Classic Audiobook Collection - The Real Mother Goose by Anonymous ~ Full Audiobook [folklore]
Episode Date: June 29, 2023The Real Mother Goose by Anonymous audiobook. Genre: folklore The Real Mother Goose is a beloved collection of traditional nursery rhymes and jingles passed down through generations, gathered under t...he timeless name 'Mother Goose.' Anonymous in authorship but unmistakable in cultural impact, this anthology invites listeners into a playful world of kings and cobblers, clever cats, mysterious maidens, bustling markets, and moonlit mischief. Each short verse stands on its own, yet together they create a lively portrait of childhood imagination - where nonsense can hide a wink of wisdom, and simple rhythms make language unforgettable. Perfect for family listening, bedtime routines, and early readers, these rhymes build sound awareness, memory, and a feel for the music of words through repetition, rhyme, and gentle surprises. Whether you are revisiting favorites you remember by heart or discovering them anew, The Real Mother Goose offers a warm, sing-song journey through the folklore of everyday life, full of humor, curiosity, and the small dramas of growing up - all in bite-sized pieces meant to be read aloud and shared. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 01 (00:22:05) Chapter 02 (00:42:00) Chapter 03 (00:58:56) Chapter 04 (01:20:24) Chapter 05 (01:40:12) Chapter 06 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Real Mother Goose by Anonymous.
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 and bring their tails behind them.
Little Bo Peep fell fast asleep and dreamt she heard them bleeding.
But when she awoke she found it a joke, for still they were 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, unto a meadow hard by.
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 she rubed her,
and tried what she could as a shepherdess should, that each tail should be properly placed.
End of Little Bo Peep.
Little boy blue.
Little boy blue come below your horn.
The sheep's in the meadow, the cows in the corn.
Where's the little boy that looks after the sheep?
Under the haystack, fast asleep.
End of the little boy blue.
Rain.
Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day. Little Johnny wants to play. End of rain. Winter.
Cold and raw, the north wind doth blow bleak in the morning early. All the hills are covered with snow, and winters now come fairly.
End of winter. The clock. There's a neat little clock in the school room it stands, and it
points to the time with its two little hands, and may we like the clock keep a face clean and bright
with hands ever ready to do what is right. End of the clock. Fingers and toes. Every lady in this land
has 20 nails upon each hand, five and 20 on hands and feet, all this is true without deceit.
End of fingers and toes
A seasonable song
Piping hot
smoking hot
What I've got
You have not
Hot gray peas
Hot hot hot hot
hot gray piece
Hot
End of a seasonable song
Dame Trot
and her cat
Dame Trot
and her cat
led a peaceable life
when they were not troubled
with other folks strife.
When Dame had her dinner,
Pussy would wait
and was sure to receive a nice
piece from her plate.
End of Dame Trot
and her cat.
Three children on the ice.
Three children sliding on the ice
upon a summer's day.
As it fell out, they all fell in,
the rest they ran away.
Oh, had these children
been at school or sliding on dry ground,
10,000 pounds to one penny,
they had not then been drowned.
Ye parents who have children dear,
and ye too who have none,
if you would keep them safe abroad,
pray keep them safe at home.
End of three children on the ice.
The old woman under a hill.
There was an old woman lived under a hill.
and if she's not gone, she lives there still.
End of the old woman under a hill.
Tweedledum and Tweedle D.
Tweedle D. Resolved to have a battle.
For Tweedle D. said Tweedle D had spoiled his nice new rattle.
Just then flew by a monstrous crow, as big as a tar barrel,
which frightened both the heroes so,
They quite forgot their quarrel.
End of Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
Cross patch.
Cross patch, draw the latch.
Sit by the fire and spin.
Take a cup and drink it up, then call your neighbors in.
End of cross patch.
Oh dear.
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?
Two old women got up in an apple tree.
One came down, and the even,
other stay till Saturday. End of, oh dear. Old Mother Goose. Old Mother Goose, when she wanted to wander,
would ride through the air on a very fine gander. End of Old Mother Goose.
Little Jumping Joan. Here am I, little jumping Joan. When nobody's with me, I'm always alone.
End of Little Jumping Joan
Robin Redbreast
Little Robin Redbreast sat upon a tree
Up went pussycat
Down went he
Down came pussycat
Away Robin ran
Says Little Robin Redbreast
Catch me if you can
Little Robin Redbreast
jumped upon a spade
Pussy cat jumped after him
And then he was afraid
Little Robin chirped and sang
and what did pussy say pussy cat said meo meo meo and robin flew away end of robin red breast patty cake
pata cake paddock baker's man so i do master as fast as i can pat it and prick it and mark it with a tea put it in the oven for tommy and me end of pata cake
money and the mayor lend me thy mayor to ride a mile she is lamed leaping over a style alack and i must keep the fair i'll give thee money for thy mayor oh oh say you so money will make the mayor to go
End of the money and the mayor.
A melancholy song.
Trip upon trenches and dance upon dishes.
My mother sent me for some barm, some barm.
She bid me go lightly and come again quickly,
for fear the young men should do me some harm.
Yet didn't you see?
Yet didn't you see what naughty tricks they put upon me?
They broke my pitcher and spilt the water and huffed my mother,
and chide her daughter and kissed my sister instead of me.
End of a melancholy song.
Jack. Jack be nimble. Jack be quick. Jack jump over the candlestick.
End of Jack. Going to St. Ives.
As I was going to St. Ives, I met a man with seven wives.
Every wife had seven sacks. Every sack had seven cats.
Every cat had seven kits.
Kits, cats, sacks, and wives.
How many were going to St. Ives?
End of going to St. Ives.
30 days, hath September.
30 days, half September, April, June, and November.
February has 28 alone.
All of the rest have 31, accepting leap year.
That's the time when February's days are 20.
End of 30 days, half September.
Bees. 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. End of bees.
Baby dolly.
Hush, baby, my dolly, I pray you don't cry.
And I'll give you some bread and some milk by and by.
Or perhaps you like custard or maybe a tart.
Then to either you're welcome with all my heart.
End of Baby's Allie.
Come out to play.
Girls and boys come out to play.
The moon doth shine as bright as day.
Leave your supper and leave your sleep
and come with your playfellows into the street.
with a whoop or come with a call, come with a good will, or not at all. Up the ladder and down the
wall, a half-penny roll will serve us all. You find milk and I'll find flour, and we'll have
pudding in half an hour. End of Come Out to Play. If wishes were horses. If wishes were horses, beggars
would ride. If turnips were watches, I would wear one by my side.
And if ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers.
End of if wishes were horses.
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.
End of old chairs to mend.
To market.
To market, to market, to buy a fat pig.
Home again, home again, jiggity jig.
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog.
Home again, home again, home again.
and jiggity jog. To market to market to buy a plum bun. Home again, home again, market is done.
End of To Market. Robin and Richard
Robin and Richard were two pretty men. They lay in bed till a clock struck ten. Then upstarts Robin and looks at the sky.
Oh, brother Richard, the sun's very high. You go before with the bottle and bag, and I will
come after on little Jack Nag.
And a Robin and Richard.
A man and a maid.
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, yea or nay, for least said is soonest,
mended, dead, dead, dead.
The little maid replied.
Should I be your little bride?
Pray what must we have for to eat, eat, eat, eat?
Will the flame that you're so rich in light a fire in my kitchen
Or the little god of love turn the spit, spit, spit?
End of a man and a maid.
The clever hen
I had a little hen the prettiest ever seen
She washed me the dishes and kept.
the house clean she went to the mill to fetch me some flour she brought it home in less than an hour she baked me my bread she brewed me my ale she sat by the fire and told many a fine tale end of the clever hen
here goes my lord here goes my lord a trot a trot a trot a trot a trot a trot a trot here goes my lady a canter a canter a canter here goes my young master jocky hitch jockey
hitch jocky hitch jocky hitch here goes my young miss an amble and amble and amble and amble and ammel
the footman lags behind to tipple ale and wine and goes gallop a gallop a gallop to make up his time
end of here goes my lord lucy locket lucy locket lost her pocket kitty fisher found it nothing in it nothing in it
but the binding round it.
End of Lucy Lockett.
Two birds.
There were two birds sat on a stone.
Fa la la la la la la da di.
One flew away and then there was one.
Fala la la la la la da da di.
The other bird flew after and then there was none.
Fala la la la la la la la da di.
And so the stone was left alone.
