“There Was a Piper Had a Cow”

Description

The piper has no food for his cow but plays her a tune for consolation. The cow is either happy enough to give the piper a penny to play "corn rigs are bonny," or tells the piper to play for money and use that to feed her.

References

  1. Opie-Oxford2 416, "There was a piper had a cow" (1 text)
  2. Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #156, p. 117, "(There was a piper had a cow)"
  3. Roud #13046
  4. BI, OO2416

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1805 (Songs for the Nursery, according to Opie-Oxford2)