the version I used with my children -- I found it in a Mother Goose book of nursery rhymes:
DeleteThis is the way the lady rides: trit trot trit trot. (gentle bouncing)
This is the way the gentleman rides: canter canter canter canter. (livelier bouncing)
This is the way the farmer rides: clip clop clip clop (exaggerated swaying from left to right)
This is the way the jockey rides: gallopy gallopy gallopy and FALL OFF! (vigorous bouncing with a "fall" at the end)
Lucinda
The version I know is: The ladies go apace,apace, apace, The gentlemen go trip trot, trip trot, trip trot, And the old farmer comes along with a gallopy, gallopy, gallopy....down into the ditch... and up again! It was my childrens favourite rhyme and now my granddaughters
DeleteAnd another version:
DeleteThis is the way the ladies ride: trit, trot, trit, trot (gentle bouncing)
This is the way the gentlemen ride: jiggity-jog, jiggity-jog (slightly more bounce)
This is the way the farmers ride: hobble-dee-hoy, hobble-dee-hoy (sway from side to side)
This is the way the hunters ride: gallopy gallopy gallopy ... OVER THE FENCE! (faster and faster bouncing with a big bounce at the end)
This is not one I grew up with but used it with my own kiddos.
Ally bally, ally bally bee
ReplyDeleteSittin' on his mammy's knee
Greetin' for a wee bawbee
Tae buy some Coutar's candy
Was also a song :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nEv103H-5M
DeleteMy oldest son is named John and when he was little we would say this rhyme:
ReplyDeleteDeedle, deedle, dumpling, my son John,
Went to bed with his stockings on;
One shoe off, and one shoe on,
Deedle, deedle, dumpling, my son John"
Another new one on me
DeleteNever anything from my grandmother, but here are two from my mother you've likely never heard. There's yiddish involved.
ReplyDeletePotchy potchy kichelach.
Mami unteen sheechalach
Strimpalach tati koifen
In Mitchala vet in cheder aran loifen.
and
Oh I wont' go to Macy's anymore more more
There's a big fat policeman at the door door door
He will squash you like a lemon
Uchalatchka zolamemen [or something that sounded like that]
Oh I won't go to Macy's anymore more more.
Now I loved these,
DeleteCan you translate ?
As to Mitchell's last rhyme, the version I heard as a child was sung while doing hand clapping with another kid (do kids still do these hand clapping rhymes?)
DeleteI don't wanna go to Mexico no
more more more.
There's a big fat lady at the
door door door.
She'll grab you by the collar
Girl, you better holler!
I don't wanna go to Mexico
no more, more, more.
Mary had a little lamb
ReplyDeleteWhose fleece was white as snow
And everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day
Which was against the rules.
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.
I've never heard the rhyme your grandmother taught to you, John. It's delightful!
Hugs!
Not heard that one before. Was your grandmother Irish?
ReplyDeleteI know lots of nursery rhymes having sung them to children and grandchildren.
My Mum taught me,
She sells sea shells on the sea shore,
the shells she sells are sea shells I'm sure.
If she sells sea shells on the sea shore.
I'm sure they are sea shore shells.
My lads used to prefer, shut the shutters and sit in the shop. Said very quickly course, with a snigger afterwards.
Last line even
DeleteI'm sure she sells sea shore shells.
My grandmother was Liverpudlian but she had an Irish mother
DeleteAs I was going up the stairs,
ReplyDeleteI met a man who wasn't there.
He wasn't there again today.
Oh, how I wish he'd go away!
xx
That’s a tad scary
DeleteHmmm...I don't know that one at all! I honestly can't think of a rhyme we used to say. I've blocked them out!
ReplyDeleteThat’s worrying
DeleteRings on her fingers
ReplyDeleteBells on her toes
She shall be loved wherever she goes
and
Eeney meeney miney mo
Catch a tiger by the toe
If he hollers
Let him go
My mother told me to pick the
Very best one
and it is YOU!
There is a no no version of that my mother used to say
DeleteYes, I know that no no version too. Also a lullaby that mentions pickaninnies. Not PC at all! How times change.
DeleteJust remembered another nonsense rhyme.
DeleteOne fine day, in the middle of the night,
Two dead men got up to fight.
Back to back they faced each other,
Drew their swords and shot each other.
I remember....One dark night in the middle of the day,
DeleteTwo dead boys came out to play,
Back to back they faced each other,
Drew their swords and shot each other.
