"Oranges And Lemons Say The Bells Of St. Clements"

is an old nursery rhyme that I tried to recite on Saturday's get together,

I was sitting next to Mike as we continued our chat on old English and modern spellings, the words of this rhyme came to me, the words are chanted by children as they play the game of 'Oranges and lemons' the end of which culminates in a child being caught between the joined arms of two others, emulating the act of chopping off their head,

also the other version that mentioned trades of the times like "Pokers and Tongs" say the bells of St. Johns, (the guild of torturers), so here are both versions without me rambling!

"Oranges and lemons" say the Bells of St. Clement's

"You owe me five 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 do not know" say the Great Bells of Bow"

Here comes a Candle to light you to Bed

Here comes a Chopper to Chop off your Head

Chip chop chip chop - the Last Man's Dead."

the executions commenced at nine o'clock Monday morning following the first toll of the tenor bell, who would have thought that "Oranges and lemons" a children's rhyme could have such a sinister historical connotation?

but here is the guilds version of the rhyme,

Gay go up and gay go down

To Ring the Bells of London Town

"Oranges and Lemons" say the Bells of St. Clements

"Bullseyes and Targets" say the Bells of St. Margaret's

"Brickbats and Tiles" say the Bells of St. Giles

"Halfpence and Farthings" say the Bells of St. Martin's

"Pancakes and Fritters" say the Bells of St. Peter's

"Two Sticks and an Apple" say the Bells of Whitechapel

"Maids in white aprons" say the Bells at St. Katherine's

"Pokers and Tongs" say the Bells of St. John's

"Kettles and Pans" say the Bells of St. Anne's

"Old Father Baldpate" say the slow Bells of Aldgate

"You owe me Ten Shillings" say the Bells of St. Helen's

"When will you Pay me?" say the Bells of Old Bailey

"When I grow Rich" say the Bells of Shoreditch

"Pray when will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney

"I do not know" say the Great Bell of Bow

Gay go up and gay go down

To Ring the Bells of London Town

the word gay had a different meaning in those times, for more on the guilds rhymes go here, as an aside this is the origin of the saying "On the Wagon" - meaning a person has stopped drinking alcohol! Prisoners were transported to Tyburn Gallows on a wagon and were allowed one last drink in a pub on the way to their execution, if offered a second drink by a sympathiser the guard would reply, "No, they're going on the Wagon!"

if you want more words and lyrics of old Nursery Rhymes, go here.