Bo Peep February 15, 2017 All Rhymes 0 Comments

A traveler checks his map before heading out to Babylon

How Many Miles to Babylon?

How many miles to Babylon?
Three score miles and ten.
Can I get there by candlelight?
Aye, and back again.
If your heels are nimble and light,
You’ll get there by candlelight.

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Listen as male American:

Posted in All Rhymes, Historical & Traditional, Mother Goose Classics, Songs & Verses, Travel & Places

Tagged Babylon, candle, feet, journey, miles, travel

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Meaning

This rhyme presents a riddle-like journey to the ancient city of Babylon, asking how far it is and whether one can make the trip before a candle burns out. It evokes images of adventure, distance, and a race against time, but the exact journey is impossible—“Babylon” is both an actual ancient city and a symbol of the faraway or fantastic. The rhyme encourages imagination, resourcefulness, and playful thinking about time and distance.

Origin

Of English origin, the rhyme is rooted in traditional folklore and riddle-song styles. Babylon, a city from ancient Mesopotamia, was long used in English and European literature to represent distant, mysterious, or exotic places. The idea of traveling “by candlelight” imparts a magical or time-pressured quality to the journey.

Time Period

The rhyme was circulating in oral tradition by the 18th century, with documented versions appearing in nursery collections during the 19th century. Its themes and phrasing show links to earlier riddling ballads and games.

Why It Became Popular

Its mysterious setting, rhythmic question-and-answer format, and themes of travel and speed made it popular as a children’s chant, skipping rhyme, or circle game. The inclusion of the magical-sounding “Babylon” and the challenge of making a journey “by candlelight” added to its allure and memorability.

First Known Publication

Appears in 19th-century British and American nursery rhyme compilations, such as James Orchard Halliwell’s collections.

Structure and Style

Meter: Iambic with varied line lengths
Rhyme Scheme: ABCCBB
Line Count: 6
Style Notes: Direct questions, dialogue structure, playful repetition; simple and musical, fitting for games and chants.

Themes

Travel and exploration
Distance and time
Imagination and wonder
Riddle and adventure

Language Notes

“Three score miles and ten” means 70 miles (a score is 20).
“By candlelight” implies traveling only during the brief span a candle is burning—conveying urgency or speed.
The name “Babylon” may suggest somewhere legendary, far off, or even impossible to reach.

Moral or Lesson

None direct, but fosters imaginative thinking and introduces ideas of measurement and pacing.

Historical or Cultural Notes

Babylon appears frequently in English idiom and literature as a symbol for an exotic, distant, or unknowable place. This rhyme likely adapted that mystique into a game, using the unreachable city as the ultimate destination. The idea of making it “by candlelight” was particularly resonant in the era before electric lighting.

Notable Variants

Some versions slightly alter the distance (“two score miles and ten”), or the destination (“London town” or other cities), and certain lines are sometimes swapped for rhythm or ease of chanting.

Appearances in Media or Literature

Commonly featured in classic British and American nursery rhyme books, and referenced in children’s games, television, and literature focused on riddles and quests.

Suggested Activities

Walking Game: Pace out 70 steps, counting together as “miles to Babylon.”
Candle Timer: Light a (supervised, battery-operated) candle and see what games or tasks children can complete “by candlelight.”
Riddle Race: Set up an obstacle course to be finished before a short song or timer ends, matching the rhyme’s spirit.
Imaginative Map: Have children draw or make a fantasy map showing the path to “Babylon” and what they see along the way.
Drama Activity: Act out the journey, with one child as the traveler and others as guides or obstacles.
Math Extension: Practice converting “scores” to single numbers, or invent new riddles using distance and time.

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How Many Miles to Babylon?

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