Yours makes more sense😊
I had a little nut tree
ReplyDeleteNothing it would bear
But a silver nutmeg
And a golden pear.
The King of Spain's daughter
Came to visit me
And all for the sake
Of my little nut tree.
Maybe I remember it so well because I was so puzzled by the thing as a kid because I knew darn well that pear trees didn't bear nuts!
Funny how we accepted the rhymes as children but didn’t always understand them
DeleteDaffy-down-dilly has come up to town, dressed in yellow petticoats and a pretty green gown.
ReplyDeleteDaffodils. Spring. Aaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!
Another new one
DeleteI'm familiar with most of these rhymes, and as a Nana I'm remembering them as I mind my grand daughter. I remember two poems or songs though that my Pa used to tell....I didn't like this one....
ReplyDeleteThere was a little man and he had a little gun
and down the road he used to run
with a big black hat and a belly full of fat
and a pancake tied to his bum bum bum
My grandmother used to recite Abu Ben Adahm..and I loved that one.
Inky pinky ponky, Daddy bought a donkey, donkey died, Daddy cried, inky pinky ponky
ReplyDeleteI learned that as
Delete1 2 3, dog had a flea, flea died, no one cried, 1 2 3!
Hugs!
Lobbed that
DeleteLoved
DeleteI'm a little teapot short and stout,here's my handle,here's my spout-la la la la la la la?,tip me up and pour me out x
ReplyDeleteThis was a song with gestures (one hand on hip, other arm posed as a spout) that I learned as a 2 year old in Sunday School (Memphis, TN).
DeleteThe la-la line I learned was "I can change my handle or my spout just tip over and pour me out." As this line was sung, the arms swapped handle for spout and you leaned sideways as if you were the teapot pouring tea into a cup.
Hugs!
Thankyou Barbara Anne-Wasn't it fun x
DeleteI love the tv scene ( I forget the series) that parodied the teapot song
DeleteI’m a little teapot short and stout
Heres my handle ( actor makes a handle from his arm)
And here’s my handle ( he makes another handle shape)
He looks down and says
“ shit I’m a sugar bowl “
I remember.. I'm a little teapot short and stout, here is my handle here is my spout,
DeleteWhen I get all steamed up then I shout ..tip me over pour me out.
My first name is William, my father's name was William, his parent's called him Billy, and my grandfather's name was William and they called him Bill. So my mother made sure I had a middle name and everyone called me Graham instead of "little Billy". When I was little grandad used to say:
ReplyDeleteNow there's owd Bill,
And there's young Bill,
Owd Bill's son,
But young Bill will be owd Bill,
When owd Bill's done.
Love it
DeleteAt bedtime:
ReplyDeleteSleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite!
Also: See you in the funny papers! (the morning funnies in the newspaper)
And: See you later alligator, in a while crocodile!
I know there's lot more but my memory is not too good!
I have always loved nursery rhymes. Here are some favorites.
ReplyDeleteTom, Tom, the piper's son,
Stole a pig and away did run,
The pig got eat
And Tom got beat
And he went running down the street.
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.
She gave them some broth, without any bread,
And spanked them all soundly, and sent them to bed.
Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater
Had a wife and couldn't keep her.
He put her in a pumpkin shell,
And there he kept her very well.
My Hubby's favourite:
ReplyDeleteGingernut fell
In a butt
A fish came up
And swallowed her up
And that was the end
Of Gingernut!
I like it
DeleteI also like
ALGIE SAW THE BEAR
THE BEAR SAW ALGIE
THE BEAR WAS BULGEY
THE BULGE WAS ALGIE
This one made me mad from the first time I heard it:
ReplyDeleteAs I was going to St. Ives, I met a man with seven wives.
Each wife had seven sacks. Each sack had seven cats.
Each cat had seven kits. Kits, cats, sacks, and wives.
How many were going to St Ives?
After chugging through all the math, I was told the answer was "One", the narrator. "He caught up with them" was not an acceptable answer (not that I'm bitter). ; )
Lol
DeleteI didn't get to meet my Grandmother until I was 10, so I was too old for nursery rhymes. Still, she always loved to sing funny songs with me like "Mary Ellen at the Church" "I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts" and "Roll out the Barrel". There was also some "recitation" that went "I stand before you to stand behind you, to say a few words before I speak. (can't remember the rest!)
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to have a dream with a dear departed visit.
