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Hickory Dickory Dock The Rhyme Hickory, dickory, dock,The mouse ran up the clock.The clock struck one,The mouse ran down!Hickory, dickory, dock. Hickory Dickory Dock Hickory, dickory, dock, The mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one, The mouse ran down! Hickory, dickory, dock. History: Nonsensical rhyme that is one […]

Hickory Dickory Dock

 in American / Animal / Popular / Uncategorized
Young Lambs to Sell Young lambs to sell, young lambs to sell If I had as much money as I could tell, I never would cry, young lambs to sell, Young lambs to sell, young lambs to sell, I never would cry, “Young lambs to sell”

Young Lambs to Sell

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A Wise Old Owl A wise old owl sat in an oak, The more he heard, the less he spoke; The less he spoke, the more he heard; Why aren’t we all like that wise old bird?

A Wise Old Owl

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Where is Thumbkin? Where is Thumbkin? Where is Thumbkin? Here I am, here I am. How are you today? Very well, thank you. Go away, go away. Where is Pointer? Where is Pointer? Here I am, here I am. How are you today? Very well, thank you. Go away, go […]

Where is Thumbkin?

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Where Are You Going “Where are you going, 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. “Say, will you marry me, […]

Where Are You Going

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When I Was a Bachelor When I was a bachelor I lived by myself, And all the meat I got I put upon a shelf; The rats and mice did lead me such a life That I went to London to get myself a wife. The streets were so broad […]

When I Was a Bachelor

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When Good King Arthur Ruled This Land When good King Arthur ruled this land, He was a goodly king; He stole three pecks of barley-meal To make a bag-pudding. A bag-pudding the king did make, And stuffed it well with plums; And in it put great lumps of fat, As […]

When Good King Arthur Ruled This Land

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What Did I Dream? What did I dream? I do not know; The fragments fly like chaff. Yet strange my mind Was tickled so, I cannot help but laugh.

What Did I Dream?

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Wee Willie Winkie Wee Willie Winkie Runs through the town, Upstairs and downstairs In his nightgown. Rapping at the windows, Crying through the lock, “Are the children all in bed? For it’s now eight o’clock.

Wee Willie Winkie

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Wash on Monday Wash on Monday, Iron on Tuesday, Bake on Wednesday, Brew on Thursday, Churn on Friday, Mend on Saturday, Go to meeting on Sunday.

Wash on Monday

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Vintery Mintery Cutery Corn Vintery, mintery, cutery, corn, Apple seed and apple thorn; Wire, briar, limber lock, Three geese in a flock. One flew east, And one flew west, And one flew over the cuckoo’s nest.

Vintery Mintery Cutery Corn

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Upstairs Downstairs Upstairs, downstairs, upon my lady’s window, There I saw a cup of sack and a race of ginger, Apples at the fire and nuts to crack, And a little boy in the cream pot up to his neck.

Upstairs Downstairs

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Tommy Snooks and Bessie Brooks Tommy Snooks and Bessie Brooks As Tommy Snooks and Bessie Brooks Were walking out one Sunday; Says Tommy Snooks to Bessie Brooks, “Tomorrow will be Monday.”

Tommy Snooks and Bessie Brooks

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Tom Tom the Piper’s Son Tom, Tom, the piper’s son, Stole a pig, and away did run! The pig was eat, And Tom was beat, And Tom went crying Down the street.

Tom Tom the Piper’s Son

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To Market, To Market 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

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To Bed To Bed To bed, to bed, Says Sleepy-head. Tarry a while, says Slow. Put on the pan, Says greedy Nan, We’ll sup before we go.

To Bed To Bed

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Tinker Tailor Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, Rich man, Poor man, Beggar man, Thief! Alternate: A Tinker, A Tailor, A Soldier, A Sailor, A Rich man, A Poor man, A Beggar man, A Thief, A doctor, A lawyer Emergency!

