Chapter I: Saw a Ship a Sailing

I saw a ship a-sailing,
A-sailing on the sea;
And it was full of pretty things
For baby and for me.

There were sweetmeats in the cabin,
And apples in the hold;
The sails were made of silk,
And the masts were made of gold.

The four-and-twenty sailors
That stood between the decks,
Were four-and-twenty white mice,
With chains about their necks.

The captain was a duck,
With a packet on his back;
And when the ship began to move,
The captain cried, "Quack, quack!"

ONE, TWO.

One, two,
Buckle my shoe;

Three, four,
Knock at the door;

Five, six,
Pick up sticks;

Seven, eight,
Lay them straight;

Nine, ten,
A good fat hen;

Eleven, twelve,
Who will delve;

Thirteen, fourteen,
Maids a-courting;

Fifteen, sixteen,
Maids in the kitchen;

Seventeen, eighteen,
Maids a-waiting;

Nineteen, twenty,
My plate's empty.

LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST

Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree;
Up went Pussy cat and down went he.
Down came Pussy cat, and away Robin ran;
Says little Robin Redbreast: "Catch me if you can."

DIDDLE DIDDLE DUMPLING

Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John,
Went to bed with his breeches on,
One stocking off, and one stocking on;
Diddle diddle dumpling, my son John.

MARY, MARY

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
Silver bells,
and cockle shells,
And pretty maids
all of a row.

JACK JINGLE

Jack Jingle went 'prentice
To make a horse-shoe,
He wasted the iron
Till it would not do.
His master came in,
And began for to rail;
Says Jack, "the shoe's spoiled,
But 't will still make a nail."

He tried at the nail,
But, chancing to miss,
Says, "If it won't make a nail,
It shall yet make a hiss."
Then into the water
Threw the hot iron, smack!
"Hiss!" quoth the iron;
"I thought so," says Jack.

BETTY WINKLE'S PIG

Little Betty Winkle she had a little pig.
It was a little pig, not very big;
When he was alive he lived in Clover,
But now he's dead, and that's all over.
Johnny Winkle he
Sat down and cried;
Betty Winkle she
Lay down and died;
So there was an end of one, two, and three,
Johnny Winkle he,
Betty Winkle she,
And Piggy Wiggie!

THREE BRETHREN OUT OF SPAIN

"We are three brethren out of Spain,
Come to court your daughter Jane."
"My daughter Jane she is too young;
She has no skill in a flattering tongue."

"Be she young, or be she old,
It's for her gold she must be sold;
So fare you well, my lady gay,
We'll call again another day."

"Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight,
And rub thy spurs till they be bright."
"Of my spurs take you no thought,
For in this land they were not bought.
So fare you well, my lady gay,
We'll call again another day."

"Turn back, turn back, thou scornful knight,
And take the fairest in your sight."
"The fairest maid that I can see
Is pretty Nancy; come to me."

WHAT CARE I?

What care I how black I be?
Twenty pounds shall marry me.
If twenty won't, forty shall,
For I'm my mother's bouncing girl.

THE THREE KITTENS

Three little kittens lost their mittens,
And they began to cry,
"Oh, Mother dear,
We very much fear
That we have lost our mittens!"

"Lost your mittens!
You naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie.
Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow!
No, you shall have no pie.
Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow!"

The three little kittens found their mittens,
And they began to cry,
"Oh, Mother dear,
See here, see here,
See, we have found our mittens!"

"Put on your mittens,
You silly kittens,
And you shall have some pie.
Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r!"
"Oh, let us have the pie!
Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r!"

The three little kittens put on their mittens,
And soon ate up the pie;
"Oh, Mother dear,
We greatly fear
That we have soiled our mittens!"

"Soiled your mittens!
You naughty kittens!"
Then they began to sigh,
Mi-ow, mi-ow, mi-ow!
Then they began to sigh,
Mi-ow, mi-ow, mi-ow!

The three little kittens washed their mittens,
And hung them up to dry;
"Oh, Mother dear,
Do you not hear
That we have washed our mittens!"

"Washed your mittens!
Oh, you're good kittens!
But I smell a rat close by.
Hush! hush! mee-ow, mee-ow."
"We smell a rat close by,
Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow!"

THE LADY AND THE SWINE

There was a lady loved a swine,
Honey, quoth she,
Pig-hog, wilt thou be mine?
"Hoogh," quoth he.