Fa la la la la la la la la la da da da di.
End of two birds
Leg over leg
Leg over leg
As the dog went to Dover
When he came to a style
Jump
He went over
End of leg over leg
When Jenny Wren was young
T'was once upon a time
When Jenny Wren was young
So daintily she danced
And so prettily she sung
Robin Redbreast lost his heart, for he was a gallant bird.
So he doffed his hat to Jenny Wren, requesting to be heard.
Oh, dearest Jenny Wren, if you will but be mine,
you shall feed on cherry pie and drink new current wine.
I'll dress you like a goldfinch or any peacock gay.
So dearest gin, if you'll be mine, let us appoint.
the day. Jenny blushed behind her fan and thus declared her mind,
Since dearest Bob, I love you well, I'll take your all for kind.
Cherry pie is very nice, and so is current wine, but I must wear my plain brown gown
and never go too fine. And of when Jenny Wren was young.
The Flying Pig
Dickery, Dickery Dare
The pig flew up in the air
The man in brown soon brought him down
Dickery, Dickery Dare
End of the flying pig
Barber
Barber Barber
Shave a pig
How many hairs will make a wig
Four and twenty
That's enough
Give the barber a pinch of snuff
End of barber
Solomon Grundy
Solomon Grundy
Born on a Monday
Christened on Tuesday
Married on Wednesday
Took ill on Thursday
Worse on Friday
Died on Saturday
Buried on Sunday
This is the end of Solomon Grundy
End of Solomon Grundy
The Three Wise Men of Gotham
Three wise men of Gotham
Three wise men of Gotham
Went to sea in a bowl
If the bowl had been stronger, my song had been longer.
End of the three wise men of Gotham.
Hushabai
Hushabai, baby, on the treetop.
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock.
When the bow breaks, the cradle will fall.
Down will come, baby, bell cradle.
and all.
End of Hushabai.
The Hunter of Ryegate.
A man went a hunting at Ryegate
and wished to leap over
a high gate. Says the owner, go round
with your gun and your hound,
for you never shall leap over my gate.
End of the hunter of Ryegate.
Bernie B. Bernie B, Bernie B,
tell me when your wedding bee?
if it be tomorrow day
take your wings and fly away
end of Bernie B
Little Polly Flinders
Little Polly Flinders
sat among the cinders
warming her pretty little toes
Her mother came and caught her
Wipped her little daughter
For spoiling her nice new clothes
End of Little Polly Flinders
Pussycat
and Queen
Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?
I've been to London to look at the queen.
Pussycat, pussycat, what did you there?
I frightened a little mouse under a chair.
End of Pussycat and the queen.
Ride away, right away.
Right away, right away.
Johnny shall ride and he shall have Pussycat tied to one side
and he shall have little dog tied to the other
and Johnny shall ride to see his grandmother
End of right away, right away
The winds
Mr. East gave a feast
Mr. North laid the cloth
Mr. West did his best
Mr. South burnt his mouth
eating cold potato
End of the winds
Pippin Hill
As I was going up Pippin Hill
Pippin Hill was dirty
There I met a pretty miss
And she dropped me a curtsy
Little Miss, pretty miss
Blessings light upon you
If I had half a crown a day
I'll spend it all upon you
End of Pippin Hill
Just like me
I went up one pair of stairs
Just like me
I went up two pairs of stairs
Just like me
I went into a room
Just like me
I looked out of a window
Just like me
And there I saw a monkey
Just like me
And of just like me
Play Days
How many days has my baby to play
Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, Thursday, Thursday,
Thursday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. End of play days. Christmas. Christmas comes but
once a year, and when it comes, it brings good cheer. End of Christmas. Elizabeth. Elizabeth, Elspeth,
Betsy, and Bess. They all went together to seek a bird's nest. They found a bird's nest with five eggs in. They all took
one and left four in.
End of Elizabeth.
Hi-ho, the carrion crow.
A carrion crow sat on an oak.
Folde riddle, l'ol day riddle,
hi, ding, doe.
Watching a tailor shape his cloak,
sing, hi-ho, the carrion crow.
Fold a riddle, lull-day riddle,
hideing do.
Wife, bring me my old,
bent bow.
Fold a riddle, lull day riddle, high, ding, doe.
That I may shoot yon carrion crow.
Sing hi-ho, the carrion crow.
Fold a riddle, lull day riddle, high ding do.
The tailor he shot and missed his mark.
Folde riddle, lull day riddle, high ding do.
And shot his own sow right through the heart.
Hi-ho, the carrion crow, Folde a riddle, lull day riddle, hiding dough.
Wife, bring brandy in a spoon. Full day riddle, lull day riddle, hiding dough.
For our old sow is in a swoon, sing hi-ho, the carrion crow, fold a riddle, lull-day riddle, hiding dough.
End of Hi-Ho, the Carrying and Crow.
End of Part 1 of the Real Mother Goose.
Part 2 of The Real Mother Goose.
This is a Libravox recording.
All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.
This reading by Alison Hester of Athens, Georgia.
The Real Mother Goose by Anonymous.
Part 2. Banbury Cross
Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross
To see an old lady upon a white horse
rings on her fingers and bells on her toes
She shall have music wherever she goes.
End of Banbury Cross
The man in our town
There was a man in our town
and he was wondrous wise.
He jumped into a bramble bush
and scratched out both his eyes.
But when he saw, his eyes were out
with all his might and mane,
he jumped into another bush
and scratched him in again.
End of the man in our town.
A, B, C.
Great A, Little A,
B, B, the cats in the cupboard
and can't see me.
End of ABC.
A needle and thread.
Old mother twitchet had but one eye and a long tail which she let fly,
and every time she went through a gap, a bit of her tail, she left in a trap.
End of a needle and a thread.
For every evil.
For every evil under the sun there is a remedy, or there is none.
If there be one, seek till you find it.
If there be none, never mind it.
End of for every evil.
Cushy cow.
Cushy cow, Bonnie, let down thy milk, and I will give thee a gown of silk, a gown of silk and a silver tree,
if thou wilt let down thy milk to me.
End of Cushy Cow.
Seesaw
C-saw, Marjorie Dahl, sold her bag.
and lay upon straw.
End of seesaw.
Georgie Porgy.
Georgie Porgy, pudding and pie,
kissed the girls and made them cry.
When the boys came out to play,
Georgie Porgy ran away.
End of Georgie Porgy.
Wee Willie Winky.
We Willie Winky runs through the town
upstairs and downstairs in his nine.
gown, wrapping at the window, crying through the lock, are the children in their beds?
Now it's 8 o'clock.
End of Wee Willie Winky.
Robin Abobin
Robin Abobin bent his bow, shot at a pigeon, and killed a crow.
End of Robin Abobin.
John Smith
Is John Smith within?
Yes, that he is.
Can he set a shoe? I, Mary, too. Here a nail, there a nail, they're a nail, tick, tack, two.
End of John Smith.
About the bush. About the bush, Willie, about the beehive. About the bush, Willie, I'll meet thee alive.
End of about the bush.
Five toes. This little pig went to market.
This little pig stayed home.
This little pig had roast beef.
This little pig had none.
This little pig said,
Wee, wee, I can't find my way home.
End of five toes.
Three blind mice.
Three blind mice.
See how they run.
They all ran after the farmer's wife,
who cut their tails with a carving knife.
Did you ever see such a thing in your life?
as three blind mice?
End of three blind mice.
Simple Simon
Simple Simon met a pymion
going to the fair.
Says Simple Simon to the pymion
let me taste your wear.
Says the pymion to simple Simon.
Show me first your penny.
Says Simple Simon to the pymion.
Indeed, I have not any.
Simple Simon went a fishing for to catch a whale.
All the water he could find was in his mother's pail.
Simple Simon went to look if plums grew on a thistle.
He pricked his fingers very much, which made poor Simon whistle.
He went to catch a dicky bird and thought he could not fail
because he had a little salt to put upon its tail.
He went for water with a sea.
But soon it ran all through, and now poor simple Simon bids you all adieu.
End of Simple Simon.
Dr. Foster
Dr. Foster went to Gloucester in a shower of rain.
He stepped in a puddle up to his middle and never went there again.
End of Dr. Foster.
A little man.
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 his mark mark mark he let off his gun but he fired too soon and the drake flew away with a quack quack quack quack
end of little man jerry hall jerry hall he was so small a rat could eat him hat and all end of jerry hall lengthening days as the days grow longer the storms grow longer the storms grow
grow stronger. End of
lengthening days.
