A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes

Front matter

A BOOK OF NURSERY SONGS AND RHYMES

A BOOK OF NURSERY SONGS AND RHYMES

EDITED BY S. BARING-GOULD: WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE BIRMINGHAM ART SCHOOL UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A.J.GASKIN

Introduction

INTRODUCTION.

IN 1837 Mr. J. B. Ker gave a book to the world in two volumes, entitled 'The Archæology of Nursery Rhymes,' which is, perhaps, one of the oddest instances extant of misdirected labour.

Mr. Ker started from the point that Nursery Rhymes are usually arrant nonsense. Why should little Miss Muffet sit on a tuffet, and little Jack Horner occupy a corner? He assumed that the English nurse was incapable of composing and singing nonsense, which, it must be allowed, was a large assumption at the outset. Then he convinced himself, and desired to convince others, that a great deal of meaning lurked behind this nonsense. To find out the meaning was his next undertaking, and he discovered that by rendering the Nursery Rhymes of Old England into Dutch words having a resemblance in sound more or less far-fetched, strings of words could be obtained which, with a little arrangement, were capable of being represented as a tirade against monarchism, sacerdotalism, catholicism. Consequently the nurses of England were the true heralds and apostles of Protestant principles—such principles being scurrilous abuse of what members of the Roman Church held as sacred and respected.

Now, unhappily for Mr. Ker's argument, not one of these Netherland renderings has survived in Holland, the most Protestant country in the world, and there was absolutely no explanation of how these nursery profanities and pasquinades arrived in England, and took root there, without leaving a trace behind them. It is quite true that we drew a king from the Netherlands—William of Orange; but there is no record of his having brought over with him a fleet filled with nurse-maids, wherewith to inundate our English homes.

An equally misdirected and absurd attempt was made later by Mr. Henry George to force one of our nursery jingles into a record of English history. This was 'An attempt to show that our Nursery Rhyme, "The House that Jack built," is an historical allegory, portraying eventful periods in England's history since the time of Harold, by Henry George,' published by Griffith and Farren, 1862. A specimen of this will suffice. 'The man all tattered and torn' represents the Protestant Church under Henry VIII., 'persecuted by banishment, torture, spoliations': somewhat comical history, for it was rather the Roman Catholic Church which was despoiled by that monarch. The 'kissing the maiden all forlorn' signifies 'Elizabeth's union of the Churches.' Mr. George also gives the Jewish nursery rhyme found in all passover books, and which he pompously describes as taken out of 'an ancient Jewish hymn in the Bodleian library, Oxford,' and plays the same tricks with it. Undoubtedly Mr. George had read Mr. Ker's book.

The fact really is that which Mr. Ker recognised at the outset: Nursery Rhymes are nonsense. To which we may add, that in a good many cases they never were intended to be otherwise. They owe their origin to the circumstance that children have to be amused and lulled, and that a bit of rhyme, set to an easy tune, will lull them to sleep when peevish, and amuse them in the twilight, when they are tired of romping and racketing.

One thing a nurse would be certain to do, in either case, would be to sing to the child some ditty she herself has heard—probably as a child, and which she remembers imperfectly. A long song thus gets cut down to a couple of verses; and, in another generation, the two verses shrink into one.

An instance in case is that of the song 'All in a Misty Morning.' This appears in Durfy's 'Pills to Purge Melancholly,' 1719, in fifteen stanzas. This has as its burden, 'With how do you do? and how do you do? and how do you do again?'

I have heard this sung in a most fragmentary manner, never extending beyond three verses.

The story of Jack and Jill exists in a long ballad; of that nothing has remained in the nursery save the lines—

Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down, and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.

Little Jack Horner is the subject of a very lengthy ballad and chap-book tale. He is a sort of Jack the Giant Killer, and Tom Thumb, and Tom, the Piper's Son with the magic pipes that make all men dance. But what of all that remains? Nothing Everything is gone, save the solitary incident of his putting his thumb into the Christmas pudding, and belauding himself like the Pharisee. Some old ballads have been mutilated purposely, because indelicate and unfit for children's ears, and in the process of mutilation have lost their significance. They have lived in this condition, whereas the originals have happily disappeared. But in a great majority of cases nursery jingles are due to no other origin than the clashing together of rhymes. Why did

Little Jack Jingle Use to live single—

save because the rhyme required it. And

Little Jack-a-dandy Wanted sugar-candy;

whereas—

Little Billy Cook Always reads a book,

for no other earthly reason than that 'candy' rhymes with 'dandy,' and 'book' rhymes with Cook.'