I'll build thee a silver stye,
Honey, quoth she;
And in it thou shalt lie;
"Hoogh!" quoth he.

Pinned with a silver pin,
Honey, quoth she,
That thou mayst go out and in;
"Hoogh!" quoth he.

Wilt thou now have me,
Honey? quoth she;
"Hoogh, hoogh, hoogh!" quoth he,
And went his way.

THE JOLLY MILLER

There was a jolly miller once
Lived on the River Dee.
He worked and sang from morn till night,
No lark so blithe as he;
And this the burden of his song
For ever used to be:
"I care for nobody! no, not I!
And nobody cares for me!"

FEETIKINS

"Feetikin, feetikin,
When will ye gang?"
"When the nichts turn short,
And the days turn lang,
I'll toddle and gang,
Toddle and gang!"

TOM THE PIPER'S SON

Tom, Tom, the piper's son,
He learned to play when he was young,
But all the tune that he could play
Was "Over the hills and far away".
Over the hills, and a great way off,
And the wind will blow my top-knot off.

Now Tom with his pipe made such a noise
That he pleased both the girls and boys,
And they stopped to hear him play
"Over the hills and far away".

Tom with his pipe did play with such skill
That those who heard him could never stand still;
Whenever they heard they began for to dance,
Even pigs on their hind-legs would after him prance.

As Dolly was milking the cow one day,
Tom took out his pipe and began for to play;
So Doll and the cow danced "the Cheshire round",
Till the pail was broke, and the milk ran on the ground.

He met old Dame Trot with a basket of eggs,
He used his pipe, and she used her legs;
She danced about till the eggs were all broke,
She began for to fret, but he laughed at the joke.

He saw a cross fellow was beating an ass,
Heavy laden with pots, pans, dishes, and glass;
He took out his pipe and played them a tune,
And the jack-ass's load was lightened full soon.

DOCTOR FELL

I do not like thee, Doctor Fell;
The reason why I cannot tell.
But this I know, and know full well,
I do not like thee, Doctor Fell.

THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER

Please to remember
The fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy, Guy, Guy,
Stick him up on high,
Put him on the bonfire,
And there let him die.

BILLY, BILLY

"Billy, Billy, come and play,
While the sun shines bright as day."

"Yes, my Polly, so I will,
For I love to please you still."

"Billy, Billy, have you seen
Sam and Betsy on the green?"

"Yes, my Poll, I saw them pass,
Skipping o'er the new-mown grass."

"Billy, Billy, come along,
And I will sing a pretty song."

"O then, Polly, I'll make haste,
Not one moment will I waste,

But will come and hear you sing,
And my fiddle I will bring."

MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Bless the bed that I lie on!
Four corners to my bed,
Five angels there lie spread;
Two at my head,
Two at my feet,
One at my heart
My soul to keep.

JOHNNY

Johnny shall have a new bonnet,
And Johnny shall go to the fair,
And Johnny shall have a blue ribbon
To tie up his bonny brown hair.

And why may not I love Johnny?
And why may not Johnny love me?
And why may not I love Johnny
As well as another body?

And here's a leg for a stocking,
And here's a foot for a shoe,
And he has a kiss for his daddy,
And two for his mammy, I trow.

And why may not I love Johnny?
And why may not Johnny love me?
And why may not I love Johnny
As well as another body?

SING, SING!

Sing, sing! what shall I sing?
The cat's run away with the pudding-bag string.
Do, do, what shall I do?
The cat has bit it quite in two.

PETER PIPER

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper,
A peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked;
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper,
Where's the peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked?

NANCY DAWSON

Nancy Dawson was so fine
She wouldn't get up to serve the swine,
She lies in bed till eight or nine,
So its oh! poor Nancy Dawson.

And do you ken Nancy Dawson, honey?
The wife who sells the barley, honey?
She won't get up to feed her swine,
And do you ken Nancy Dawson, honey?

LONDON BRIDGE

London Bridge is broken down,
Dance o'er my Lady Lee;
London Bridge is broken down,
With a gay lady.

How shall we build it up again?
Dance o'er my Lady Lee;
How shall we build it up again?
With a gay lady.

Silver and gold will be stole away,
Dance o'er my Lady Lee;
Silver and gold will be stole away,
With a gay lady.

Build it up again with iron and steel,
Dance o'er my Lady Lee;
Build it up with iron and steel,
With a gay lady.

Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Dance o'er my Lady Lee;
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
With a gay lady.

