Counting-Out Rhymes

We're thrilled to add counting-out rhymes to our collection of English nursery rhymes whenever we come across them. Counting out rhymes help choose who goes first in a game, or who's “It”. I found these rhymes below in a book of games called What Shall We Do Now?: Five Hundred Games and Pastimes [...]

Plum Pudding – An Ancient Christmas Carol with Recipes

Here's an old carol that sings of the Christmas feast in England that traditionally includes plum pudding… PLUM PUDDING Ancient Christmas Carol. All you who to feasting and mirth are inclined, Come, here is good news for to pleasure your mind. Old Christmas is come, for to keep open house: He scorns to be guilty of starving a mouse. Then [...]

The Boar's Head Carol with an MP3

As early as the 15th century in England, they served boar's head at the Christmas banquet. It was the first course in every Baron's Hall and was brought into the feast with great singing. One song they sang was “The Boar's Head Carol”. There are several versions of “The Boar's Head Carol”. I'm happy [...]

The Fairy Books by Andrew Lang are All Online!

Andrew Lang collected a large body of fairy tales in his twelve Fairy Books.  You can now access all of the texts online through Project Gutenberg.  They have an index by book and an alphabetical listing of all of Lang's Fairy Tales.  These collections include such classic tales as Bluebeard, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltzkin, The Beauty [...]

Whether the Weather

Here's a cool weather poem – no pun intended… Whether the Weather Whether the weather be fine, Or whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold, Or whether the weather be hot, We'll weather the weather, Whatever the whether, Whether we like it or not. -Anonymous If anyone would like to read this poem for us, I'd be happy to add a [...]

Does Anyone Know a Song with the Line, “The Ship Sailed for the White Cliffs of Dover”?

Dan wrote, I went to school in Chilton (England) when I was six (1972), in California now, and my class sang this song, but that is the only line I can recall, I even recall the melody… “And when the journey was all over / The ship sailed for the / White Cliffs of Dover.” Anybody? Was it [...]

A Short Poem about the Life of a Child, based on a Persian Verse

This is a short, four lined poem that encompasses a child's life from birth till death. It seems sad, yet it's really a wish for a happy life full of people who care for the child… The Babe On parent knees, a naked new-born child, Weeping thou sat'st while all around thee smiled: So live, that, sinking to [...]

A Rain Rhyme that Involves Baking a Cake

Here's a rain rhyme from Northumberland that reminds us that rainy weather is a good opportunity to stay indoors and cook! Rain, rain, go away, And come again another day, When I brew and when I bake, I’ll give you a little cake. Stay dry! Mama Lisa PS You can tell it's raining where I am and that I'm considering baking something [...]

Dragon fly! – A Rhyme about a Dragonfly, Boys and Fish

  Dragon fly! Dragon fly! Dragon fly! dragon fly! fly about the brook, Sting all the bad boys who for the fish look; But let the good boys catch all they can, And then take them home to be fried [...]

Can Someone Help with the Lap Rhyme, “Run run horsey with your long hair”?

Karla wrote: Hi, My name is Karla Wass. Recently my grandmother has passed, and as a child she would place us (15 grandkids + 10 great grandkids) on her knee and sing to us. Unfortunately, none of us could remember the name and she left so suddenly we were unable to ask her it. I [...]