Diddle-diddle dumpling.
Diddle-double-dumpling, my son John,
went to bed with his breeches on.
One stocking off, one stocking on.
Diddle-diddle-dumpling, my son John.
End of dittle-diddle dumpling.
The black hen.
Hickety-pickety, my black hen,
she lays eggs for gentlemen.
Gentlemen come,
every day to see what my black hen doth lay.
End of the black hen.
The mist.
A hill full, a holeful, yet you cannot catch a bowl full.
End of the mist.
Miss Muffet.
Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuftit, eating of curds and way.
There came a big spider and sat down beside her and frightened,
Miss Muffet away.
End of Miss Muffet.
Curly locks.
Curly locks, Curlylocks, wilt thou be mine?
Thou shalt not wash the dishes, nor yet feed this wine, but sit on a cushion, and sew a fine seam, and feed upon strawberries, sugar, and cream.
End of curly locks.
A candle.
Little Nanny Ettycoat and a white petticoat.
coat and a red nose. The longer she stands, the shorter she grows. End of a candle. 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 cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again. End of Humpty Dumpty. Pins. See a pen and pick it up.
Have good luck. See a pen and let it lay. Bad luck you'll have all the day. End of pins.
One, two, three. One, two, three, four, five. Once I caught a fish alive. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, but I let it go again. Why did you let it go? Because it bit my finger so. Which finger did it bite? The little one upon the right.
End of one, two, three.
The dove and the wren.
The dove says,
Coo-Coo, what shall I do?
I can scarce maintain two.
Pooh-poo says the wren.
I've got ten,
and keep them all like gentlemen.
End of the dove and the wren.
Shall we go a shearing?
Old woman, old woman,
Shall we go a shearing?
Speak a little louder, sir.
I'm very thick of hearing.
Old woman, old woman, shall I kiss you dearly?
Thank you, kind, sir.
I hear you very clearly.
End of shall we go a shearing.
Old Mother Hubbard.
Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard
to give her poor dog a bone.
But when she got there, the cupboard
was bare, and so the poor dog had none. She went to the bakers to buy him some bread. When she came
back, the dog was dead. She went to the undertakers to buy him a coffin. When she got back, the dog was
laughing. She took a clean dish to get him some tripe. When she came back, he was smoking a 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 some white wine and red.
When she came back, the dog stood on his head.
She went to the hatters to buy him a hat.
When she came back, he was feeding the cat.
She went to the barbers to buy him a wig.
When she came back, he was dancing a jig.
She went to the fruiterers to buy him some fruit.
When she came back, he was playing the flute.
She went to the tailors to buy him a coat.
When she came back, he was riding a goat.
She went to the cobblers to buy him some shoes.
When she came back, he was reading the news.
She went to the seamsters to buy him some linen.
When she came back, the dog was a spinning.
She went to the hosiers 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 service.
The dog said bow-wow.
End of old mother hubbard.
Goosey-goosey-gander.
Goosey-goosey-gander,
whither doth thou wander,
upstairs and down stairs,
and in my lady's chamber.
There I met an old man
who wouldn't say his prayers.
I took him by the left leg
and threw him down the stairs.
End of Goosey-Goozy-Gander.
Blue Bell Boy
I had a little boy and called him Bluebell.
Gave him a little work. He did it very well.
I bade him go upstairs to bring me a gold pen.
And Cole Scuttle fell he up to his little chin.
He went to the garden to pick a little sage.
He tumbled on his nose and fell into a rage.
He went to the cellar to draw a little beer and quickly did return to say there was none
there. End of Blue Bell Boy. Why may not I love 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 Bonnie 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 mommy, 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?
End of why may not I love Johnny.
Jack Jelf.
Little Jack Jelf was put on the shelf because he could not spell pie.
When his aunt, Mrs. Grace, saw his sorrowful face, she could not help saying, oh, pie!
And since Master Jelf was put on the shelf, because he could not spell pie,
let him stand there so grim and know more about him, for I wish him a very good-bye.
End of Jack Jelf.
Jack Spratt.
Jack Spratt could eat no fat.
his wife could eat no lean, and so betwixt them both, they licked the platter clean.
End of Jack Spratt.
Daffodils
Daffy Down Dilly has come to town in a yellow petticoat and a green gown.
End of daffodils.
Hushabai.
Hushabai, baby, lie still with thy daddy, thy mammy has gone to the mill,
To get some meal to bake a cake, so pray, my dear baby, lie still.
End of hushabai.
The girl in the lane.
The girl in the lane that couldn't speak plain, cried gobble, gobble, gobble.
The man on the hill that couldn't stand still went hobble, hobble, hobble.
End of the girl in the lane.
Hushabai.
Hushabai baby, Daddy is near.
Mama is a lady, and that's very clear.
End of Hushabai.
Nancy Dawson.
Nancy Dawson was so fine.
She wouldn't get up to serve this wine.
She lies in bed till eight or nine, so it's, oh, poor Nancy Dawson.
And do ye kin, Nancy Dawson, honey?
The wife who sells the bar.
Honey? She won't get up to feed her swine. And do you ken Nancy Dawson, honey? End of Nancy
Dalson. Handy Pandy. Handy Pandy Jack a dandy loves plum cake and sugar candy. He bought some
out of grocery shop and out he came. Hop, hop, hop. End of Handy Pandy. The alphabet.
A, B, C, and D. Pray, playmates agree. E, F, and G, well, so it shall be.
J, K and L, in peace, we will dwell. M, N, and O, to play, let us go.
P, Q, R, and S, love may we possess?
W, X, and Y, will not quarrel or die.
Z and Amper Sand. Go to school at school at.
command. End of the alphabet. Jack and Jill. Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a
pell of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after. Then up Jack got and off did
trot, as fast as he could caper, to old Dame Dob who patched his knob with vinegar and brown
paper. End of Jack and Jill.
Dance to your daddy.
Dance to your daddy, my bonny laddie.
Dance to your daddy, my bonny lamb.
You shall get a fishy on a little dishy.
You shall get a fishy when the boat comes home.
End of dance to your daddy.
One misty-masty morning.
One misty-wasty morning when cloudy was the weather,
I chanced to meet an old man, clothed and
all 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? End of one misty, moisty morning. Robin Hood and Little John. Robin Hood,
Robin Hood is in the Micklewood. Little John, little John, he to the town is gone.
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, telling his beads,
All in the greenwood, among the green weeds.
Little John, little John, if he comes no more,
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, we shall fret full sore.
End of Robin Hood and Little John.
Rain.
Rain, rain, go to Spain and never come back again.
End of rain.
The Robins
A robin and a robin's son
Once went to town to buy a bun
They couldn't decide on plum or plane
And so they went back home again
End of the Robbins
The old woman from France
There came an old woman from France
Who taught grown-up children to dance
But they were so stiff
She sent them home in a sniff
This brightly old woman from France
The old man
There was an old man
In a velvet coat
He kissed a maid
And gave her a groat
The groat it was cracked
And would not go
Ah old man
Do you serve me so
End of old man
Teeth and gums
Thirty white horses
Upon a red hill
Now they tramp
Now they champ
Now they stand still
End of teeth and gums
End of part two
of Mother Goose
Part 3 of The Real
Mother Goose
This is a Libravox recording
All Libravox recordings are in the public domain
For more information
Or to volunteer
Please visit Libravox.org
This reading by Alison Hester
Of Athens, Georgia
The Real Mother Goose
Written by Anonymous
Part 3
My kitten
Hey my kitten
And hey my kitten my kitten my dearie
Such a sweet pet as this
Was neither far nor neary
End of my kitten
The other little tune
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
To other little tune
To other little tune
Preet thee love play me
Te other little tune
End of te other little tune
If all the seas
Were one sea
If all the seas were one sea
What a great sea that would be
And if all the trees were one tree
What a great tree that would be
And if all the axes
were one axe. What a great axe that would be. And if all the men were one man, what a great man he would be.
And if the great man took the great axe and cut down the great tree and let it fall into the great sea, what a splish splash that would be.
End of if all the seas were one sea.
Pancake Day
Great A
Little A
This is pancake day
Toss the ball high
Throw the ball low
Those that come after may sing
Hi-ho
End of Pancake Day
Forehead
Eyes, cheeks, nose
mouth and chin
Here sits the Lord Mayor
Here sit his two men
here sits the cock, here sits the hen, here sits the little chickens, here they run in, chin chopper, chin chopper, chin chopper, chin chopper, chin.