Build it up with wood and clay,
Dance o'er my Lady Lee;
Build it up with wood and clay,
With a gay lady.

Wood and clay will wash away,
Dance o'er my Lady Lee;
Wood and clay will wash away,
With a gay lady.

Build it up with stone so strong,
Dance o'er my Lady Lee;
Huzza! 't will last for ages long,
With a gay lady.

MASTER I HAVE

Master I have, and I am his man,
Gallop a dreary dun;
Master I have, and I am his man,
And I'll get a wife as fast as I can;
With a heighty gaily gamberally,
Higgledy, piggledy, niggledy, niggledy,
Gallop a dreary dun.

ROCK-A-BY, BABY

Rock-a-by, baby, thy cradle is green;
Father's a nobleman, mother's a queen;
And Betty's a lady, and wears a gold ring;
And Johnny's a drummer, and drums for the king.

THE FARMER AND HIS DAUGHTER

A Farmer went trotting upon his gray mare,
Bumpety, bumpety, bump!
With his daughter behind him so rosy and fair,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!

A raven cried "croak" and they all tumbled down,
Bumpety, bumpety, bump!
The mare broke her knees, and the farmer his crown,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!

The mischievous raven flew laughing away,
Bumpety, bumpety, bump!
And vowed he would serve them the same the next day,
Lumpety, lumpety, lump!

A STRANGE SIGHT

Upon St. Paul's steeple stands a tree,
As full of apples as may be;
The little boys of London Town,
They run with hooks and pull them down;
And then they run from hedge to hedge,
Until they come to London Bridge.

I'LL TRY

Two Robin Redbreasts built their nest
Within a hollow tree;
The hen sat quietly at home,
The cock sang merrily;
And all the little ones said:
"Wee, wee, wee, wee, wee, wee."

One day the sun was warm and bright,
And shining in the sky,
Cock Robin said: "My little dears,
'Tis time you learned to fly;"
And all the little young ones said:
"I'll try, I'll try, I'll try."

I know a child, and who she is
I'll tell you by and by,
When Mamma says "Do this," or "that,"
She says "What for?" and "Why?"
She'd be a better child by far
If she would say "I'll try."

THE FOX AND THE GOOSE

The fox and his wife they had a great strife,
They never ate mustard in all their whole life;
They ate their meat without fork or knife,
And loved to be picking a bone, e-ho!

The fox jumped up on a moonlight night;
The stars they were shining, and all things bright;
"Oh, ho!" said the fox, "it's a very fine night
For me to go through the town, e-ho!"

The fox when he came to yonder stile,
He lifted his lugs and he listened a while;
"Oh, ho!" said the fox, "it's but a short mile
From this into yonder wee town, e-ho!"

The fox when he came to the farmer's gate,
Whom should he see but the farmer's drake;
"I love you well for your master's sake,
And long to be picking your bones, e-ho!"

The gray goose she ran round the hay-stack;
"Oh, ho!" said the fox, "you are very fat,
You'll grease my beard and ride on my back
From this into yonder wee town, e-ho!"

The farmer's wife she jumped out of bed,
And out of the window she popped her head;
"Oh, husband! oh, husband! the geese are all dead,
For the fox has been through the town, e-ho!"

Then the old man got up in his red cap,
And swore he would catch the fox in a trap;
But the fox was too cunning, and gave him the slip,
And ran through the town, the town, e-ho!

When he got to the top of the hill,
He blew his trumpet both loud and shrill,
For joy that he was in safety still,
And had got away through the town, e-ho!

When the fox came back to his den,
He had young ones both nine and ten;
"You're welcome home, daddy; you may go again,
If you bring us such fine meat from the town, e-ho!"

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

"Where are you going to, my pretty maid?"
"I'm going a-milking, sir," she said.

"May I go with you, my pretty maid?"
"You're kindly welcome, sir," she said.

"What is your father, my pretty maid?"
"My father's a farmer, sir," she said.

"What is your fortune, my pretty maid?"
"My face is my fortune, sir," she said.

"Then I can't marry you, my pretty maid!"
"Nobody asked you, sir," she said.

THE DIVISION OF LABOUR

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.

KING PIPPIN'S HALL

King Pippin built a fine new hall,
Pastry and pie-crust were the wall;
Windows made of black pudding and white,
Slates were pancakes, you ne'er saw the like.

IF

If all the world were apple-pie,
And all the water ink,
What should we do for bread and cheese?
What should we do for drink?

