I had a little hobby-horse, And it was dapple grey; Its head was made of pea-straw, Its tail was made of hay.
I sold it to an old woman For a copper groat; And I’ll not sing my song again Without a new coat.
42. Little Husband
I had a little husband, No bigger than my thumb; I put him in a pint-pot, And there I bid him drum.
I bought a little horse, That galloped up and down; I bridled him and saddled him, And sent him out of town.
I gave him some garters, To garter up his hose, And a little handkerchief To wipe his pretty nose.
43. «I love little pussy, her coat is so warm…»
I love little pussy, her coat is so warm, And if I don’t hurt her she’ll do me no harm; I won’t pull her tail, nor drive her away, But pussy and I together will play.
44. Little Nut Tree
I had a little nut tree, Nothing would it 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.
45. «I had a little pony…»
I had a little pony, His name was Dapple Grey, I lent him to a lady, To ride a mile away.
She whipped him, she slashed him, She rode him through the mire; I would not lend my pony now, For all the lady’s hire.
46. «Round about, round about…»
Round about, round about, Maggotty pie; My father loves good ale, And so do I.
47. In a Cottage in Fife
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 ’twas thought what they eat Helped, with drinking, to keep them alive!
48. «In Spring I look gay…»
In Spring I look gay, Decked in comely array, In Summer more clothing I wear; When colder it grows, I fling off my clothes, And in Winter quite naked appear.
49. «I saw a peacock with a fiery tail…»
I saw a peacock with a fiery tail, I saw a blazing comet drop down hail, I saw a cloud wrapped with ivy round, I saw an oak creep upon the ground, I saw a pismire swallow up a whale, I saw the sea brimful of ale, I saw a Venice glass full fifteen feet deep, I saw a well full of men’s tears that weep, I saw red eyes all of a flaming fire, I saw a house bigger than the moon and higher, I saw the sun at twelve o’clock at night, I saw the man that saw this wondrous sight.
50. Ye Fairy Ship
A ship, a ship a-sailing, A-sailing on the sea, And it was deeply laden With pretty things for me; There were raisins in the cabin, And almonds in the hold; The sails were made of satin, And the mast it was of gold.
The four-and-twenty sailors That stood between the decks, Were four-and-twenty white mice With rings about their necks. The captain was a duck, a duck, With a jacket on his back, And when this fairy ship set sail, The captain he said, “Quack!”
51. I Saw 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, The other play on the violin; Such joy there was at my wedding, On New Year’s Day in the morning.
52. «Jack be nimble…»
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over The candlestick.
53. «I won’t be my father’s Jack…»
I won’t be my father’s Jack, I won’t be my father’s Jill; I will be the fiddler’s wife, And have music when I will.
T’other little tune, T’other little tune, Prithee, Love, play me T’other little tune.
54. «I went to the wood and got it…»
I went to the wood and got it; I sat me down and looked at it; The more I looked at it the less I liked it; And I brought it home because I couldn’t help it.
55. «I would, if I could…»
I would, if I could, If I couldn’t how could I? I couldn’t, without I could, could I? Could you, without you could, could ye? Could ye? Could ye? Could you, without you could, could ye?
56. «Jerry Hall…»
Jerry Hall, He is so small, A rat could eat him, Hat and all.
57. Jack Sprat
Jack Sprat could eat no fat, His wife could eat no lean; And so betwixt them both, you see, They lick’d the platter clean.
58. «Lend me thy mare to ride a mile…»
“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!”
59. «Little Betty Blue…»
Little Betty Blue, Lost her holiday shoe. What will poor Betty do? Give her another.
60. Little Bo-Peep
Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, And doesn’t know where to find them. Leave them alone, And they’ll come home, Wagging 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 they were still all 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 them!
It happened one day, as Bo-Peep did stray Into a meadow nearby. 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 went rambling. And tried as she could, As a shepherdess should To tack each again to its lambkin.
61. Little Boy Blue
Little Boy Blue, Come blow your horn, The sheep’s in the meadow, The cow’s in the corn. But where is the boy Who looks after the sheep? He’s under a haycock, Fast asleep. Will you wake him? No, not I; For if I do, he’s sure to cry.
62. Little Girl, Little Girl
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.
63. «Little Jack Horner…»
Little Jack Horner Sat in a corner, Eating a Christmas pie. He put in his thumb, And pulled out a plum, And said, “What a good boy am I!”
64. «Jenny Wren fell sick…»
Jenny Wren fell sick Upon a merry time, In came Robin Redbreast And brought her sops and wine.
“Eat well of the sop, Jenny, Drink well of the wine.” “Thank you, Robin, kindly, You shall be mine.”
Jenny Wren got well, And stood upon her feet, And told Robin plainly, She loved him not a bit.
Robin he got angry, And hopped upon a twig, Saying, “Out upon you, fie upon you! Bold faced jig!”
65. «Little Miss Muffet…»
Little Miss Muffet, Sat on a tuffet, Eating her curds and whey; Along came a spider, Who sat down beside her, And frightened, Miss Muffet, away.
66. «Little Nancy Etticoat…»
Little Nancy Etticoat In a white petticoat, And a red nose; She has not feet or hands The longer she stands The shorter she grows.
67. «Little Tommy Tittlemouse…»
Little Tommy Tittlemouse, Lived in a little house; He caught fishes In other men’s ditches.
68. «Little King Pippin he built a fine hall…»
Little King Pippin he built a fine hall, Pie-crust and pastry-crust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black puddings and white, And slated with pancakes, – you ne’er saw the like!
69. «Lives in winter…»
Lives in winter, Dies in summer, And grows with its roots upward!
70. Mary Had a Little Lamb
Mary had a little lamb, Little lamb, little lamb, Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went, Mary went, Mary went, Everywhere that Mary went, The lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day, School one day, school one day, It followed her to school one day, That was against the rule.
It made the children laugh and play, Laugh and play, laugh and play, It made the children laugh and play To see a lamb at school.
And so the teacher turned it out, Turned it out, turned it out, And so the teacher turned it out, But still it lingered near…
And waited patiently about, Patiently about, patiently about, And waited patiently about, Till Mary did appear.
“Why does the lamb love Mary so? Mary so? Mary so? Why does the lamb love Mary so?” The eager children cry.
“Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know, The lamb, you know, the lamb, you know! Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know.” The teacher did reply.