Tinker Tailor

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Three Young Rats Three young rats with black felt hats, Three young ducks with white straw flats, Three young dogs with curling tails, Three young cats with demi-veils, Went out to walk with two young pigs In satin vests and sorrel wigs, But suddenly it chanced to rain And so […]

Three Young Rats

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Three Little Kittens Three little kittens, They lost their mittens, And they began to cry, Oh, mother, dear, We sadly fear, Our mittens we have lost. What! Lost your mittens, You naughty kittens, Then you shall have no pie. Meow, meow, Then you shall have no pie. The three little […]

Three Little Kittens

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Three Children Sliding on the Ice Three children sliding on the ice, Upon a summer’s day; It so fell out, they all fell in, The rest they ran away. Now, had these children been at home, Or sliding on dry ground, Ten thousand pounds to one penny They had not […]

Three Children Sliding on the Ice

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Thirty Days Hath September Thirty days hath September, April, June and November; February has twenty eight alone All the rest have thirty-one Except in Leap Year, that’s the time When February’s Days are twenty-nine Comment: This rhyme helps children (and adults!) remember how many days are in a given month.

Thirty Days Hath September

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There were Two Birds There were two birds sat on a stone, Fa, la, la, la, lal de One flew away and then there was none, Fa, la, la, la, lal de And so the poor stone Was left all alone. Fa, la, la, la, lal de.

There were Two Birds

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There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe 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, Whipped them all soundly, and sent them to bed.

There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

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There Was an Old Woman Tossed Up In a Blanket There was an old woman tossed up in a blanket Seventeen times as high as the moon. But where she was going, no mortal could tell it, For under her arm, she carried a broom. “Old woman, old woman, old […]

There Was an Old Woman Tossed Up In a Blanket

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There was an Old Woman There was an old woman Called Nothing-at-all, Who lived in a dwelling Exceedingly small; A man stretched his mouth To its utmost extent, And down at one gulp House and old woman went

There was an Old Woman

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There was a Monkey There was a monkey climbed up a tree; When he fell down, then down fell he. There was a crow sat on a stone; When he was gone, then there was none. There was an old wife did eat an apple; When she had ate two, […]

There was a Monkey

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There was a Man in Thessaly There was a man in Thessaly, And he was wondrous wise, He jumped into a thorn bush, And scratched out both his eyes And when he saw his eyes were out, He danced with might and main, Then jumped into another bush And scratched […]

There was a Man in Thessaly

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There Was a Little Turtle There was a little turtle Who lived in a box. He swam in the puddles And climbed on the rocks. He snapped at the mosquito, He snapped at the flea. He snapped at the minnow, And he snapped at me. He caught the mosquito, He […]

There Was a Little Turtle

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There was a Little Man 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 ay or nay? For the least said is soonest men-ded, ded, ded.” Then the little maid […]

There was a Little Man

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There was a Little Guinea Pig There was a Little Guinea Pig Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history There was a little guinea-pig, Who, being little, was not big; He always walked upon his feet, And never fasted when he eat. When from a place he run away, He never […]

There was a Little Guinea Pig

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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, Taffy was not home; Taffy came to my house And stole a mutton bone. I went to Taffy’s house, Taffy was not […]

Taffy was a Welshman

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A Swarm of Bees in May 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.

A Swarm of Bees in May

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Sleep Baby Sleep Sleep, baby, sleep, Thy papa guards the sheep; Thy mama shakes the dreamland tree And from it fall sweet dreams for thee, Sleep, baby, sleep, Sleep, baby, sleep, Our cottage vale is deep; The little lamb is on the green, With woolly fleece so soft and clean, […]

Sleep Baby Sleep

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Six Little Mice Six little mice sat down to spin; Pussy passed by and she peeped in; “What are you doing, my little men?” “Weaving coats for gentlemen.” “Shall I come in and cut off your threads?” “No, no, Mistress Pussy, you’d bite off our heads.” “Oh, no, I’ll not; […]

Six Little Mice

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Sippity Sippity Sup Sippity sup, sippity sup, Bread and milk from a china cup. Bread and milk from a bright silver spoon Made of a piece of the bright silver moon. Sippity sup, sippity sup, Sippity, sippity sup.