It is true that some nursery rhymes, and especially game rhymes, have an origin that points back to very early beliefs and usages. This is far more the case in Germany than in England. Nevertheless, there are some of ours that derive from an early period in the history of civilisation.

The counting out rhymes may be, and probably are, a relic of the time when such counting out was employed for selecting a victim for sacrifice. As I have noticed in the notes, Jack and Jill in the nursery rhyme are reminiscences of Hjuki and Bil the two children in the moon, according to Scandinavian mythology.

Some nursery rhymes have a definite object aimed at,—that of practising a child's memory, or of teaching it the letters of the alphabet, or the numbers of a clock face, or the ordinary numerals.

In Jewish books of prayer for the Paschal Festival, two nursery rhymes are almost always inserted, wherewith the tedium of the service may be lightened to the children. One of these is very similar to our English, 'Sing a song of One, O!' It begins thus:—

Who is one, and who can declare it? I will teach you it; One is God in Heaven and on earth. What is two, and who can declare it? I will teach you it; Two are the tables of the Covenant, One is God in Heaven, etc. What is three, and who can declare it? I will teach you it; Three are the Patriarchs, Two are the tables, etc., One is God, etc.

and so on to twelve.

The other nursery song is like our 'Stick, stick, beat dog.' It begins:—

There was a lamb, a little lamb, And daddy he did buy it. There came a nasty pussy cat And ate the little lambkin.

A dog that was enraged Because of guiltless blood, Came hastening swift as arrow, And tore to death the cat.

A stick stood by the doggie Had long been used in threat, The stick it beat the doggie, And doggie fell down dead.

Upon the hearth the fire, To avenge the stick it came, The stick was next consumed All in the ardent flame.

There bubbled up a fountain, The water out did well, It washèd o'er the fire And quenchèd it as well.

A thirsty ox came thither, And drew towards the spring, He drank and drank, and drinking He drained the well away.

A butcher drew up slyly And in his hand a knife, He fell upon the oxen, And took its precious life.

Then ensues a moral. God avenges all violence. Death butchers the butcher, and the butcher butchers the ox, and the ox sucks up the water, and the water quenches the fire, and the fire burns the stick, and the stick beats the dog, and the dog tears the cat, and the cat eats the little lamb that belonged to my daddy, and for which he paid—so much.

The Task

NURSERY SONGS

I. THE TASK

Will you buy me, my lady, a cambric shirt? Whilst every grove rings with a merry antine (antienne); And stitch it without any needle-work? O and then you shall be a true lover of mine.

O and you must wash it in yonder well, Whilst every grove, etc. Where never a drop of water in fell. O and then, etc.

O and you must hang it upon a white thorn, Whilst every grove, etc. That never has blossomed since Adam was born. O and then, etc.

O and when that these tasks are finished and done, Whilst every grove, etc. I will take thee and marry thee under the sun. O and then, etc.

Or that ever I do these two and three, Whilst every grove, etc. I will set of tasks as many to three, O and then, etc.

You must buy for me an acre of land, Whilst every grove, etc. Between the salt sea and the yellow sand, O and then, etc.

You must plough it o'er with a horse's horn, Whilst every grove, etc. And sow it all over with one pepper-corn, O and then, etc.

You must reap it, too, with a piece of leather, Whilst every grove, etc. And bind it all up with a peacock's feather, O and then, etc.

You must take it up in a bottomless sack Whilst every grove, etc. And bear it to the mill on a butterfly's back, O and then, etc.

And when that these tasks are finished and done, Whilst every grove, etc. O then will I marry thee under the sun, And then thou shalt be a true lover of mine.

A Lying Tale

II. A LYING TALE

O when I was an infant young, To London I did go, Among the French and Spaniards there My gallantry to show. And when I came to the Eastern shore, I let my head hang down, I tripped along o'er banks and hills But never touched the ground. Fal-de-liddle-li-do Fal-de-liddle-iddle-dee.

