September 16. Story of the Day: Aiken Drum

This sone comes from A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes by Sabine Baring-Gould.

This is Roud 2571. See Chalmers' Popular Rhymes of Scotland for another version and with music (online at Hathi).

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

AIKEN DRUM

(Walter Crane)

There was a man lived in the moon,

And his name was Aiken Drum.

And he played upon a ladle,

And his name was Aiken Drum.

And his hat was made of good cream cheese,

And his name was Aiken Drum.

And he played upon a ladle,

And his name was Aiken Drum.

And his coat was made of good roast beef,

And his name was Aiken Drum.

And he played upon a ladle,

And his name was Aiken Drum.

And his buttons were made of penny loaves,

AAnd his name was Aiken Drum.

And he played upon a ladle,

And his name was Aiken Drum.

His waistcoat was made of crusts of pies,

And his name was Aiken Drum.

And he played upon a ladle,

And his name was Aiken Drum.

His breeches were made of haggis bags,

And his name was Aiken Drum.

And he played upon a ladle,

And his name was Aiken Drum.

There was a man in another town,

And his name was Willy Wood,

And he played upon a razor,

And his name was Willy Wood.

And he ate up all the good cream cheese,

And his name was Willy Wood,

And he played upon a razor,

And his name was Willy Wood.

And he ate up all the good roast beef,

And his name was Willy Wood,

And he played upon a razor,

And his name was Willy Wood.

And he ate up all the penny loaves,

And his name was Willy Wood,

And he played upon a razor,

And his name was Willy Wood.

And he ate up all the crusts of pies,

And his name was Willy Wood,

And he played upon a razor,

And his name was Willy Wood.

But he choked himself with the haggis bags,

And there was an end of Willy Wood.

May 27. Story of the Day: Tree in the Wood

This version of the song comes from A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes by Sabine Baring-Gould, who was a major figure in 19th-century folklore; you can read about him at Wikipedia. There is also an article about this song: The Green Grass Grew All Around.

This is Roud 129.

I'm including this recording by Louis Jordan (which adds verses about dirt and roots at the beginning!), and you will find lots of other versions at YouTube. The version below is a little bit different: not only is it a cumulative song, but it is also an endless circle, starting at the tree, and then ending with the tree (most versions of the song stop when they get to the verses about the bird). So, even if you know this song, take a look at how this one goes at the end: it's really nice!

Want more? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

THE TREE IN THE WOOD


(Louis Jordan and his Tympany Band)

All in a wood there grew a fine tree,
The finest tree that ever you did see,
And the green grass grew around, around, around,
And the green grass grew around.

And on this tree
there grew a fine bough,
The finest bough that ever you did see,
and the bough on the tree,
and the tree in the wood,
and the green leaves flourished
thereon thereon thereon,
and the green leaves flourished thereon.

And on this bough
there a fine twig,
The finest twig that ever you did see,
and the twig on the bough,
and the bough on the tree,
and the tree in the wood,
and the green leaves flourished
thereon thereon thereon,
and the green leaves flourished thereon.

And on this twig
there stood a fine nest,
The finest nest that ever you did see,
and the nest on the twig,
and the twig on the bough,
and the bough on the tree,
and the tree in the wood,
and the green leaves flourished
thereon thereon thereon,
and the green leaves flourished thereon.

And in this nest
there sat a fine bird,
The finest bird that ever you did see,
and the bird in the nest,
and the nest on the twig,
and the twig on the bough,
and the bough on the tree,
and the tree in the wood,
and the green leaves flourished
thereon thereon thereon,
and the green leaves flourished thereon.

And on this bird
there grew a fine feather,
The finest feather that ever you did see,
and the feather on the bird,
and the bird in the nest,
and the nest on the twig,
and the twig on the bough,
and the bough on the tree,
and the tree in the wood,
and the green leaves flourished
thereon thereon thereon,
and the green leaves flourished thereon.

And of this feather
was made a fine bed,
The finest bed that ever you did see,
and the bed of feather,
and the feather on the bird,
and the bird in the nest,
and the nest on the twig,
and the twig on the bough,
and the bough on the tree,
and the tree in the wood,
and the green leaves flourished
thereon thereon thereon,
and the green leaves flourished thereon.

And on this bed
was laid a fine mother,
The finest mother that ever you did see,
and the mother on the bed,
and the bed of feather,
and the feather on the bird,
and the bird in the nest,
and the nest on the twig,
and the twig on the bough,
and the bough on the tree,
and the tree in the wood,
and the green leaves flourished
thereon thereon thereon,
and the green leaves flourished thereon.

In the arms of this mother
was laid a fine babe,
The finest babe that ever you did see,
and the babe from the mother,
and the mother on the bed,
and the bed of feather,
and the feather on the bird,
and the bird in the nest,
and the nest on the twig,
and the twig on the bough,
and the bough on the tree,
and the tree in the wood,
and the green leaves flourished
thereon thereon thereon,
and the green leaves flourished thereon.