Sippity Sippity Sup

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Sing a Song of Sixpence Sing a song of sixpence, A pocket full of rye; Four and twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie. When the pie was opened, They all began to sing. Now, wasn’t that a dainty dish To set before the King? The King was in his counting […]

Sing a Song of Sixpence

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Simple Simon Simple Simon met a pieman, Going to the fair. Said Simple Simon to the pieman, “Let me taste your ware.” Said the pieman unto Simon, “Show me first your penny.” Said Simple Simon to the pieman, “Indeed I have not any.” Simple Simon went a-fishing, For to catch […]

Simple Simon

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A Shoemaker Makes Shoes A shoemaker makes shoes without leather, With four elements all together, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, And every customer takes two pair.

A Shoemaker Makes Shoes

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She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain She’ll be comin’ round the mountain When she comes, (When she comes). She’ll be comin’ round the mountain When she comes, (When she comes). She’ll be comin’ round the mountain, She’ll be comin’ round the mountain, She’ll be comin’ round the mountain, When she […]

She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain

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See Saw Marjorie Daw See, saw, Marjorie Daw, Jennie shall have a new master. She shall have but a penny a day, because she can’t work any faster. See, saw, Marjorie Daw, Jimmy shall have a new master. He shall have but a penny a day, because he can’t work […]

See Saw Marjorie Daw

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Sailing Sailing Sailing, sailing, over the bounding main. For many a stormy wind shall blow E’er Jack comes home again. Oh, sailing, sailing, over the bounding main. For many a stormy wind shall blow E’er Jack comes home again.

Sailing Sailing

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Rub a Dub Dub Rub-a-dub-dub Three men in a tub, And how do you think they got there? The butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker — They all jumped out of a rotten potato! ‘Twas enough to make a fish stare.

Rub a Dub Dub

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Rock a Bye Baby Rock a bye baby on the tree top, When the wind blows the cradle will rock, When the bough breaks the cradle will fall, And down will come baby, cradle and all.

Rock a Bye Baby

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Ring Around the Rosy Ring Around the Rosy A pocket full of posies, Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down! Alternates/History: There are many different alternates to this rhyme; the rhyme above is the most modern version. A more traditional version goes: Ring-a-ring o’ roses, A pocket full of posies, Achoo!, […]

Ring Around the Rosy

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Riddle Me Riddle me, riddle me, ree; A little man in a tree; A stick in his hand, A stone in his throat, If you tell me this riddle I’ll give you a groat.

Riddle Me

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Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross To see a fine lady upon a white horse. Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes.

Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross

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Remember Remember Remember remember the fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder, treason Should ever be forgot…

Remember Remember

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Rain Rain Go Away Rain, rain, go away, Come again another day; Little Johnny wants to play. Comment: Johnny can be substituted for any boy or girl name.

Rain Rain Go Away

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Three Little Indians One little, two little, three little Indians Four little, five little, six little Indians Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians Ten little Indian boys. Ten little, nine little, eight little Indians Seven little, six little, five little Indians Four little, three little, two little Indians One […]

Three Little Indians

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Queen of Hearts The Queen of Hearts, She made some tarts All on a summer’s day. The Knave of Hearts, He stole the tarts And took them clean away. The King of Hearts, Called for the tarts And beat the Knave full sore. The Knave of Hearts, Brought back the […]

Queen of Hearts

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Pussycat Pussycat Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been? I’ve been to London to visit the Queen. Pussycat, pussycat, what did you there? I frightened a little mouse under her chair.

Pussycat Pussycat

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Pop Goes the Weasel All around the mulberry bush The monkey chased the weasel. The monkey thought ’twas all in fun. Pop! goes the weasel. A penney for a spool of thread, A penney for a needle. That’s the way the money goes. Pop! goes the weasel. Up and down […]

Pop Goes the Weasel

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Polly Put the Kettle On Polly, put the kettle on, Polly, put the kettle on, Polly, put the kettle on, We’ll all have tea. Sukey, take it off again, Sukey, take it off again, Sukey, take it off again, They’ve all gone away. Blow the fire and make the toast, […]

Polly Put the Kettle On

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Peter Piper Peter Piper picked a peck Of pickled peppers; A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper Picked If Peter Piper picked a peck Of Pickled peppers, Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper Picked? Comment: This is one of the more well-known tongue-twisters.

