Oranges and Lemons
"Oranges and lemons", say the bells of St. Clement's.
"You owe me three 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", says the great bell of Bow.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed;
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!
Chip chop chip chop - The last man's dead.
Our Grandma Read used to recite this to me leaving off the last two lines.
Olde rhyme re- London Church's
St Clement Eastcheap, St Martin Orgar, St Sepulchre-without-Newgate (opposite the Old Bailey), St Leonard's, Shoreditch, St Dunstan's, Stepney, and St Mary-le-Bow.
c. 1665- The lyrics reflect trades and activities which took place near the location of the churches mentioned; “candle to light you to bed...” refers to the wedding night consumation and “chip chop...” is a reference to when King Charles I was beheaded and all the church bells rang to mark his execution.
"Oranges and lemons", say the bells of St. Clement's.
"You owe me three 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", says the great bell of Bow.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed;
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!
Chip chop chip chop - The last man's dead.
Our Grandma Read used to recite this to me leaving off the last two lines.
Olde rhyme re- London Church's
St Clement Eastcheap, St Martin Orgar, St Sepulchre-without-Newgate (opposite the Old Bailey), St Leonard's, Shoreditch, St Dunstan's, Stepney, and St Mary-le-Bow.
c. 1665- The lyrics reflect trades and activities which took place near the location of the churches mentioned; “candle to light you to bed...” refers to the wedding night consumation and “chip chop...” is a reference to when King Charles I was beheaded and all the church bells rang to mark his execution.