And the babe he grew up
and became a fine boy,
The finest boy that ever you did see,
and the grown-up boy,
and the babe from the mother,
and the mother on the bed,
and the bed of feather,
and the feather on the bird,
and the bird in the nest,
and the nest on the twig,
and the twig on the bough,
and the bough on the tree,
and the tree in the wood,
and the green leaves flourished
thereon thereon thereon,
and the green leaves flourished thereon.

And boy put an acorn all into the earth,
The finest acorn that ever you did see,
and the acorn in the earth,
and the grown-up boy,
and the babe from the mother,
and the mother on the bed,
and the bed of feather,
and the feather on the bird,
and the bird in the nest,
and the nest on the twig,
and the twig on the bough,
and the bough on the tree,
and the tree in the wood,
and the green leaves flourished
thereon thereon thereon,
and the green leaves flourished thereon.

And out of this acorn,
there grew a fine tree,
the finest tree you ever did see,
and the tree from the acorn,
and the acorn in the earth,
and the grown-up boy,
and the babe from the mother,
and the mother on the bed,
and the bed of feather,
and the feather on the bird,
and the bird in the nest,
and the nest on the twig,
and the twig on the bough,
and the bough on the tree,
and the tree in the wood,
and the green leaves flourished
thereon thereon thereon,
and the green leaves flourished thereon.

(Child Development Institute)

CHAIN: wood - tree - bough - twig - nest - bird - feather - bed - mother - babe - boy - acorn - earth - tree

Baring-Gould. The Golden Ball

From A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes by Sabine Baring-Gould.

This is Roud 144.

THE GOLDEN BALL

'Stop, stop, I think I see my mother coming!

O mother, hast thou brought my golden ball,

And come to set me free?'

'I've never brought thy golden ball,

Nor come to set thee free.

But I have come to see thee hung

Upon this gallows tree.'

'Stop, stop, I think I see my father coming!

O father, hast thou brought my golden ball,

And come to set me free?'

'I've neither brought thy golden ball,

Nor come to set thee free.

But I have come to see thee hung

Upon this gallows tree.'

'Stop, stop, I think I see my brother coming!

O brother, hast thou brought my golden ball,

And come to set me free?'

'I've neither brought thy golden ball,

Nor come to set thee free.

But I have come to see thee hung

Upon this gallows tree.'

'Stop, stop, I think I see my sister coming!

O sister, hast thou brought my golden ball,

And come to set me free?'

'I've neither brought thy golden ball,

Nor come to set thee free.

But I have come to see thee hung

Upon this gallows tree.'

'Stop, stop, I think I see my uncle coming!

O uncle, hast thou brought my golden ball,

And come to set me free?'

'I've neither brought thy golden ball,

Nor come to set thee free.

But I have come to see thee hung

Upon this gallows tree.'

'Stop, stop, I think I see my aunt coming!

O aunt, hast thou brought my golden ball,

And come to set me free?'

'I've neither brought thy golden ball,

Nor come to set thee free.

But I have come to see thee hung

Upon this gallows tree.'

'Stop, stop, I think I see my cousin coming!

O cousin, hast thou brought my golden ball,

And come to set me free?'

'I've neither brought thy golden ball,

Nor come to set thee free.

But I have come to see thee hung

Upon this gallows tree.'

'Stop, stop! I see my sweetheart coming!

Sweetheart, hast thou brought my golden ball,

And come to set me free?'

'Ay, I have brought thy golden ball,

And come to set thee free.

I am not come to see thee hung

Upon this gallows tree.'

(Gallows at Caxton Gibbet)

Baring-Gould. The Dilly Song

From A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes by Sabine Baring-Gould.

This is Roud 133.

THE DILLY SONG

Come, and I will sing you.

What will you sing me?

I will sing you the One, O!

What is your One, O?

One of them is all alone, and ever will remain so.

Come, and I will sing you.

What will you sing me?

I will sing you Two, O!

What is your Two, O?

Two of them are lily-white babes, and dressed all in green, O.

Come, and I will sing you.

What will you sing me?

I will sing you Three, O!

What is your Three, O?

Three of them are strangers, o'er the wide world they are rangers.

Come, and I will sing you.

What will you sing me?

I will sing you Four, O!

What is your Four, O?

Four it is the dilly hour, when blooms the gilly flower.

Come, and I will sing you.

What will you sing me?

I will sing you Five, O!

What is your Five, O?

Five it is the dilly bird, that's never seen, but heard, O!

Come, and I will sing you.

What will you sing me?

I will sing you Six, O!

What is your Six, O?

Six the ferryman in the boat, that doth on the river float, O!

Come, and I will sing you.

What will you sing me?

I will sing you Seven, O!

What is your Seven, O?

Seven it is the crown of Heaven, the shining stars be seven, O!

Come, and I will sing you.

What will you sing me?