Peter Piper

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Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater 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. Comment: This rhyme is one of the few that originated in America.

Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater

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Pease Porridge Hot Pease porridge Pease porridge cold Pease porridge in the pot Nine days old. Some like it hot Some like it cold Some like it in the pot Nine days old. Comment: Porridge is switched with the word pudding.

Pease Porridge Hot

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Pat a Cake Pat a Cake Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man, Bake me a cake as fast as you can. Roll it, and prick it, and mark it with a “B” And put it in the oven for Baby and me! Variation: Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man, So I will, master, as […]

Pat a Cake Pat a Cake

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Over the River and Through the Woods Over the river and through the woods To Grandmother’s house we go. The horse knows the way To carry the sleigh Through the white and drifted snow, O! Over the river and through the woods Oh, how the wind does blow. It stings […]

Over the River and Through the Woods

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One Two Three Four Five One, two, three, four, five. Once I caught a fish alive, Six, seven, eight, nine ,ten, Then I let it go again. Why did you let it go? Because it bit my finger so. Which finger did it bite? This little finger on the right. […]

One Two Three Four Five

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One Two Buckle My Shoe 1, 2 One, two, buckle my shoe; 3, 4 Three, four, knock at the door; 5, 6 Five, six, pick up sticks; 7, 8 Seven, eight, lay them straight; 9, 10 Nine, ten, a good fat hen; 11, 12 Eleven, twelve, dig and delve; 13, […]

One Two Buckle My Shoe

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One Misty Moisty Morning One misty, moisty morning, When cloudy was the weather, I chanced to meet an old man Clothed all in leather He began to compliment, And I began to grin, How do you do? And how do you do? And how do you do, again?

One Misty Moisty Morning

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One for Sorrow One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret Never to be told.

One for Sorrow

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On Top of Spaghetti On top of spaghetti, All covered with cheese, I lost my poor meatball When somebody sneezed. It rolled off the table And onto the floor, And then my poor meatball Rolled right out the door! It rolled in a garden And under a bush Now my […]

On Top of Spaghetti

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Old Mother Hubbard Old Mother Hubbard Went to the cupboard To fetch her poor dog a bone; But when she came there The cupboard was bare, And so the poor dog had none. She took a clean dish To get him some tripe; But when she came back He was […]

Old Mother Hubbard

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Old Mother Goose Old Mother Goose, When she wanted to wander, Would ride through the air On a very fine gander. Old Father Gander When the wind was fast and loose Would ride through the air On a very fine goose.

Old Mother Goose

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Old King Cole Old King Cole was a merry old soul, And a merry old soul was he. He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl, And he called for his fiddlers three. Every fiddler had a fiddle fine, And a very fine fiddle had he, had […]

Old King Cole

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Oh Dear Oh, dear, what can the matter be? Dear, dear, what can the matter be? Oh, dear, what can the matter be? Johnny’s so long at the fair.He promised to buy me a bunch of blue ribbons; He promised to buy me some bonny blue ribbons; He promised to […]

Oh Dear

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The North Wind Doth Blow The north wind doth blow, And we shall have snow, And what will poor robin do then, Poor thing? He’ll sit in a barn, And keep himself warm, And hide his head under his wing, Poor thing.

The North Wind Doth Blow

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Mondays Child Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace, Wednesday’s child is full of woe, Thursday’s child has far to go, Friday’s child is loving and giving, Saturday’s child must work for a living, But the child that’s born on the Sabbath day Is fair […]

Mondays Child

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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, and everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go. It followed her to school […]

Mary Had a Little Lamb

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A Man in the Wilderness A man in the wilderness Asked this of me, “How many strawberries Grow in the sea?” I answered him As I thought good, “As many red herrings As swim in the wood.”

A Man in the Wilderness

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The Man in the Moon The man in the moon Looked out of the moon And this is what he said, “Tis time that, now I’m getting up, All babies went to bed.” Comment: This is a rhyme telling children when it gets dark (when the moon comes out) it […]

The Man in the Moon

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Lucy Locket Lucy Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it; Not a penny was there in it, Only ribbon round it.

