Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement’s;
You owe me four farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin’s;
When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey;
When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch;
When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney;
I’m sure I don’t know,
Says the Great Bell of Bow.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed;
Here comes a chopper to chop off your head;
Last, last, last, last, last man’s head.
—Winterton and Leadenham, Lincolnshire; also Nottinghamshire (Miss M. Peacock).
Oranges and lemons,
Says the bells of S. Clemen’s.
Brickdust and tiles,
Says the bells of S. Giles.
You owe me five farthings,
Says the bells of S. Martin’s.
I do not know you,
Says the bells of S. Bow.
When will you pay me?
Says the bells of Old Bailey.
When I get rich,
Says the bells of Shoreditch.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
Here comes a chopper to chop off your head.
—Derbyshire (Folk-lore Journal, i. 386).
Oranges and lemons,
The bells of St. Clemen’s;
You owe me five farthings,
The bells of St. Martin’s;
When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey;
When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch;
When will that be?
Say the bells of Shorlea;
I don’t know,
Says the Great Bell Bow.
Here comes the candle to light you to bed,
Here comes the chop to chop off your head.
Chop, chop, chop, &c.
—Middlesex (Miss Winfield).