So when I reached the Eastern shore, I met a giant high, His little feet filled up the street, His head it touched the sky. He looked down, and with a frown He bid me pass his way. He looked up, and bid me sup A posset made of whey.

He challenged me to dance and sing, To whistle or to pipe. I playéd every instrument And whipped the giant quite. He challenged me to jump a brook, He challenged me to run; I beat the pride out of his hide, And killed him when I'd done.

The people all admiring stood, To see me, not afraid. They gave to me a salver bright, A hundred ton it weighed. I made myself a little box, 'Twas but three acres square, I filled it up unto the top With my bright silver ware.

When I did go from London town, I rode upon an ox, In by my thigh, in pocket I Did put my little box. And when I reached the Western shore, They kicked me out of door, They would not trust me for a pint, Because I looked so poor.

I bought myself a flock of sheep, I thought they all were wethers. And some of them they gave me lambs And some gave only feathers. Methinks they were the bravest sheep To give such good increase, I cut their wool when the moon was full, And I had two lambs apiece.

I bought a little poodle dog, A pretty dog was he, Where'er I went, 'twas his intent To run and follow me. His tail it was but ten yards long, His ears but five feet wide, And round the world in half a day Upon him I might ride.

I bought myself a coal-black hen, Of her I took much care, I set her on a mussel shell And out she hatched a hare. The hare she grew at such a pace, She soon was ten hands high. Come—if you know a better joke, I'm very sure you lie. Fal-de-liddle-li-do Fal-de-liddle-iddle-dee.

Three Jovial Welshmen

III. THREE JOVIAL WELSHMEN

There were three jovial Welshmen, They would go hunt a fox. They swore they saw sly Reynard, Run over yonder rocks,

With a whoop! whoop! whoop! and halloo! With a blast of the bugle-horn! With a twang, twang, twang, taulidi, O! With a ting, ting, ting, tingle, O! And a blast of my bugle-horn! And thro' the woods we'll ride, brave boys! With a blast of my bugle-horn.

The first we espied was a woman A-combing her golden locks. She swore she had seen sly Reynard Among her geese and her ducks. With a whoop! etc.

The second we espied was a parson, And he was dressed in black. He swore he had seen sly Reynard, A-hung on a huntsman's back. With a whoop! etc.

The third we espied was a miller, And he was grinding his mill. He swore he had seen sly Reynard A-run over yonder hill. With a whoop! etc.

The fourth we espied was a blind man, And as blind as blind could be. He swore he had seen sly Reynard Run up in a hollow tree. With a whoop! etc.

The fifth we espied was a shepherd, And he was watching his lambs. He swore that he saw sly Reynard, So weary he could not stand. With a whoop! etc.

There never, I trow, was a Reynard That ran out that day at all. 'Twas naught but a little grey Pussy Sat purring upon an old wall. With a whoop! etc.

O then what a world 'tis o' liars This is as to me appears. I never will trust but my own eyes, And only will trust my own ears. With a whoop! etc.

The Fox

V. THE FOX

The Fox went out one moonshiny night And prayed for the moon to give him good light, For he'd many a mile to go that night Before he came to his den, O! Chorus—Den, O! Den, O! For he'd many a mile to go that night Before he came to his den, O!

At last he came to a large farmyard, Where the ducks and the geese cackled, all afeared. 'The best of all shall grease my beard Before I get to my den, O!' Chorus—Den, O! etc.

He took the grey goose all up by the neck, He laid a duck also across his back, And never regarded their quack, quack, quack, With the legs of him dangling down, O! Chorus—Down, O! etc.

Old mother Snipper Snapper jumped out of bed, And opening the casement popped out her old head, Crying 'John! O John! the grey goose is dead, And the Fox is over the down, O!' Chorus—Down, O! etc.

Then John got up to the top of the hill, And he blew his horn both lusty and shrill, 'Blow on,' said the Fox, 'sweet music still! I wish me home in my den, O!' Chorus—Den, O! etc.

At last he came to his cosy den, Where gathered his young ones, nine and ten, Quoth they, 'Daddy, you must go there again, For sure 'tis a lucky town, O!' Chorus—Town, O! etc.

The Fox and his wife without any strife, They cut up the goose without fork and knife, And said 'twas the best they'd ate in their life, And the young ones picked the bones, O! Chorus—Bones, O! etc.