Lucy Locket

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London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, Falling down. London Bridge is falling down, My fair lady. Take a key and lock her up, Lock her up, Lock her up. Take a key and lock her up, My fair lady. How will we build it up, Build it up, Build […]

London Bridge is Falling Down

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Little Tommy Tucker Little Tommy Tucker sings for his supper, What shall we give him? Brown bread and butter. How shall he cut it without a knife? How shall he marry without a wife? History: Tommy Tucker refers to a term that was used for an orphan. Orphans were often […]

Little Tommy Tucker

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Little Robin Redbreast Sat Upon a Tree Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree, Up went pussy cat, and down went he! Down came pussy, and away Robin ran; Says little Robin Redbreast, “Catch me if you can!” Little Robin Redbreast jumped upon a wall, Pussy cat jumped after him, […]

Little Robin Redbreast Sat Upon a Tree

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Little Polly Flinders Little Polly Flinders Sat among the cinders, Warming her pretty little toes. Her mother came and caught her, And whipped her little daughter For spoiling her nice new clothes.

Little Polly Flinders

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Little Poll Parrot Little Poll Parrot Sat in his garret Eating toast and tea; A little brown mouse Jumped into the house, And stole it all away.

Little Poll Parrot

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Little Nancy Etticoat Little Nancy Etticoat In a white petticoat, And a red nose. The longer she stands The shorter she grows. Comment: This rhyme is a riddle. Can you tell me what it is?

Little Nancy Etticoat

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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.

Little Miss Muffet

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Little Jack Horner Little Jack Horner Sat in a corner, Eating a mincemeat pie. He stuck in his thumb And pulled out a plum, And said, “What a good boy am I!” Variation: Some versions have Jack eating a Christmas pie instead of a mincemeat pie.

Little Jack Horner

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Little Hen I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen, She washed up the dishes and kept the house clean. She went to the mill to fetch us some flour, And always got home in less than an hour. She baked me my bread, she brewed me my ale, […]

Little Hen

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Little Bunny Foo Foo hoppin’ through the forest, scoopin’ up the field mice and boppin’ em on the head. And down came the Blue Fairy, and she said: Little Bunny FooFoo I don’t want to see you scoopin’ up the field mice and boppin’ em on the head. And now […]

Little Bunny Foo Foo

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Little Boy Blue Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn, The sheep’s in the meadow, the cow’s in the corn. 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. […]

Little Boy Blue

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Little Bo Peep Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep And can’t tell 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 […]

Little Bo Peep

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The Lion and the Unicorn The Lion and the Unicorn Were fighting for the crown; The Lion beat the Unicorn All about the town. Some gave them white bread And some gave them brown; Some gave them plum cake And drummed them out of town!

The Lion and the Unicorn

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Ladybug Ladybug Ladybug! Ladybug! Fly away home. Your house is on fire. And your children all gone. All except one, And that’s Ann, For she crept under the frying pan.

Ladybug Ladybug

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King Boggen King Boggen, he built a fine new hall; Pastry and piecrust, that was the wall; The windows were made of black pudding and white, Roofed with pancakes — you never saw the like.

King Boggen

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John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt His name is my name, too! Whenever we go out, The people always shout There goes John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt! History: The words and song that accompany ‘John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt’ orginated in the United States. It was a mocking of German […]

John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt

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Jack Sprat Jack Sprat could eat no fat His wife could eat no lean And so betwixt the two of them They licked the platter clean Jack ate all the lean, Joan ate all the fat. The bone they picked it clean, Then gave it to the cat Jack Sprat […]

Jack Sprat

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Jack be Nimble Jack, be nimble, Jack, be quick, Jack, jump over The candlestick. Jack jumped high Jack jumped low Jack jumped over and burned his toe. History: From the early to mid 19th century, this rhyme is a telling of a practice from that era of jumping over a […]

Jack be Nimble

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Jack and Jill Jack and Jill Went up the hill To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down And broke his crown And Jill came tumbling after. Up Jack got And home did trot As fast as he could caper Went to bed And plastered his head With vinegar […]