I think I was more meaning funny songs as the two I cited are more regional songs rather than nursery fodder
DeleteJust found out its Ladles and Jellyspoons. I love Google search!
ReplyDelete'Twas on the good ship Venus...
ReplyDeleteOhhhhh I was waiting for that one
DeleteMy father used to sing this to me:
ReplyDeleteMaisydotes an Dozydotes
An Liddlelamsy Divy
Iwoody Divy Doo
Woodenchew?
Translated into this:
Mares eat oats and does eat oats
And little lambs eat ivy
I would eat ivy too
Wouldn’t you?
My Mother used to sing that to me as a child. It was a nursery rhyme and in the 1940's it was recorded as a song: “Mairzy Doats”. You are the first person I've even seen that's heard of it!
DeleteI know it too
DeleteSee
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpGFQbBfufI
Thanks for the link, John. And I always thought my father had made it up just for me! Here's a snippet from one of the comments on that link:
DeleteHumphrey Bogart used to sing it to Lauren Bacall, when he was head over heels for her during the filming of "To Have and Have Not" (1944). Whether it was the magic of the song, Bogie's singing or other undisclosed qualities, remains unclear. Fact is, though, that half a year later they were married (and stayed married).
“Miss Lucy had a baby, she named him tiny Tim.
ReplyDeleteShe put him in the bathtub to see if he could swim.
He drank up all the water and ate up all the soap
He tried to eat the bathtub but it wouldn’t fit down his throat
Miss Lucy called the doctor, Miss Lucy called the nurse
Miss Lucy called the lady with the alligator purse “
It goes on for a while. Fun!
Xoxo
Barbara
My grandad used to tell me funny rhymes but a lot were so nonsense that they would be impossible to spell so this is the most simple:
ReplyDeleteWind up the clock Freddie, wind up the clock
Bolt the front door love and see to the lock
Knock out your pipe dear and tie up your head
For the hour is late and it's time for bed
My grandmother used to sing:
ReplyDeletePlaymate, come out and play with me.
Bring out your dollies three, and we will have a tea.
Climb on my Rain barrel, slide on my cellar door,
And we'll be jolly friends, forever more.
Playmate, I can't come play with you.
My dollies have the flu, boo hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo.
Can't climb on rain barrels, or slide on cellar doors.
But we'll be jolly friends, forever more.
I shiver to think that she was teaching me about the pandemic that she had lived through. I wonder what my grandson will tell his grandchildren about this pandemic.
Played on toes.
ReplyDeleteThis little piggy went to market. This little Piggy stayed at home. This little piggy had roast beef. This little piggy had none. And this little piggy went wee wee wee on his way home.
This then involves much tickling.
Deb
Sleep sleep my baby,
ReplyDeleteSleep just like a lady,
You shall have some milk when the cow comes home.
Ha ha ha , he he he, pussy's in the pantry drinking tea.
Ha ha ha, he he he, pussy's in the pantry , cant you see?
Instagram is social online networking side which are share the pictures and videos at publicly or privately, that founder Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger was released in October 2010 for free mobile app only for ios device. when two years after lunched for Android device, if you are Instagram users and you want to talk Instagram password reset technicians for password reset, Instagram login and sign up issues. firstly you should read our complete solution information To know how to do Instagram password reset as we have given in this article. whenever if you face this issue then you can dial Instagram Telefoonnummer to connect with technicians and regain access to their Instagram account.
ReplyDeleteHi, is a true life experience is not designed to convince you its a personal health experience, sometimes medical doctors take a different approach about herpes treatment. i has been stocked in bondage with herpes for two years and four months i has tried different means to eliminate this sickness because it surely has distract me even with the world, and i was told there is no cure, but only medicine for treatment all the possible ways i has tried was treatment, two months back i did some herpes research and i found amazing testimonies concerning natural herbal cure, and i go for it through the email address from the post just to give a try of herbal treatment, and i found it grate without delay i got cured with natural treatment from doc Twaha herbal cure his cure are powerful and shows out excellent result. and i think everyone suffering with herpes and others symptoms should also know about this cure from, drlregbeyen10000@gmail.com or WhatsApp him +2349038518881 thank you
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the rhyme! My Gran used to tell this to me and until now I’d assumed she’d written it herself as I could never find a published version in a nursery rhyme book! Whereabouts did your Gran come from? I wonder if they came from the same place?
ReplyDelete