The Nut Tree

IV. THE NUT TREE

I had a little nut tree, nothing would it bear But a silver nutmeg, and a golden pear. The King of Spain's daughter came to visit me, And all was because of my little nut tree. I skipped over the water, I danced over the sea, And all the birds of the air, they couldn't catch me.

The Herring's Head

VI. THE HERRING'S HEAD

1st SINGER. As I was a-walking all on the sea-sand I picked up a herring all in my right hand, It was big herrings, It was little herrings, All a brought in. O and what did I make with my jolly herring? 2nd SINGER. 'Hark, hark! how dost thou lie!' 1st SINGER. 'And so do you as well as I.' 2nd SINGER. 'Why hast thou not told me so?' 1st SINGER. 'So did I, long time ago.' BOTH TOGETHER. 'Well, well, and well-a-well, And so thinks I unto mysel', Thinks I to myself, 'tis a jolly herring.'

O what do you think I made out of my old herring's head? I made a fine oven as ever baked bread. There are great ovens, There are little ovens, And all that's therein. O and what did I make with my jolly herring? 2nd and 1st SINGERS. 'Hark, hark! how dost,' etc.

O what do you think I made out of my old herring's fin? I made as fine tops as you ever did spin. There are great tops, etc. 2nd and 1st SINGERS. 'Hark, hark! how dost,' etc.

O what do you think I made out of my old herring's eyes? I made fifty men's pasties, and five women's pies. There are great pies, etc. 2nd and 1st SINGERS. 'Hark, hark! how dost,' etc.

O what do you think I made out of my old herring's back? I made so fine a whip as you ever did crack. There are great whips, etc. 2nd and 1st SINGERS. 'Hark, hark! how dost,' etc.

O what do you think I made out of my old herring's ribs? I made fifty horse-stalls and fifty ox-cribs. There are great cribs, etc. 2nd and 1st SINGERS. 'Hark, hark! how dost,' etc.

O what do you think I made out of my old herring's tail? I made so fine a ship as ever did sail. There are great ships, etc. 2nd and 1st SINGERS. 'Hark, hark! how dost,' etc.

O what do you think I made out of my old herring's breast? I made sixty good oxen as yoke ever pressed. There are great oxen, etc. 2nd and 1st SINGERS. 'Hark, hark! how dost,' etc.

O what do you think I made out of my old herring altogether? I made so fine cobblers as ever sewed leather. There are great cobblers, etc. 2nd SINGER. 'Hark, hark! how dost thou lie!' 1st SINGER. 'So do you as well as I.' 2nd SINGER. 'Why hast thou not told me so?' 1st SINGER. 'So did I, long time ago.' BOTH TOGETHER. 'Herring and ling! O herring and ling! Of all the fish in the sea is Herring the King.'

Mother's Song

VII. MOTHER'S SONG

My heart is like a fountain true That flows and flows with love to you. As chirps the lark unto the tree So chirps my pretty babe to me. And it's O! sweet, sweet! and a lullaby.

There's not a rose where'er I seek, As comely as my baby's cheek. There's not a comb of honey-bee, So full of sweets as babe to me. And it's O! etc.

There's not a star that shines on high, Is brighter than my baby's eye. There's not a boat upon the sea, Can dance as baby does to me. And it's O! etc.

No silk was ever spun so fine As is the hair of baby mine. My baby smells more sweet to me Than smells in spring the elder tree. And it's O! etc.

A little fish swims in the well, So in my heart does baby dwell. A little flower blows on the tree, My baby is the flower to me. And it's O! etc.

The Queen has sceptre, crown, and ball, You are my sceptre, crown, and all. For all her robes of royal silk, More fair your skin, as white as milk. And it's O! etc.

Ten thousand parks where deer run, Ten thousand roses in the sun, Ten thousand pearls beneath the sea, My baby more precious is to me. And it's O! sweet, sweet! and a lullaby!

The Foolish Boy

VIII. THE FOOLISH BOY

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, etc.

I sold my cow, and I bought me a calf, By that my bargain I lost just half. With a whing, etc.

I sold my calf, and I bought me a cat, And in the chimney corner the pretty thing sat. With a whing, etc.