Jack and Jill

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Itsy Bitsy Spider Itsy Bitsy spider climbing up the spout Down came the rain and washed the spider out Out came the sun and dried up all the rain Now Itsy Bitsy spider went up the spout again! History: The origins of this fun finger game for small children has […]

Itsy Bitsy Spider

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It’s Raining It’s Pouring It’s raining, it’s pouring; The old man is snoring. Bumped his head And he went to bed And he couldn’t get up in the morning. Rain, rain, go away; Come again another day; Little Johnny wants to play. Comment: Many times you will hear only the […]

It’s Raining It’s Pouring

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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. Comment: This is a riddle. Can you tell me what I am?  

In Spring I Look Gay

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In Marble Walls In marble walls as white as milk, Lined with skin as soft as silk; Within a fountain crystal clear, A golden apple doth appear. No doors there are to this stronghold — Yet thieves break in and steal the gold. Note: This rhyme is a riddle. Do […]

In Marble Walls

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If All the World Were Paper If all the world were paper, And all the sea were ink, If all the trees Were bread and cheese, What should we have to drink? History: An Old English folk song dating back to the reign of Charles I (1600 – 1649) of […]

If All the World Were Paper

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Ice Cream, a Penny a Lump Ice cream, a penny a lump! The more you eat, the more you jump. Eeper, Weeper, Chimney sweeper, Married a wife and could not keep her. Married another, Did not love her, Up the chimney he did shove her!

Ice Cream a Penny a Lump

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I See the Moon I see the moon and the moon sees me The moon sees the somebody I’d like to see. God bless the moon and God bless me God bless the somebody I’d like to see!

I See the Moon

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I Saw a Ship A Sailing I saw a ship a-sailing, A-sailing on the sea. And, oh, but it was laden With pretty things for thee. There were comfits in the cabin, And apples in the hold; The sails were made of silk And the masts were all of gold. […]

I Saw a Ship A Sailing

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I Had a 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. I skipped over water, I danced over […]

I Had a Little Nut Tree

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I Don’t Want to Go to Mexico I don’t want to go to Mexico No more, more, more. There’s a big fat policeman At my door, door, door. He grabbed me by the collar, He made me pay a dollar, I don’t want to go to Mexico No more, more, […]

I Don’t Want to Go to Mexico

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Hush Little Baby Hush, little baby, don’t say a word Mama’s gonna buy you a mocking bird If that mockin’bird don’t sing Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring If that diamond ring turns brass, Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass If that looking glass gets broke Mama’s gonna […]

Hush Little Baby

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Hush a Bye Baby Hush-a-bye, baby, in the tree top. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, And down will come baby, cradle and all. History: The words and origin of this rhyme records a young pilgrim in the Americas seeing […]

Hush a Bye Baby

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Humpty Dumpty Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again! History: From the East Anglia Tourist Board in England: “Humpty Dumpty was a powerful cannon during the English Civil War (1642-49). It […]

Humpty Dumpty

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How Many Miles to Babylon? How many miles to Babylon? Three score and ten. Can I get there by candlelight? Aye, and back again. If your feet are nimble and light, You’ll get there by candlelight. History: A score is a group of 20 (as in Lincoln’s 4 score and […]

How Many Miles to Babylon

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The House That Jack Built This is the house that Jack built. This is the cat That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the cat, That killed the rat, That ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is […]

The House That Jack Built

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Hot Cross Buns Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns! One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns! If you have no daughters, Give them to your sons! Variation: Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns! One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns! […]

Hot Cross Buns

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Hokey Pokey You put your right foot in, You put your right foot out; You put your right foot in, And you shake it all about. You do the Hokey-Pokey, And you turn yourself around. That’s what it’s all about! You put your left foot in, You put your left […]

Hokey Pokey

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High in the Pine Tree High in the pine tree, The little turtledove Made a little nursery To please her little love. “Coo,” said the turtledove, “Coo,” said she; In the long, shady branches Of the dark pine tree.