COFFEE AND TEA

Molly, my sister, and I fell out,
And what do you think it was about?
She loved coffee and I loved tea,
And that was the reason we couldn't agree.

A WONDERFUL THING

As I went to Bonner,
I met a pig
Without a wig,
Upon my word and honour.

MY BOY TAMMIE

"Where have you been all day,
My boy Tammie?"

"I've been all the day
Courting of a lady gay;
But oh, she's too young
To be taken from her mammy!"

"What work can she do,
My boy Tammie?
Can she bake and can she brew,
My boy Tammie?"

"She can brew and she can bake,
And she can make our wedding cake;
But oh, she's too young
To be taken from her mammy!"

"What age may she be?
What age may she be,
My boy Tammie?"

"Twice two, twice seven,
Twice ten, twice eleven;
But oh, she's too young
To be taken from her mammy!"

THE LITTLE MAN WITH A GUN

There was a little man, and he had a little gun,
And his bullets were made of lead, lead, lead;
He went to the brook, and saw a little duck,
And shot it right through the head, head, head.

He carried it home to his old wife Joan,
And bade her a fire to make, make, make,
To roast the little duck he had shot in the brook,
And he'd go and fetch the drake, drake, drake.

The drake was a-swimming, with his curly tail;
The little man made it his mark, mark, mark.
He let off his gun, but he fired too soon,
And the drake flew away with a quack, quack, quack.

IF WISHES WERE HORSES

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride;
If turnips were watches, I would wear one by my side.

CLAP HANDIES

Clap, clap handies,
Mammie's wee, wee ain;
Clap, clap handies,
Daddie's comin' hame;
Hame till his bonny wee bit laddie;
Clap, clap handies,
My wee, wee ain.

TAFFY WAS A WELSHMAN

Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief;
Taffy came to my house and stole a piece of beef;
I went to Taffy's house, Taff was not at home;
Taffy came to my house and stole a marrow bone.

I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was not in;
Taffy came to my house and stole a silver pin;
I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was in bed,
I took up the beef bone and flung it at his head.

THERE WAS A MAN

There was a man, and he had naught,
And robbers came to rob him;
He crept up to the chimney pot,
And then they thought they had him.

But he got down on t' other side,
And then they could not find him;
He ran fourteen miles in fifteen days,
And never looked behind him.

JACK'S FIDDLE

Jacky, come give me thy fiddle,
If ever thou mean to thrive.
Nay, I'll not give my fiddle
To any man alive.

If I should give my fiddle
They'll think that I'm gone mad;
For many a joyful day
My fiddle and I have had.

A WAS AN ARCHER

A was an Archer, and shot at a Frog

B was a Butcher, and kept a Bull-dog

C was a Captain, all covered with Lace

D was a Drunkard, and had a Red Face

E was an Esquire, with insolent Brow

F was a Farmer, and followed the Plough

G was a Gamester, who had but Ill Luck

H was a Hunter, and hunted a Buck

I was an Innkeeper, who loved to Bouse

J was a Joiner, and built up a House

K was King William, once governed this Land

L was a Lady, who had a White Hand

M was a Miser, and hoarded up Gold

N was a Nobleman, Gallant and Bold

O was an Oyster Wench, and went about Town

P was a Parson, and wore a Black Gown

Q was a Queen, who was fond of good Flip

R was a Robber, and wanted a Whip

S was a Sailor, and spent all he got

T was a Tinker, and mended a Pot

U was a Usurer, a miserable Elf

V was a Vintner, who drank all Himself

W was a Watchman, and guarded the Door

X was Expensive, and so became Poor

Y was a Youth, that did not love School

Z was a Zany, a silly old Fool

THREE SHIPS

I saw three ships come sailing by,
Sailing by, sailing by,
I saw three ships come sailing by,
On New-Year's day in the morning.

And what do you think was in them then,
In them then, in them then?
And what do you think was in them then,
On New-Year's day in the morning?

Three pretty girls were in them then,
In them then, in them then,
Three pretty girls were in them then,
On New-Year's day in the morning.

And one could whistle, and one could sing,
And one could play on the violin,
Such joy there was at my wedding,
On New-Year's day in the morning.

THE CROOKED SONG

There was a crooked man, and he went a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence beside a crooked stile;
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

A, B, C

A, B, C, tumble down D,
The cat's in the cupboard
And can't see me.