End of forehead, eyes, cheeks, nose, mouth, and chin.
A plum pudding.
Flower of England, fruit of Spain, melts together in a shower of rain,
Put in a bag tied round with a string.
If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a ring.
End of a plum pudding.
The lion and the unicorn.
The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown.
The lion beat the unicorn all around the town.
Some gave them white bread and some gave them brown.
Some gave them plum cake and sent them out of town.
End of the lion and the unicorn.
the merchants of london hey diddle dinkety poppity pet the merchants of london they wear scarlet silk in the collar and gold in the hem so merely march the merchant men end of the merchants of london
a sure test if you are to be a gentleman as i suppose you'll be you'll neither laugh nor smile for a tickling of the knee end of a sure test
Lock and key
I am a gold lock
I am a gold key
I am a silver lock
I am a silver key
I am a brass lock
I am a brass key
I am a lead lock
I am a lead key
I am a don lock
I am a donkey
End of lock and key
I'll tell you a story
I'll tell you a story
about Jack Anori
and now my story's begun
I'll tell you another about his brother, and now my story is done.
End of I'll tell you a story.
I had a 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 handkerchief to wipe his little nose and a pair of little garters to tie his little hose.
End of I had a little husband.
A strange old woman.
There was an old woman, and what do you think?
She lived upon nothing but victuals and drink.
Victuals and drink were the chief of her diet,
and yet this old woman could never be quiet.
End of a strange old woman.
To Babylon.
How many miles is it to Babylon?
Three score miles.
and ten can I get there by candlelight yes and back again if your heels are nimble and light you may get
there by candle light end of two Babylon cry baby cry baby cry put your finger in your eye
and tell your mother it wasn't I end of cry baby sleep baby sleep sleep baby sleep baby sleep baby
sleep, our cottage veil is deep. The little lamb is on the green, with woolly fleece so soft and clean.
Sleep, baby, sleep. Sleep, baby, sleep. Down where the wood vines creep, be always like the lamb so mild,
a kind and sweet and gentle child. Sleep, baby, sleep. End of sleep, baby sleep.
Ba-ba black sheep
Ba-ba-black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes, Mary, have I?
Three bags full.
One for my master, one for my dame,
But none for the little boy who cries in the lane.
End of ba-ba black sheep.
Little Fred
When little Fred went to bed
He always said his prayers.
He kissed Mama and then Papa
and straight way went upstairs.
End of Little Fred.
Dr. Fell.
I do not like thee, Dr. Fell.
The reason why I cannot tell,
but this I know, in no full well,
I do not like thee, Dr. Fell.
End of Dr. Fell.
A counting out rhyme.
Hickory, Dickery, six, and seven.
Allabone, crackabone, ten, and eleven.
Spin, spun, muskidun, twiddleum, twaddleum, twenty-one.
End of a counting-out rhyme.
The cat and the fiddle.
Hey, diddle, diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such a sport, and the dish ran away with the spoon.
End of the cat and the fiddle.
Buttons
Buttons.
a pair, come, who will buy them of me? They're round and sound and pretty, and fit for girls of the city.
Come, who will buy them of me? Buttons of farthing a pair. End of buttons. Jack and his fiddle.
Jackie, come and 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've gone mad.
For many a joyous day, my fiddle and I have had.
End of Jack and his fiddle.
Hot boiled beans.
Ladies and gentlemen come to supper.
Hot boiled beans and a very good butter.
End of hot boiled beans.
Little Pussy.
I like little pussy.
Her coat is so warm.
and if I don't hurt her, she'll do me no harm.
So I'll not pull her tail, nor drive her away,
but Pussy and I very gently will play.
End of Little Pussy.
Sing a song of six pence.
Sing a song of six pence, a pocketful of rye,
four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing,
was not that a dainty dish.
to set before the king.
The king was in his counting house,
counting out his money.
The queen was in the parlor,
eating bread and honey.
The maid was in the garden,
hanging out the clothes,
when down came a black bird
and snapped off her nose.
End of sing a song of sixpence.
Tommy Tittle Mouse
Little Tommy Tittle Mouse
lived in a little house.
He caught fishes and other men's ditches.
End of Tommy Tittlemouse.
The Derby Ram
As I was going to Derby all on a market day,
I met the finest ram, sir, that ever was fed upon hay.
Upon hay, upon hay, upon hay.
I met the finest ram, sir, that was ever fed upon hay.
This ram was fat behind, sir.
This ram was fat before.
This ram was ten yards round, sir,
Indeed, he was no more.
No more, no more, no more.
This ram was ten yards round, sir.
Indeed, he was no more.
The horns that grew on his head, sir, they were so wondrous high,
as I've been plainly told, sir, they reached up to the sky,
the sky, the sky, the sky, the sky.
As I've been plainly told, sir, they reached up to the sky.
The tail that grew from his back, sir, was six yards,
and an L. And it was sent to Derby to toll the market bell. The bell, the bell, the bell.
And it was sent to Derby to toll the market bell. End of the Derby Ram.
The mulberry bush. Here we go round the mulberry bush. The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush.
Here we go around the mulberry bush on a cold and frosty morning. This is the way we wash our hands.
wash our hands, wash our hands. This is the way we wash our hands on a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we wash our clothes, wash our clothes, wash our clothes. This is the way we wash our clothes on a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we go to school. Go to school, go to school. This is the way we go to school on a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we come out of school, come out of school, come out of school. This is the way we come out of school.
the way we come out of school on a cold and frosty morning.
End of the mulberry bush.
Young lambs to sell.
If I'd 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.
End of young lambs to sell.
The Hobby Horse.
I had a little hobby horse, and it was dapple gray. Its head was made of pea straw, its tail was made of hay.
I sold it to an old woman for a copper goat, and I'll not sing my song again without another coat.
End of the hobby horse.
Old woman, old woman. There was an old woman tossed in a basket, 17 times high as the moon, but where she was going, no mortal could tell.
for under her arm she carried a broom.
Old woman, old woman, old woman, said I.
Whither, oh, wither, oh, wither so high.
To sweep the cobwebs from the sky,
and I'll be with you, by and by.
End of old woman, old woman.
The boy and the sparrow.
A little cock sparrow sat on a green tree.
And he chirped, and he chirped, so merry was he.
A naughty boy came.
with his wee bow and arrow determined to shoot this little cock sparrow.
This little cock sparrow shall make me a stew, and his giblets shall make me a
little pie too. Oh no, says the sparrow. I won't make a stew, so he
flapped his wings and away he flew. End of the boy in the sparrow. Two pigeons.
I had two pigeons, bright and gay. They flew from me the other day.
day. What was the reason they did go? I cannot tell, for I do not know. End of two pigeons.
The first of May. The fair maid who, the first of May, goes to the fields at the break of day,
and washes and dew from the hawthorn tree will ever after handsome be. End of the first of May.
The house that Jack built. This is the house that Jack built. This is the house that Jack
This is the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the rat 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 dog that worried the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat.
that worried the cat, that killed the rat, that ate the malt, that lay in the house that
Jack built. This is the maiden, all forlorn, that milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
that tossed the dog, that worried the cat, that killed the rat, that ate the malt,
that lay in the house that Jack built. This is the man all tattered and torn, that kissed the maiden
all forlorn, that milked the cow with the crumpled horn, that tossed the dog, that
worried the cat, that killed the rat, that ate the malt, that lay in the house that
Jack built. This is the priest, all shaven and shorn, that married the man all tattered and
torn, that kissed the maiden, all forlorn, that milked the cow with the crumpled horn, that tossed
the dog, that worried the cat, that killed the rat, that ate the malt that lay in the house
that Jack built. This is the cock that crowed in the moon, that walked the priest all shaven and shorn,
that married the man all tattered and torn,
that kissed the maiden all forlorn,
that milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
that tossed the dog, that worried the cat,
that killed the rat, that ate the malt,
that lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the farmer, sewing the corn,
that kept the cock, that crowed in the morn,
that waked the priest all shaven and shorn,
that married the man all tattered and torn,
that kissed the maiden, all forlorn,
that milked the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that jack built
end of the house that jack built sulky sue here's sulky sue what shall we do turn her face to the wall till she comes to end of sulky sue
On Saturday night shall be all my care to powder my locks and curl my hair.
On Sunday morning, my love will come in when he will marry me with a gold ring.
