Lang. Oranges and Lemons

From The Nursery Rhyme Book edited by Andrew Lang, with illustrations by L. Leslie Brooke. There is a chapter devoted to this rhyming game in Gomme's Traditional Games.

This is Roud 13190.

ORANGES AND LEMONS

GAY go up and gay go down,
To ring the bells of London town.

Bull's eyes and targets,
Say the bells of St. Marg'ret's.

Brickbats and tiles,
Say the bells of St. Giles'.

Halfpence and farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin's.

Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement's.

Pancakes and fritters,
Say the bells of St. Peter's.

Two sticks and an apple,
Say the bells at Whitechapel.

Old Father Baldpate,
Say the slow bells at Aldgate.

You owe me ten shillings,
Say the bells at St. Helen's.

Pokers and tongs,
Say the bells at St. John's.

Kettles and pans,
Say the bells at St. Ann's.

When will you pay me?
Say the bells at Old Bailey.

When I grow rich,
Say the bells at Shoreditch.

Pray when will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.

I am sure I don't know,
Says the great bell at Bow.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head.


NOTES

At the conclusion, the captive is privately asked if he will have oranges or lemons (the two leaders of the arch having previously agreed which designation shall belong to each), and he goes behind the one he may chance to name. When all are thus divided into two parties, they conclude the game by trying to pull each other beyond a certain line.

~ ~ ~

Here is another version from Gammer Gurton's Garland of 1783 given by Northall in English Folk-Rhymes. See additional variations in Northall.

Gay go up, and gay go down,
To ring the bells of London town.

Bull's eyes and targets,
Say the bells of St. Marg'ret's.

Brickbats and tiles
Say the bells of St. Giles.

Halfpence and farthings
Say the bells of St. Martin's.

Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement's.

Pancakes and fritters
Say the bells at St. Peter's.

Two sticks and an apple
Say the bells of Whitechapel.

Old Father Baldpate
Say the slow bells at Aldgate.

You owe me ten shillings
Say the bells at St. Helens.

When will you pay me
Say the bells of Old Bailey.

When I shall grow rich
Say the bells of Shoreditch.

Pray when will that be
Say the bells of Stepney.

I am sure I don't know,
Says the great bell at Bow.