"Our Grandma was born in Glasgow in 1901 and came to Australia as a war bride in 1919. She always sang this ditty to all her children and then her grandchildren. This is our family's version..." -Julie

Notes

Asked about this song, Ewan McVicar wrote, "If you look at my "Doh Ray Me" book, pages 83 and 84, you will find other versions of the same family of rhymes, though not exactly this one. The oldest versions are said to have been a way for Cumbrian shepherds to count their flocks. Usually now considered to be a nonsensical memory test. The first line of this one has echoes of counting 1 to 4 in Scots - een, twa, three, fower. Torry rope is probably tarry rope [as on a ship?], and toosy jock is tousle headed Jock, a boy with unshevelled hair. As often happens, the second four lines have been welded on to the first four for no apparent good reason."

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Thanks to Julie for sharing this song with us!