I sold my cat, and I bought me a mouse, Set fire to her tail, and she burnt down my house. With a whing, etc.

I sold my mouse, and I bought me a wife, She cut my throat with an old rusty knife. With a whing, etc.

Tommy-a-Lynn

IX. TOMMY-A-LYNN

Tommy-a-Lynn was a Dutchman born, His head was bald and his chin was shorn. He wore a cap made of a grey hare's skin, O a rare old man was Tommy-a-Lynn. All to my tooth, and laugh a long-lee. Tommy's a Ranter and a Rover, Tommy's a bone of my Stover, Brew, screw, Rivet and tin, O a rare old man was Tommy-a-Lynn.

Tommy-a-Lynn had no boots to put on, But two calves' skins and the hair was gone. They were split at the side and the water ran in, 'I am damp to my feet,' said Tommy-a-Lynn. All to my tooth, etc.

Tommy-a-Lynn has a-hunting gone, A bridle of mouse tails has he hung on. The bridle broke and the horse ran away, 'I'm not over well bridled,' said Tommy to-day. All to my tooth, etc.

Tommy-a-Lynn has a-riding gone, A saddle of urchins' skins has he put on. The urchins' prickles were sharp as a pin, 'I've got a sore seat,' said Tommy-a-Lynn. All to my tooth, etc.

Tom-a-Lynn's daughter, she sat on the stair, 'O father, I fancy, I'm wondrous fair!' The stair it broke, and the maid fell in. 'You're fair enough now,' said Tommy-a-Lynn. All to my tooth, etc.

Tom-a-Lynn, his wife and his mother, They all fell into the fire together. 'Ow-yow!' said the topmost, 'I've got a hot skin.' 'It's hotter below,' said Tommy-a-Lynn. All to my tooth, etc.

Green and Airy Around

XI. GREEN AND AIRY AROUND

There was an old woman lived under a hill, Green and airy around. There was an old woman lived under a hill, And she had good ale and beer to sell. With a clack, hurry-scurry, scurry whack! Green and airy around.

She had an old man and he wore a wig, Grey and hairy around. A cat and a dog and a fat little pig.

She had a daughter, her name it was Nan, Plump and bonny around. And Nan would laugh with woman or man.

There came a trooper a-riding by, Red and hairy around. He called for drink because he was dry.

His boots were leather, his coat was red, Bold and hairy around. A spur at his heel, and a hat on his head.

The trooper he was so bold and so big, Bold, big, and hairy around, Kissed Nan, drank beer, and ate up the pig, And never he paid one fig—one fig, With a clack, hurry-scurry, scurry whack! Green and airy around.

Primrose Hill

X. PRIMROSE HILL

As I was going up Primrose Hill, Primrose Hill was dirty, There I met a pretty miss, And she dropped me a curtsey.

Little miss, pretty miss, Blessings light upon you. If I had half-a-crown a day, I'd spend it all upon you.

Last Night the Dogs did Bark

XII. LAST NIGHT THE DOGS DID BARK

Last night the dogs did bark, I went to the gate to see. When every lass has got a spark, Will nobody come for me? And it's O dear! what will become of me? O dear! what shall I do? Nobody coming to marry me? Nobody coming to woo?

My father's a hedger and ditcher, My mother does nothing but spin, And I am a pretty young lassie, Yet slowly the money comes in. And it's O dear! etc.

They say that I'm comely and fair, They say that I'm scornful and proud. Alas! I must surely despair, For alack! I am getting quite ou'd. And it's O dear! etc.

And now I must die an old maid. O dear! how shocking's the thought. And alas! all my beauty must fade, But I'm sure it is none of my fau't. And it's O dear! etc.

Nice Young Maidens

XIII. NICE YOUNG MAIDENS

Here's a pretty set of us, Nice young maidens, Here's a pretty set of us, Nice young maidens. Here's a pretty set of us, All for husbands at a loss, But we cannot tarry thus, Nice young maidens, Nice young maidens.

Now I'll give you good advice, Nice young maidens, Now I'll give you good advice, If you won't be over nice, You'll get husbands in a trice, Nice young maidens.

Now I'll recommend a plan, Nice young maidens, Now I'll recommend a plan, If you'll get a little man, You must do the best you can, Nice young maidens.