End of Saturday, Sunday.
End of Part 3 of Mother Goose.
Part 4 of the real Mother Goose.
This is a Libravox recording.
All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information, Ordevant,
volunteer, please visit
Libravox.org.
This reading by Alison Hester
of Athens, Georgia,
The Real Mother Goose,
by Anonymous.
Part 4
The Old Woman and the Peddler.
There was an old woman,
as I've heard tell.
She went to the market,
her eggs for to sell.
She went to the market
all on a market day,
and she fell asleep on the
King's Highway. There came by a peddler whose name was stout. He cut her petticoats all round about.
He cut her petticoats up to the knees, which made the old woman to shiver and freeze.
When the little old woman did first awake, she began to shiver and she began to shake.
She began to wonder and she began to cry,
Lalk a mercy on me
This can't be I
But if it be
I, as I hope it be
I have a little dog at home
And he'll know me
If it be I
He'll wag his tail
And if it be not I
He'll loudly bark and wail
Home went the little woman
All in the dark
Up got the little dog
And he began to bark
He began to bark
So she began to
cry,
Lalka mercy, oh me, this is none of I.
End of the old woman and the peddler.
Little Jenny Wren.
Little Jenny Wren fell sick.
Upon a time, in came Robin Redbreast and brought her cake and wine.
Eat well of my cake, Jenny, drink well of my wine.
Thank you, Robin kindly, you shall be mine.
Jenny got well and stood upon her feet and told Robin plainly she loved him not a bit.
Robin being angry hopped upon a twig saying,
Out upon you, fie upon you, bold-faced jig!
End of little Jenny Wren.
The little Muppet
I had a little Muppet and put it in my pocket and fed it with corn and hay.
There came a proud of.
beggar and swore he should have her and stole my little moppet away end of the little moppet
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 end of bobby snooks the man in the moon the man in the moon came to
down and asked which way to Norwich.
He went by the south and burnt his mouth with eating cold peas porridge.
End of the man in the moon.
I saw a ship a sailing.
I saw a ship a sailing, a sailing on the sea,
and oh, it was laden with pretty things for thee.
There were comfits in the cabin and apples in the hold,
and 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 his packet on his back, and when the ship began to move, the captain said, quack, quack.
End of, I saw a ship assailing.
A walnut.
As soft as silk, as white as milk, as bitter as a gall, a strong wall, and a strong wall, and a gul.
green coat covers me all.
End of a walnut.
One he loves.
One he loves, two he loves.
Three he loves, they say.
Four he loves with all his heart.
Five he casts away.
Six he loves, seven she loves.
Eight, they both love.
Nine he comes. Ten he tarries.
Eleven he courts. Twelve he marries.
End of. One.
he loves.
Bat, bat.
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.
End of Bat Bat.
My love.
Saw ye, alt of my love, a coming from the market, a peck of meal upon her back,
a baby in her basket, saw ye ought of my love a coming from,
coming from the market?
End of my love.
The man of Bombay.
There was a fat man of Bombay, who was smoking one sunshiny day, when a bird called a snipe,
flew away with his pipe, which vexed the fat man of Bombay.
End of the man of Bombay.
Hark, hark!
Hark!
The dogs do bark.
Beggers are coming to take.
town. Some in jags, and some in rags, and some in velvet gown. End of Hark, Hark.
The heart. The heart he loves the high wood, the hair she loves the hill, the knight he loves his
bright sword, the lady loves her will. End of the heart. Poor old Robinson Crusoe.
poor old Robinson Crusoe
Poor old Robinson Crusoe
They made him a coat
Of an old nanny goat
I wonder why they should do so
With a ring a ting a tang and a ring a ting a tang
Poor old Robinson Crusoe
End of poor old Robinson Crusoe
My maid Mary
My maid Mary
She mines the dairy
While I go a hoeing and a mowing each
morn, gaily run the reel and the little spinning wheel, while I am singing and mowing my corn.
End of my maid, Mary.
A sieve.
A riddle, a riddle, as I suppose.
A hundred eyes, and never a nose.
End of a sieve.
A difficult rhyme.
What is the rhyme for Porringer?
The king he had a daughter fair, and gave the prince.
of orange her.
End of a difficult rhyme.
Pretty John Watts.
Pretty John Watts, we are troubled with rats.
Will you drive them out of the house?
We have mice too in plenty that feast in the pantry.
But let them stay and nibble away.
What harm in a little brown mouse.
End of Pretty John Watts.
Good advice.
Come when you're called, do what you're bid, shut the door after you, and never be chid.
End of good advice.
Buy baby bunting.
Buy baby bunting, father's gone a hunting, mother's gone a milking, sisters gone a silking,
and brothers gone to buy a skin to wrap the baby bunting in.
End of buy baby bunting.
Tom Tom, the Piper's son.
Tom Tom, the Piper's son, stole a pig, and away he run. The pig was eat and Tom was beat, and Tom ran crying down the street.
End of Tom Tom, the Piper's son. I love six pence. I love six pence, a jolly, jolly six pence, I love six pence as my life. I spent a penny of it, I spent a penny of it, I took a penny home to my wife.
Oh, my little fourpence, a jolly, jolly fourpence. I love fourpence as my life.
I spent two pence of it, I spent two pence of it, and I took two pence home to my wife.
End of I love six pence. 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 tongue,
lungs 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. End of comical folk.
Cock crow. Cocks crow in the morn to tell us to rise, and he who lies late will never be wise.
for early to bed and early to rise is the way to be healthy and wealthy and wise.
End of Cock Crow.
The three sons.
There was an old woman, had three sons.
Jerry and James and John.
Jerry was hanged and James was drowned.
John was lost and was never found.
And there was an end of her three sons, Jerry and James and John.
End of the three sons.
sons. Tommy Snooks. As Tommy Snooks and Bessie Brooks were walking out one Sunday, says Tommy
Snooks to Bessie Brooks will marry me on Monday. End of Tommy Snooks. The Blacksmith.
Robert Barnes, my fellow fine. Can you shoe this horse of mine? Yes, good sir, that I can,
as well as any other man. There's a nail and there's a
prod. Now good sir, your horse is shot. End of the blacksmith. One, two, buckle my shoe.
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, dig and delve. Thirteen,
14, maids according.
15, 16, maids in the kitchen.
17, 18, maids awaiting.
19.20, my plates empty.
End of one to buckle my shoe.
Two gray kits.
The two gray kits and the gray kit's mother
all went over the bridge together.
The bridge broke down. They all fell in.
May the rats go with you, says Tom Bolin.
End of two gray kits.
Pairs or pairs.
Twelve pairs hanging high, 12 nights riding by, each night took a pair, and yet left a dozen there.
End of pairs or pairs.
Bell Isle.
At the siege of Belisle, I was there all the while, all the while, all the while, at the siege of Belisle.
End of Belisle.
Caca doodle do
Caca dodle do
my dame has lost her shoe
My master's lost his fiddle stick
And knows not what to do
Caca dodle do
What is my dame to do
Till master finds his fiddle stick
She'll dance without her shoe
End of cockadoodle do
Old King Cole
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.
And every fiddler, he had a fine fiddle, and a very fine fiddle had he.
Tweedle D, Tweedle D, went the fiddlers.
Oh, there's none so rare, as can compare with King Cole and his fiddlers three.
End of Old King Cole.
Pussy Cat Mew
Pussy Cat Mew jumped over a coal, and in her best petticoat burnt a great,
hole. Poor pussy's weeping. She'll have no more milk until her best petticoats mended with silk.
End of Pussycat Mew. See, see. See, see. What shall I see? A horse's head where his tail
should be. End of C C. A well. As round as an apple, as deep as a cup. And all the king's horses
can't fill it up. End of a well.
Dapple Gray. I had a little pony. His name was Dapple Gray. 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 ladies hire. End of Dapple Gray. Coffee and tea.
Molly, my sister and I fell out, and what do you think it was all about?
She loved coffee and I loved tea, and that was the reason we couldn't agree.
End of coffee and tea.
A cock and bull story.
The cocks on the housetop blowing his horn, the bulls in the barn, a threshing of corn,
the maids in the meadows are making of hay, the ducks in the river are swimming away,
End of a cock and bull story.
The little girl with a curl.
There was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good, she was very, very good.
And when she was bad, she was horrid.
End of the little girl with a curl.
For baby.
You shall have an apple.
You shall have a plum.
