Simple Simon met a pieman,
Going to the fair!
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
Let me taste your ware.
Says the pieman unto Simon
First give me a penny;
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
I have not got any.
Once Simon made a great snow ball
And brought it in to roast,
He laid it down before the fire,
And soon the ball was lost.
He went to ride a spotted cow,
That had a little calf,
She threw him down upon the ground
And made all the people laugh.
Now Simple Simon went a fishing,
For to catch a whale,
But all the water he had got
Was in his mother’s pail.
He went to catch a dickey bird
And thought he could not fail
Because he had a bit of salt,
To put upon his tail.
He went to see if cherries ripe,
Did grow upon a thistle,
He pricked his finger very much,
Which made poor Simon whistle.
He went to take a bird’s nest,
’Twas built upon a bough,
A branch gave way, down Simon fell
Into a dirty slough.
Simon was sent to market,
To buy a joint of meat,
He tied it to his horse’s tail,
To keep it clean and sweet.