Ladybug, Ladybug - American Children's Songs - The USA - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World - Intro Image

Notes

"Ladybugs" are called "ladybirds" in the UK. Based on these two versions below that were printed in the US over 100 years ago, it appears they used to be called ladybirds in the US too.

Here's the version from The Real Mother Goose (1916, Chicago):

Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home!
Your house is on fire, your children all gone,
All but one, and her name is Ann,
And she crept under the pudding pan

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Here's the version from The Only True Mother Goose Melodies (Published and Copyrighted in Boston in 1833 by Munroe & Francis):

Lady-bird, Lady-bird
Fly away home,
Your house is on fire,
Your children will burn.

Ladybug, Ladybug - American Children's Songs - The USA - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World 2

Comments

I recited this rhyme to my 7 year old daughter and she pointed out that it's sad. I mentioned that people lived harder lives back then when they came up with it. She commented that it should have been all the more reason to come up with happier rhymes...

Thanks and Acknowledgements

This rhyme can be found in The Little Mother Goose (1912).

Thanks so much!