You shall have a rattle when Papa comes home.
End of four baby.
Dreams.
Friday night's dream on Saturday told.
Is sure to come true, be it never so old.
End of dreams.
Myself.
As I walked by myself and talked to myself,
myself said unto me,
look to thyself, take care of thyself,
for nobody cares for thee.
I answered myself and said to myself,
In the self-same repartee, look to thyself.
Or not look to thyself, the self-same thing will be.
End of myself.
Candle saving.
To make your candles last for I, you wives and maids, give Ero, to put them out the only way, says Honest John Boldero.
End of candle saving.
Over the water.
Over the water.
Over the water and over the sea and over the water to Charlie
I'll have none of your nasty beef nor I'll have none of your barley
but I'll have some of your very best flour to make a white cake for my Charlie
End of over the water
Fears and Tears
Tommy's tears and Mary's fears will make them old before their years
End of fears and tears
The Kilkenny Cats
There were once two cats of Kilkenny
Each thought there was one cat too many
So they fought and they fit
And they scratched and they bit
Till accepting their nails
And the tips of their tails
Instead of two cats
There weren't any
End of the Kilkenny cats
A week of birthdays
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 works hard for its living. But the child that's born on the Sabbath day is Bonnie and Blythe and good and gay.
End of a week of birthdays. A chimney. Black within and red without. Four corners round about.
End of a chimney.
Lady Bird.
Lady Bird, Lady Bird, Lady Bird, fly away home.
Your house is on fire. Your children all gone.
All but one, and her name is Anne, and she crept under the pudding pan.
End of Lady Bird.
Old Grimes. Old Grimes is dead.
That good old man, we ne'er shall see him more.
He used to wear a long brown coat.
all buttons down before
End of old grimes
Enterementory
Enterementary cuttery corn
Apple seed and apple
thorn wire briar
limberlock five geese
in a flock sit and sing
by a spring
O-U-T and in again
End of
Entrymentary
The man who had not
There was a man
and he had not, 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 the other side, and then they could not find him. He ran 14 miles
and 15 days, and never looked behind him. End of the man who had not. The tailors and the snail.
Four and 20 tail went to kill a snail. The best man among them,
durst not touch her tail.
She put out her horns
like a little calo cow.
Run, tailors run, or she'll
kill you all in now.
End of the
tailers and the snail.
Around the green gravel.
Around the green gravel, the grass grows green,
and all the pretty maids are
plain to be seen. Wash them
with milk and clothe them
with silk and write their names
with a pen and ink.
End of Around the Green Gravel
Caesar's song
Bow wow wow
Who's dog art thou
Little Tom Tinker's dog
Bow wow wow
End of Caesar's song
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 Paul, I saw them pass, skipping o'er the new moan grass.
Billy, Billy, come along, and I will sing a pretty song. End of Billy Billy.
As I was going along. As I was going along, along, a singing a comical song, song, song, song, the lane
that I went was so long, long, long, and the song that I sang was so long, long, long, so I
went singing along.
End of as I was going along.
Rockaby baby.
Rockaby 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.
End of rockabai baby.
The man in the wilderness.
The man in the wilderness asked me,
How many strawberries grew in the sea?
I answered him, as I thought good,
as many as red herrings grew in the wood.
End of the man in the wilderness.
Hector Protector
Hector Protector was dressed all in green.
Hector Protector was sent to the queen.
The queen did not like him.
No more did the king.
So Hector Protector was sent back again.
End of Hector Protector.
and of part four of the real mother goose
section five of the real mother goose
this is a Libravox recording
all Libravox recordings are in the public domain
for more information or to volunteer
please visit Libravox.org
this reading by Alison Hester
of Athens, Georgia
The Real Mother Goose
by Anonymous
Section 5
Mary Mary Quite Contrary
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary,
How does your garden grow?
Silver bells and cockleshells
And pretty maids all of a row
And of Merry Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
Little Jack Horner
Little Jack Horner sat in the corner
Eating of Christmas pie
He put in his thumb
And pulled out a plum
And said, What a good boy am I
End of Little Jack Horner
The bird scorer
Away birds away birds away
Take a little and leave a little
And do not come again
For if you do
I will shoot you through
And there will be an end of you
End of the bird scarer
Bessie Bell and Mary Gray
Bessie Bell and Mary Gray
They were two Bonnie Lasses
They built their house upon the lay and covered it with rushes.
Bessie kept the garden gate and Mary kept the pantry.
Bessie always had to wait while Mary lived in plenty.
End of Bessie Bell and Mary Gray.
Dance Thumpkin Dance.
Dance Thumpkin Dance. Keep the thumb in motion.
Dance ye Maryman, everyone, all the fingers in motion.
For thumpkin he can dance, the thumb alone moving.
Thumpkin he can dance alone, the thumb alone moving.
Dance, foreman, dance, the first finger moving.
Dance ye marry men, everyone, all moving.
But foreman, he can dance, the first finger moving.
Foreman, he can dance alone, the first finger moving.
Dance long men dance, the second finger moving.
Dance ye marry men, everyone.
all moving. For Longman, he can dance alone, the second finger moving. Longman, he can dance alone,
the second finger moving. Dance, ringman dance, the third finger moving. Dance ye merry men dance.
All moving. But ringman cannot dance alone, the third finger moving. Ringman, he cannot dance alone,
the third finger moving. Dance, little dance, the fourth finger moving. Dance,
you marry men dance, all moving. But little man, he can dance alone, the fourth finger moving.
Little men, he can dance alone. The fourth finger moving. End of dance, thumpkin dance.
Needles and pins. Needles and pins, needles and pins. When a man marries, his trouble begins.
End of needles and pins. Pussycat and the dumplings. Pussycat ate the dumplings.
the dumplings, pussycat ate the dumplings. Mama stood by and cried, oh, fie, why did you eat the dumplings?
End of pussycat and the dumplings. The little bird. Once I saw a little bird come hop, hop, hop.
So I cried, little bird, will you stop, stop, stop, and was going to the window to say,
How do you do?
But he shook his little tail
And far away he flew
End of the little bird
Mary's canary
Mary had a pretty bird
Feathers bright and yellow
Slender legs
Upon my word he was a pretty
fellow
The sweetest note he always sung
Which much delighted Mary
She often where the cage was hung
Sat hearing her canary
End of Mary's canary
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
End of birds of a feather
The greedy man
The greedy man is he who sits
And bites bits out of plates
Or else takes up an almanac
And gobbles all the dates
End of the greedy man
The dusty miller
Margaret wrote a letter
sealed it with her finger
threw it in the dam for the
Dusty Miller
Dusty was his coat
Dusty was the siller
Dusty was the kiss
I'd from the Dusty Miller
if I had my pockets
full of golden siller
I would give it all to my
Dusty Miller
End of the Dusty Miller
A star
Higher than a house
Higher than a tree
Oh whatever can that be
End of a star
The 10 o'clock scholar
A dealer
A dollar a 10 o'clock scholar
What makes you come so soon
You used to come at 10 o'clock
But now you've come at noon
End of the 10 o'clock scholar
An icicle
Lives in winter, dies in summer
And grows with its roots upward
End of an icicle
A ship's nail
over the water and under the water, and always with its head down.
End of a ship's nail.
Cockadoodle-do.
Oh, my pretty cock, oh my handsome cock, I pray you do not crow before day,
and your comb shall be made of the very beaten gold and your wings of the silver so gray.
End of cock-a-doodle-do.
Willie Willie.
Willie Willie Wilkin.
the maids a milking fa la la and with his merry daffing he set them all a laughing ha ha ha
end of willie willie the boy in the barn a little boy went into a barn and lay down on some hay
an owl came out and flew about and the little boy ran away end of the boy in the barn
The old woman of Leeds
There was an old woman of Leeds
Who spent all her time in good deeds
She worked for the poor till her fingers were sore
This pious old woman of Leeds
End of the Old Woman of Leeds
Sunshine
Hickamore Hacamoor
On the King's kitchen door
All the King's horses and all the King's men
Couldn't drive Hickamore
Hacamore off the Kings
kitchen door. End of sunshine.
The quarrel.
My little old man and I fell out. I'll tell you what was all about. I had money and he had none.
So that's the way the noise begun. End of the quarrel.
Tongs. Long legs, crooked thighs. Little head, no eyes. End of tongs. Jack Jingle.
Little Jack Jingle, he used to live single, but when he got tired of this kind of life, he left off being single and lived with his wife.