High in the Pine Tree

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Higglety Pigglety Higglety, pigglety, my black hen, She lays eggs for gentlemen. Gentlemen come every day To see what my black hen doth lay. Sometimes nine, and sometimes ten. Higglety, pigglety, my black hen.

Higglety Pigglety

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April Sky
Hey Diddle Diddle Hey, diddle, diddle, The cat and the fiddle, The cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed To see such sport, And the dish ran away with the spoon. History: 1. Classified as a nonsense rhyme, these verses were put together purely to rhyme with each […]

Hey Diddle Diddle

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Here’s the Church Here’s the church, and here’s the steeple Open the door and see all the people. Here’s the parson going upstairs, And here he is saying his prayers.

Here’s the Church

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Hark Hark the Dogs Do Bark Hark! Hark! The dogs do bark, The beggars are coming to town. Some in rags, And some in tags, And one in a velvet gown! History: These words were frequently chanted during the reign of Queen Elizabeth in the 16th century as homeless men […]

Hark Hark the Dogs Do Bark

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The Grand Old Duke of York The Grand old Duke of York he had ten thousand men He marched them up to the top of the hill And he marched them down again. When they were up, they were up And when they were down, they were down And when […]

The Grand Old Duke of York

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Grandma’s Spectacles These are Grandma’s spectacles, This is Grandma’s hat. This is the way she folds her hands, And lays them in her lap.

Grandmas Spectacles

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Good Night Sleep Tight Good night, sleep tight, Wake up bright In the morning light To do what’s right With all your might. Variation: Line added between first and second “Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite” Alternate Version: Good night, sleep tight, Don’t let the bedbugs bite. And if they do […]

Good Night Sleep Tight

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Georgie Porgie Georgie Porgie, puddin’ and pie, Kissed the girls and made them cry. When the boys came out to play, Georgie Porgie ran away. History: This rhyme refers to the amorous and amoral Prince Regent who became George IV during Regency times in England

Georgie Porgie

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Five Little Ducks Five little ducks went out to play Over the hill and far away The mother duck said Quack, Quack come back Four little ducks came running back Four little ducks went out to play Over the hill and far away The mother duck said Quack, Quack come […]

Five Little Ducks

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Fish Story One, two, three, four, five – Once I caught a fish alive. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten – Then I let it go again. Why did I let it go? Because it bit my finger so. Which finger did it bite? The little finger on the right.

Fish Story

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Fiddle Dee Dee Fiddle dee dee, fiddle dee dee, The fly has married the bumblebee. They went to the church, And married was she. The fly has married the bumblebee.

Fiddle Dee Dee

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 Fee Fie Foe Fum Fee! Fie! Foe! Fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be he ‘live, or be he dead, I’ll grind his bones to make my bread.

Fee Fie Foe Fum

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The Farmer in the Dell The farmer in the dell, The farmer in the dell, Hi-ho, the derry-o, The farmer in the dell. The farmer takes a wife, The farmer takes a wife, Hi-ho, the derry-o, The farmer takes a wife. The wife takes a child, The wife takes a […]

The Farmer in the Dell

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Eencey Weencey Spider Eencey Weencey spider Climbed up the water spout; Down came the rain And washed poor Eencey out; Out came the sun And dried up all the rain; And the Eencey Weencey spider Climbed up the spout again. Variation: Itsy Bitsy Spider

Eencey Weencey Spider

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For Want of a Nail For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. […]

For Want of a Nail

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Doctor Foster Doctor Foster went to Gloucester In a shower of rain. He stepped in a puddle Right up to his middle, And never went there again.

Doctor Foster

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Ding Dong Bell Ding, dong, bell, Pussy’s 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, And killed the mice in his father’s […]

Ding Dong Bell

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A Diller A Dollar A diller, a dollar, a ten o’clock scholar! What makes you come so soon? You used to come at ten o’clock; Now you come at noon.

A Diller A Dollar

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Diddle Diddle Dumpling Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son, John, Went to bed with his trousers on, One shoe off and one shoe on! Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son, John! Variation: Stockings are used instead of the word trousers in the second verse.