Now I'll leave you all to choose, Nice young maidens, Now I'll leave you all to choose, If you've an offer, don't refuse, For if you should a husband lose, You'll die an old maiden, Fidgety old maiden.

Among the Green Hay

XIV. AMONG THE GREEN HAY

As I was a-walking one morning in spring, 'Twas down in the meadows to hear the birds sing, My true love he met me that very same day, 'Twas down in the meadows among the green hay.

What makes you, my dearest, this morning to mourn? I wish to my heart you were not so forlorn.

Do you think that your jewel you'd e'er find more shy Than T. I. M. O. T. H. Y.?

My father he's worth ten thousand or more, And I am his daughter, and his only heir. Not a farthing of fortune he'd give me, I fear, If I were to marry Y. O. U., my dear.

'O as for your fortune, my dear, I don't mind, I'll make you a husband both loving and kind. Your hand put in mine, Miss, if you are inclined, And Cupid shall U. S. in harmony bind.

So then to the church they both hasted away, And home to her father the very same day, Saying, 'Honoured father, I tell unto thee, I am M. A. R. R. I. E. D.'

So then the old man he greatly did stare, 'What! married, my daughter! my love, and my care!' Saying, 'If it be so—then I have a new son, And to him I say W. E. L. C. U. M.' (sic).

One Michaelmas Morn

XV. ONE MICHAELMAS MORN

One Michaelmas morn I awoke in a fright, And got up in the dawn, before it was light.

I sat myself down the world to admire, And saw the black berries grow on the green brier.

Then when I walked further, I chanced to see A cow and a pretty maid under a tree.

I stepped to the damsel, and to her said I, 'A penn'orth of milk, if you please—I am dry.

'Look yonder,' she said, 'the black cow with her tail Has spilt all the milk and kicked over the pail.'

The Old Couple

XVI. THE OLD COUPLE

There was an old couple, and they were poor, Tweedle, tweedle-dey. They lived in a house that had but one door, O what an old couple were they.

The old man he went one day from home, Tweedle, tweedle-dee. The old woman she couldn't stay moping alone, O meek old woman was she.

The old man he did come home at last, Tweedle, etc. And found the door and the windows fast, 'O! what is the matter?' quoth he.

'O I have been sick since you've been gone, Tweedle, etc. If you'd been in the garden you'd heard me groan.' 'O! I'm sorry for that,' said he.

'O I've a petition to make of thee, Tweedle, etc. Pick me an apple from yonder tree.' 'O that will I do,' said he.

The old man he got up in the tree, Tweedle, etc. She plucked down the ladder, and down fell he. 'This is cleverly done,' said she.

Come all pretty maidens, wherever you be, Tweedle, etc. And do to your husbands as done by she, That's the true end of matrimonie.

The Frog who would a-Wooing go

XVII. THE FROG WHO WOULD A-WOOING GO

A frog he would a-wooing go, Heigho, says Rowley, Whether his mother would let him or no. With a rowley powley, gammon and spinach, Heigho, says Anthony Rowley!

So off he set with his opera hat, Heigho, says Rowley, And on the road he met with a rat. With a rowley powley, etc.

'Pray, Mr. Rat, will you go with me, Heigho, says Rowley, Kind Mistress Mousey for to see?' With a rowley powley, etc.

And when they came to Mousey's hall, Heigho, says Rowley, They gave a loud knock, and they gave a loud call. With a rowley powley, etc.

'Pray, Mistress Mouse, are you within?' Heigho, says Rowley. 'Oh yes, kind sirs, I'm sitting to spin.' With a rowley powley, etc.

'Pray, Mistress Mouse, will you give us some beer? Heigho, says Rowley, For Froggy and I are fond of good cheer.' With a rowley powley, etc.

'Pray, Mr. Frog, will you give us a song? Heigho, says Rowley, But let it be something that's not very long.' With a rowley powley, etc.

'Indeed, Mistress Mouse,' replied Mr. Frog, Heigho, says Rowley, 'A cold has made me as hoarse as a dog.' With a rowley powley, etc.

'Since you have caught cold, Mr. Frog,' Mousey said, Heigho, says Rowley, 'I'll sing you a song that I have just made.' With a rowley powley, etc.