Now what do you think of little Jack Jingle? Before he was married, he used to live single.
End of Jack Jingle.
The 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.
End of the pumpkin eater
Shoeing
Shoe the colt, shoe the colt
Shoe the wild mare
Here a nail, there a nail
Yet she goes bare
End of shoeing
That's all
There was an old woman set spinning
And that's the first beginning
She had a calf
And that's half
She took it by the tail
And threw it over the wall
And that's all
End of that's all
Betty Blue
Little Betty Blue
Lost her holiday shoe
What shall little Betty do
Give her another to match the other
And then she'll walk upon two
End of Betty Blue
Dance little baby
Dance little baby
Dance up high
Never mind baby, mother is by
Crow and caper
Caper and crow
Their little baby
There you go. Up to the ceiling, down to the ground. Backwards and forwards, round and round. Dance
little baby and mother will sing. With the merry coral, ding, ding, ding. End of dance little baby.
My little maid. High diddle doubt, my candle's out. My little maid is not at home.
Saddle my hog and bridle my dog and fetch my little maid home.
of my little maid.
Bedtime.
The man in the moon looked out of the moon, looked out of the moon, and said,
Tis time for all children on the earth to think about getting to bed.
End of bedtime.
For want of a nail.
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost.
For want of the shoe, the horse was lost.
For want of the horse, the rider was lost.
For want of the rider, the battle was lost.
For want of the rider, the battle was lost.
lost, for want of the battle
the kingdom was lost, and
all for the want of a horseshoe
nail. End of
for want of a nail.
The crooked sixpence.
There was a crooked man, and he
went a crooked mile. He found
a crooked sixpence beside
a crooked style. He bought
a crooked cat, which caught a
crooked mouse, and they all
lived together in a little crooked
house. End of the
Crooked sixpence.
Peas porridge.
Pease porridge hot.
Peas porridge cold.
Peas porridge in the pot nine days old.
Some like it hot.
Some like it cold.
Some like it in the pot nine days old.
End of peas porridge.
This is the way.
This is the way the ladies ride.
Try, tray, tree.
Try, tray, tree.
This is the way the ladies ride.
Try, tray, tray, tree, tree, tree, tree.
This is the way the gentlemen ride.
Gallop a trot, gallop a trot.
This is the way the gentleman ride.
Gallup a gallop a trot.
This is the way the farmers ride.
Hobbledy hoy, hobbledy hoy.
This is the way the farmers ride.
Hobbledy, hobbledy, hooy.
End of this is the way.
Ring a ring of roses.
Ring a ring of roses.
A pocket full of poses.
Tisha, tisha, we all fall down.
End of ring a ring of roses.
The donkey.
Donkey donkey, old and gray.
Ope your mouth and gently bray.
Lift your ears and blow your horn to wake this world the sleepy morn.
End of the donkey.
If, if all the world were apple pie and all the sea were ink,
and all the trees were bread and cheese, what should we have for drink?
End of if.
Ducks and drakes.
A duck and a drake and a half-penny cake with a penny to pay the old baker.
A hop and a scotch is another notch.
Slytherum, slatherum, take her.
End of ducks and drakes.
The bells.
You owe me five shillings, say the bells.
of St. Helens, when will you pay me? Say the bells of Old Bailey. When I grow rich, say the bells of
shore ditch. When will that be? Say the bells of Stepney. I do not know, says the great bell of
bow. Two sticks and an apple. Ring the bells of Whitechapel. Half pence and farthings, say the
bells of St. Martins. Cattles and pans, say the bells of St. Anne's. Brick bats and tiles,
say the bells of St. Giles. Old shoes and slippers say the bells of St. Peter's.
Pokers and tongs say the bells of St. John's. End of the bells.
The little girl and queen. 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.
End of Little Girl and Queen
The King of France
The King of France went up the hill with 20,000 men
The King of France came down the hill
And mare went up again
End of the King of France
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
End of Peter Piper
The Tarts
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 Tarts
And vowed he'd steal no more
End of the Tarts
1 to 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
I caught a hair alive
6, 7, 8, 9 10
I let her go again
End of 1 to 10
An equal
Read my riddle, I pray
What God never sees
What the king seldom sees
What we see every day
End of an equal
What are little boys made of?
What are little boys made of?
Made of?
What are little boys made of?
Snaps and snails and puppy dogs tails.
And that's what little boys are made of.
What are little girls made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice and all that's nice.
And that's what little girls are made of.
End of what are little boys made of.
Little made.
Little made.
Preet, pretty maid, whither go it's thou.
Down in the forest to milk my cow.
Shall I go with thee?
No, not now.
When I send for thee, then come thou.
End of little maid.
Come, let's to bed.
To bed, to bed, says sleepy head.
Terry a while, says slow.
Put on the pan, says greedy nan.
We'll sup before we go.
End of Come, let's to bed
The girl and the birds
When I was a little girl about seven years old
I hadn't got a petticoat to cover me from the cold
So I went into Darlington that pretty little town
And there I bought a petticoat, a cloak, and a gown
I went into the woods and built me a kirk
And all the birds of the air
They helped me to work
The hawk with his long claws pulled me down the stone
The dove with her rough bill brought me them home.
The parrot was the clergyman.
The peacock was the clerk.
The bullfinch played the organ.
We made merry work.
End of the girl and the birds.
Bandy legs.
As I was going to sell my eggs, I met a man with bandy legs.
Bandy legs and crooked toes.
I tripped up his heels, and he fell on his nose.
End of bandy legs.
Little Tom Tucker
Little Tom Tucker
Sings for his supper
What shall he eat
White bread and butter
How will he cut it
Without air a knife
How will he be married
Without air a wife
End of little Tom Tucker
A pig
As I went to Bonner
I met a pig
Without a wig
Upon my word and honor
End of a pig
Jenny Wren
As little Jenny Wren
was sitting by her shed, she waggled with her tail and nodded with her head. She waggled with her
tail and nodded with her head as little Ginny Wren was sitting by the shed.
End of Jenny Wren. Where are you going, my pretty maid? 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. 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. End of where are you going, my pretty maid. The old woman of Gloucester.
There was an old woman of Gloucester, whose parrot two guineas it cost her, but it's time.
never ceasing was vastly displeasing to the talkative woman of Gloucester.
End of the old woman of Gloucester.
Multiplication is vexation.
Multiplication is vexation.
Division is as bad.
The rule of three doth puzzle me, and practice drives me mad.
End of multiplication is vexation.
Little King Boggin.
Little King Boggin, he built a fine haw.
pie crust and pastry crust
That was the wall
The windows were made of black puddings
And white inslated with pancakes
You ne'er saw the like
End of Little King Boggin
Bell horses
Bell horses, Bell horses
What time of day?
1 o'clock, 2 o'clock, 3 and away
End of bell horses
Whistle
Whistle Daughter Whistle
Wistle Daughter dear
I cannot whip
Missile Mammy, I cannot whistle clear.
Whistle, daughter, whistle.
Whistle for a pound.
I cannot whistle, ma'ammy.
I cannot make a sound.
End of whistle.
End of part five.
Of the real mother goose.
Part six of the real mother goose.
This is a Libravox recording.
All Libervox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer,
here, please visit Libravox.org.
This reading by Alison Hester of Athens, Georgia,
The Real Mother Goose by Anonymous.
Section 6.
Taffy.
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 marrow bone.
I went to Taffy's house.
Taffy was not in. Taffy came to my house and stole a silver pen. I went to Taffy's house. Taffy was in bed. I took up the marrow bone and flung it at his head.
End of Taffy. A thorn. I went to the wood and got it. I sat me down to look for it and brought it home because I couldn't find it.
End of a thorn. The Robin. 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 end of the robin young roger and dolly
young roger came tapping at dolly's window thumpity thump-a-thump-thum he asked for admittance she answered him no frumpity frumpity frumpety frumpety frumped
Frump. No, Roger, no, as you came you may go. Stumpity, stumped.
End of young Roger and Dolly. The old woman of Harrow. There was an old woman of Harrow who visited in a willbarrow,
and her servant before knocked loud at each door to announce the old woman of Harrow.
End of the old woman of Harrow.
The Piper and his cow.
There was a piper, had a cow, and he had not to give her.
He pulled out his pipes and played her a tune and bade the cow consider.
The cow considered very well and gave the piper a penny and bade him play the other tune.
Cornrigs are Bonnie.