Diddle Diddle Dumpling

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Dance to Your Daddy Dance to your Daddy, My little babby, Dance to your Daddy, My little lamb. You shall have a fishy In a little dishy, You shall have a fishy When the boat comes in.

Dance to Your Daddy

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Daffy Down Dilly Daffy Down Dilly Has come to town In a yellow petticoat And a green gown. Comment: This rhyme is a riddle? Do you know what it is?

Daffy Down Dilly

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Curly Locks Curly Locks, Curly Locks, Will you be mine? You shall not wash dishes, Nor feed the swine, But sit on a cushion And sew a fine seam, And sup upon strawberries, Sugar, and cream.

Curly Locks

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Cry Baby Bunting Cry Baby Bunting Daddy’s gone a-hunting Gone to fetch a rabbit skin To wrap the Baby Bunting in Cry Baby Bunting

Cry Baby Bunting

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Come to the Window Come to the window, My baby, with me, And look at the stars That shine on the sea! There are two little stars That play bo-peep With two little fish Far down in the deep; And two little frogs Cry “Neap, neap, neap;” I see a […]

Come to the Window

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Christmas is Coming Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat Please put a penny in the old man’s hat If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do If you haven’t got a ha’penny, a farthing will do If you haven’t got a farthing then God bless you!

Christmas is Coming

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A Cat Came Fiddling Out of a Barn A cat came fiddling out of a barn, With a pair of bagpipes under her arm. She could sing nothing but fiddle dee dee, The mouse has married the bumblebee. Pipe, cat; dance, mouse; We’ll have a wedding at our good house.

A Cat Came Fiddling Out of a Barn

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Bobby Shaftoe Bobby Shaftoe went to sea, Silver buckles on his knee. He’ll come back and marry me, Pretty Bobby Shaftoe. Bobby Shaftoe’s fine and fair, Combing down his auburn hair. He’s my friend for evermore, Pretty Bobby Shaftoe.

Bobby Shaftoe

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Birds of a Feather Birds of a feather flock together, And so will pigs and swine; Rats and mice will have their choice, And so will I have mine.

Birds of a Feather

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The Big Ship Sails The big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh The ally-ally-oh, the ally-ally-oh Oh, the big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh On the last day of September. The captain said it will never, never do Never, never do, never, never do The captain said it will never, never […]

The Big Ship Sails

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Big Bad Wolf Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf ? The big bad wolf The big bad wolf Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf ? Tra-la-la-la-la-la I’m not afraid of the big bad wolf The big bad wolf The big bad wolf I’m not afraid of the big […]

Big Bad Wolf

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Bat Bat Come Under My Hat Bat, bat, come under my hat, And I’ll give you a slice of bacon; And when I bake, I’ll give you a cake, If I am not mistaken.

Bat Bat Come Under My Hat

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Baa Baa Black Sheep Baa, baa, black sheep, Have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, Three bags full; One for the master, And one for the dame, And one for the little boy Who lives down the lane. History This rhyme was first published in Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song […]

Baa Baa Black Sheep

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As I Went To Bonner
As I Went To Bonner As I went to Bonner, I met a pig Without a wig, Upon my word and honor. History This nonsensical rhyme was first published in The Real Mother Goose in 1916. Illistration by Blanche Fisher Wright

As I Went To Bonner

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As I Was Going to St. Ives As 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? Comment This […]

As I Was Going to St. Ives

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Ants Marching
The Ants Go Marching The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah The ants go marching one by one, The little one stops to suck his thumb And they all go marching down to the ground To get out of […]

The Ants Go Marching

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thumbs up silouette
An Apple a Day An apple a day Sends the doctor away Apple in the morning Doctor’s warning Roast apple at night Starves the doctor outright Eat an apple going to bed Knock the doctor on the head Three each day, seven days a week Ruddy apple, ruddy cheek Meaning […]

An Apple A Day

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All Around the Mulberry Bush All around the mulberry bush The monkey chased the weasel. The monkey thought ’twas all in fun. Pop! goes the weasel. A penny for a spool of thread, A penny for a needle. That’s the way the money goes. Pop! goes the weasel. Up and […]

All Around the Mulberry Bush

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