I will sing you Eight, O!

What is your Eight, O?

Eight it is the morning break, when all the world's awake, O!

Come, and I will sing you.

What will you sing me?

I will sing you Nine, O!

What is your Nine, O?

Nine it is the pale moonshine, the pale moonlight is nine, O!

Come, and I will sing you.

What will you sing me?

I will sing you Ten, O!

What is your Ten, O?

Ten forbids all kind of sin, and ten again begin, O!

(Ten Commandments)

Sabine Baring-Gould. Little Bingo.

From A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes by Sabine Baring-Gould.

This is Roud 589.

LITTLE BINGO

A farmer's dog leapt over the stile,

His name was little Bingo:

There was B. with an I., and I. with an N.,

N. with a G., G. with an O.;

There was B.I.N.G.O.;

And his name was little Bingo.

The farmer loved a cup of ale,

And called it very good stingo.

There was S. with a T., and T. with an I.,

N. with a G., G. with an O.;

There was S.T.I.N.G.O.;

And its name was jolly Stingo.

The farmer loved a pretty lass,

And gave her a wedding Ring-o.

There was R. with an I., and I. with an N.,

N. with a G., G. with an O.;

There was R.I.N.G.O.;

She curtsied and took the Ring-o.


The popular version for children today is minus the ale and the lass:

(Bingo YouTube video)

Sabine Baring-Gould. Hunting of the Hare

From A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes by Sabine Baring-Gould.

This is Roud 1041.

THE HUNTING OF THE HARE

(Hounds and Hares by Jan Fyt)

I hunted my Merry all into the hay,
The Hare was before and the hounds 'ware away!'
   With my Hickerly Tout, ticklesome Trout,
   Hipperly, tipperly, eversheen, nipperly,
   Up the middle, vandigo-van.
   'Twas up the hill, down the form,
   Here a step, there a turn,
   Turn and sing merrily,
   Hunt hounds, away!

I hunted my Merry all into the barley,
And there the poor puss was pursued by old Snarley.
   With my Hickerly Tout, ticklesome Trout,
   Hipperly, tipperly, eversheen, nipperly,
   Up the middle, vandigo-van.
   'Twas up the hill, down the form,
   Here a step, there a turn,
   Turn and sing merrily,
   Hunt hounds, away!

I hunted my Merry all into the wheat,
And there the sly puss did attempt us to cheat.
   With my Hickerly Tout, ticklesome Trout,
   Hipperly, tipperly, eversheen, nipperly,
   Up the middle, vandigo-van.
   'Twas up the hill, down the form,
   Here a step, there a turn,
   Turn and sing merrily,
   Hunt hounds, away!

I hunted my Merry all into the rye,
And there the poor hare was constrained to die.
   With my Hickerly Tout, ticklesome Trout,
   Hipperly, tipperly, eversheen, nipperly,
   Up the middle, vandigo-van.
   'Twas up the hill, down the form,
   Here a step, there a turn,
   Turn and sing merrily,
   Hunt hounds, away!

I hunted my Merry all into the oats
And there I cut off both his paw and his scutt,
   With my Hickerly Tout, ticklesome Trout,
   Hipperly, tipperly, eversheen, nipperly,
   Up the middle, vandigo-van.
   'Twas up the hill, down the form,
   Here a step, there a turn,
   Turn and sing merrily,
   Hunt hounds, away!

Baring-Gould. The Foolish Boy

From A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes by Sabine Baring-Gould.

As a folktale type, this is ATU 1415 Trading Away One's Fortune. The folksong is classified as Roud 469. The Swapping Song.

The version collected here has quite a different ending from the version here: My father he died.

THE FOOLISH BOY

(Amish 6-horse team)

My father died, and I can't tell y' how,

He left me six horses to follow the plough.

With a whing, whing, waddle, O!

With a string, strang, straddle, O!

Blossy boys! Babble, O! under the Broom.

I sold my six horses, and bought me a cow,

I'm going to get money, but I can't tell how.

With a whing, whing, waddle, O!

With a string, strang, straddle, O!

Blossy boys! Babble, O! under the Broom.

I sold my cow, and I bought me a calf,

By that my bargain I lost just half.

With a whing, whing, waddle, O!

With a string, strang, straddle, O!

Blossy boys! Babble, O! under the Broom.

I sold my calf, and I bought me a cat,

And in the chimney corner the pretty thing sat.

With a whing, whing, waddle, O!

With a string, strang, straddle, O!

Blossy boys! Babble, O! under the Broom.

I sold my cat, and I bought me a mouse,

Set fire to her tail, and she burnt down my house.

With a whing, whing, waddle, O!

With a string, strang, straddle, O!

Blossy boys! Babble, O! under the Broom.

I sold my mouse, and I bought me a wife,

She cut my throat with an old rusty knife.

With a whing, whing, waddle, O!

With a string, strang, straddle, O!

Blossy boys! Babble, O! under the Broom.