End of Piper and his cow.
The Man of Derby
A little old man of Derby.
How do you think he served me?
He took away my bread and cheese, and that is how he served me.
End of the man of Derby.
The coachman.
Up at Piccadilly, oh, the coachman takes his stand,
and when he meets a pretty girl, he takes her by the hand, whip away forever.
Oh, drive away so clever, oh!
all the way to Bristol
Oh, he drives her
four in hand
End of the coachman
There was an old woman
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
She whipped them all soundly
And put them to bed
End of there was an old woman
The Little Mouse
I have seen you little mouse running all about the house
Through the hole your little eye
In the wainscot peeping sly
Hoping soon some crumbs to steal
To make quite a hearty mill
Look before you venture out
See if pussy is about
If she's gone you'll quickly run
To the larder for some fun
Roundabout the dishes creep
taking into each a peep to choose the daintiest that's there spoiling things you do not care.
End of the little mouse.
The old woman of Surrey.
There was an old woman in Surrey who was more noon and night in a hurry,
called her husband a fool, drove the children to school,
the worrying old woman of Surrey.
End of the old woman of Surrey.
ding dong bell
ding dong bell
pussy's in the well
who put her in little tummy lynn
who pulled her out little johnny 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
end of ding dong bell
When
When I was a bachelor
I lived by myself
And all the bread and cheese I got
I laid up on the shelf
The rats and the mice
They made such a strife
I was forced to go to London
To buy me a wife
The streets were so bad
And the lanes were so narrow
I was forced to bring my wife home
In a wheelbarrow
The wheelbarrow broke
And my wife had a fall
down came Wilbarrow little wife and all end of when boy and girl there was a little boy and a little girl lived in an alley says the little boy to the little girl shall I oh shall I says the little girl to the little boy what shall we do says the little boy to the little girl I will kiss you end of boy and girl
London Bridge
London Bridge is broken down
Dance over my lady Lee
London Bridge is broken down
with a gay lady
How shall we build it up again
Dance over my lady Lee
How shall we build it up again
With a gay lady
Build it up with silver and gold
Dance over my lady Lee
Build it up with silver and gold
With a gay lady
Lady. Silver and gold will be stole away. Dance over my lady Lee. Silver and gold will be stole away
with a gay lady. Build it up with iron and steel. Dance over my lady Lee. Build it up with iron and
steel with a gay lady. Iron and steel will bend and bow. Dance over my lady Lee. Iron and steel will
bend and bow with a gay lady build it up with wooden clay dance over my lady lee build it up with wood and clay with a gay lady
wood and clay will wash away dance over my lady lee wood and clay will wash away with a gay lady build it up with stone so strong dance over my lady lee huzzacht will last for ages long
with a gay lady
End of London Bridge
Sing
Sing sing
Sing what shall I sing
Cats run away with the pudding string
Do do what shall I do
The cat has bitten it quite in two
End of sing sing
March winds
March winds
and April showers bring forth
Mayflowers
End of March wins
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
End of hot cross buns
The Lost shoe
Doodle Doodle Doo
Doe
stopped, not knowing what to do.
End of the lost shoe.
Hot codlands.
There was a little woman, as I've been told, who was not very young nor very old.
Now this little woman, her living got by selling codlands.
Hot, hot, hot.
End of hot codlands.
The balloon.
What is the news of the day?
Good neighbor, I pray.
They say the balloon.
is gone up to the moon. End of the balloon.
A cherry. As I went through the garden gap, who should I meet but Dick Redcap? A stick in his hand,
a stone in his throat. If you tell me this riddle, I'll give you a groat.
End of a cherry. The man of Tobago. There was an old man of Tobago, who lived on rice,
gruel and sago till much to his bliss his position said this to a leg sir of mutton you may go end of the man of tobago
swan swan swan over the sea swim swam swan swim swan back again well swam swan swan end of swan three straws three straws on a staff
would make a baby cry and laugh.
End of three straws.
A sunshiny shower.
A sunshiny shower won't last half an hour.
End of a sunshiny shower.
Christmas.
Christmas is coming.
The geese are getting fat.
Please to put a penny in an old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny, a half penny will do.
If you haven't got a half penny, God bless you.
End of Christmas.
The farmer and the raven.
A farmer went trotting upon his gray mare, bumpity, bumpity, with his daughter behind him,
so rosy and fair, lumpity, lumpity, lump.
A raven cried croak, and they all tumbled down, bumpety, bumpity, bump.
The mare broke her knees, and the farmer, his crowned, lumpity, lumpity,
The mischievous raven flew laughing away.
Bumpity, bumpity, bump-a-bop, and vowed he would serve them the same the next day.
Lumpity, lumpity, lump.
End of the farmer and the raven.
The death and burial of poor cock-robin.
Who killed Cock-Robbin?
I, said the sparrow, with my bow and arrow.
I killed Cock-Robin.
Who saw him die?
I said the fly, with my little eye, I saw him die.
Who caught his blood?
I said the fish, with my little dish, I caught his blood.
Who'll make his shroud?
I said the beetle, with my thread and needle, I'll make his shroud.
Who'll carry the torch?
I said the linnit.
I'll come in a minute.
I'll carry the torch.
Who'll be the clerk?
I said the lark, if it's not in the dark, I'll be the clerk.
Who'll dig his grave? I said the owl, with my spade and trowl, I'll dig his grave.
Who'll be the parson? I said the rook, with my little book, I'll be the parson.
Who'll be the chief mourner? I said the dove, I'll mourn for my love. I'll be chief mourner.
Who'll sing a psalm?
I said the thrush.
As I sit in a bush, I'll sing a psalm.
Who'll carry the coffin?
I said the kite.
If it's not in the night, I'll carry the coffin.
Who'll toll the bell?
I said the bull, because I can pull, I'll toll the bell.
All the birds of the air fell sighing and sobbing
when they heard the bell tol for poor caution.
Robin. End of the death and burial of poor cock Robin.
Willie boy. Willie boy, Willie boy, where are you going? I will go with you, if that I may.
I'm going to the meadow to see them a mowing. I'm going to help them to make the hay.
End of Willie Boy. Polly and Sukey.
Polly put the kettle on. Polly put the kettle on.
Polly put the kettle on and let's drink tea.
Suki take it off again.
Suki take it off again.
Suki take it off again.
They're all gone away.
End of Polly and Suki.
The mouse and the clock.
Hickory-Dickory-Dickory dock.
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one and down he run.
Hickory-Dickory-Dickory dock.
End of the mouse and the clock.
Bobby Shaftoie
Bobby Shaftoey's gone to see
With silver buckles on his knee
He'll come back and marry me
Pretty Bobby Shaftoey
Bobby Shaftoey's fat and fair
Combing down his yellow hair
He's my love forever more
Pretty Bobby Shaftoey
And a Bobby Shaftoey
The Bunch of Blue Ribbons
oh dear what can the matter be oh dear what can the matter be oh dear what can the matter be johnny's so long at the fair
he promised he'd buy me a bunch of blue ribbons he promised he'd buy me a bunch of blue ribbons he promised he'd buy me a bunch of blue ribbons he promised he'd buy me a bunch of blue ribbons to tie up my bonnie brown hair end of the bunch of blue ribbons
Pussy cat by the fire
Pussy cat sits by the fire
How can she be fair
In walks the little dog
Says pussy are you there
How do you do
Mistress Pussy
Mistress Pussy how do you do
I think you kindly little dog
I fare as well as you
End of Pussy Cat by the fire
When the snow is on the ground
The Little Robin Greaves
when the snow is on the ground,
for the trees have no leaves,
and no berries can be found.
The air is cold, the worms are hid.
For Robin, hear what can be
done, let's strow around
some crumbs of bread,
and then he'll live till snow is gone.
End of when the snow
is on the ground.
The woman of Exeter.
There dwelt an old woman
at Exeter. When visitors
came, it sore vexter.
So for fear they should
eat, she locked up all her meat, the stingy old woman of Exeter.
End of the woman of Exeter.
Sneezing
If you sneeze on Monday, you sneeze for danger.
Sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger.
Sneeze on Wednesday.
Sneeze for a letter.
Sneeze on Thursday, something better.
Sneeze on a Friday.
Sneeze for sorrow.
Sneeze on a Saturday.
Joy tomorrow.
End of sneezing.
of part six and end of the real mother goose this has been a liverbox recording by alice
and hester in march 2008