COMICAL FOLK

In a cottage in Fife
Lived a man and his wife,
Who, believe me, were comical folk;
For, to people's surprise,
They both saw with their eyes,
And their tongues moved whenever they spoke.
When they were asleep,
I'm told--that to keep
Their eyes open they could not contrive;
They both walked on their feet,
And 't was thought what they eat
Helped, with drinking, to keep them alive.

DING, DONG, BELL.

Ding, dong, bell, the cat is in the well!
Who put her in? Little Johnny Green.
Who pulled her out?
Little Tommy Stout.
What a naughty boy was that,
To try to drown poor pussy cat,
Who never did him any harm,
But killed the mice in his father's barn!

BOBBY SNOOKS

Little Bobby Snooks was fond of his books,
And loved by his usher and master;

But naughty Jack Spry, he got a black eye,
And carries his nose in a plaster.

SIX LITTLE MICE

Six little mice sat down to spin,
Pussy passed by, and she peeped in.
"What are you at, my little men?"
"Making coats for gentlemen."
"Shall I come in and bite off your threads?"
"No, no, Miss Pussy, you'll bite off our heads."
"Oh, no, I'll not, I'll help you spin."
"That may be so, but you don't come in."

WING, WANG, WADDLE, OH

My father he died, but I can't tell you how,
He left me six horses to drive in my plough;
With my wing, wang, waddle, oh,
Jack sing saddle, oh,
Blowsey boys buble, oh,
Under the broom.

I sold my six horses and I bought me a cow,
I'd fain have made a fortune but did not know how;
With my wing, wang, waddle, oh,
Jack sing saddle, oh,
Blowsey boys buble, oh,
Under the broom.

I sold my cow, and I bought me a calf;
I'd fain have made a fortune but lost the best half;
With my wing, wang, waddle, oh,
Jack sing saddle, oh,
Blowsey boys buble, oh,
Under the broom.

I sold my calf, and I bought me a cat;
A pretty thing she was, in my chimney corner sat;
With my wing, wang, waddle, oh,
Jack sing saddle oh,
Blowsey boys buble, oh,
Under the broom.

I sold my cat and bought me a mouse;
He carried fire in his tail, and burnt down my house;
With my wing, wang, waddle, oh,
Jack sing saddle, oh,
Blowsey boys buble, oh,
Under the broom.

THE HART

The hart he loves the high wood,
The hare she loves the hill;
The Knight he loves his bright sword,
The Lady--loves her will.

OLD CHAIRS TO MEND

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.

SEE, SEE!

See, see! what shall I see?
A horse's head where his tail should be!

OLD MOTHER HUBBARD

Mother Hubbard's old dog Tray,
If this account be true,
Had not an equal, I dare say,
Come tell me, what think you?

Old Mother Hubbard
Went to her cupboard,
To give her poor dog a bone;

When she came there
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had none.

She went to the baker's
To buy him some bread,
When she came back
The dog was dead!

She went to the undertaker's
To buy him a coffin;
When she came back
The dog was laughing.

She took a clean dish
To get him some tripe;
When she came back
He was smoking his pipe.

She went to the ale-house
To get him some beer;
When she came back
The dog sat in a chair.

She went to the tavern
For white wine and red;
When she came back
The dog stood on his head.

She went to the hatter's
To buy him a hat;
When she came back
He was feeding the cat.

She went to the barber's
To buy him a wig;
When she came back
He was dancing a jig.

She went to the fruiterer's
To buy him some fruit;
When she came back
He was playing the flute.

She went to the tailor's
To buy him a coat;
When she came back
He was riding a goat.

She went to the cobbler's
To buy him some shoes;
When she came back
He was reading the news.

She went to the sempster's
To buy him some linen;
When she came back
The dog was spinning.

She went to the hosier's
To buy him some hose;
When she came back
He was dressed in his clothes.

The dame made a curtsy,
The dog made a bow;
The dame said, "Your servant,"
The dog said, "Bow-wow!"

TO BABYLON

How many miles is it to Babylon?
Threescore miles and ten.
Can I get there by candle-light?
Yes, and back again!
If your heels are nimble and light,
You may get there by candle-light.

MY BLACK HEN

Hickety, pickety, my black hen,
She lays eggs for gentlemen;
Gentlemen come every day
To see what my black hen doth lay.

I'LL TELL YOU A STORY

I'll tell you a story
About Jack a Nory--
And now my story's begun:

I'll tell you another,
About Jack his brother--
And now my story's done.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes, by Various