“London Bridge Is Falling Down”

Description

Upon learning that "London Bridge is (falling/broken) down," the singers must decide what to do, e.g. "Shall we build it up again?" "Mud and clay will wash away" "Iron and stone will stand alone"

Supplemental text

London Bridge Is Falling Down
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From W. W. Newell, Games and Songs of American Children, item
#150, the "E" text, pp. 209-210. From "the convent-school of
Savannah." This is the form most similar to what I seem to recall
hearing in my childhood, though it is longer than what I remember.
I have expanded the first stanzas to show the proper form, which
Newell abbreviates in this text (having supplied it for other texts).

London bridge is falling down,
   Falling down, falling down,
London bridge is falling down,
   My fair lady!

How shall we build it up again?
   Up again, up again,
How shall we build it up again?
   My fair lady!

Build it up with lime and stone.--

Stone and lime would wash away.--

Build it up with iron bars.--

Iron bars would bend and break.--

Build it up with gold and silver.--

Gold and silver would be stole away.--

Get a watch to watch all night.--

Suppose the watch should fall asleep?--

Get him a pipe to smoke at night.--

Suppose the pipe should fall and break?--

Get a dog to bark all night.--

Suppose the dog should get a bone?--

Get a cock to crow all night.--

Suppose the cock should fly away?--

What has this poor prisoner done?--

He's broke my box and stole my keys.--

A hundred pounds will set him free.--

A hundred pounds he has not got.--

Off to prison he must go,
    My fair lady!

Notes

The notes in Baring-Gould mention the theory that this pertains to the breaking of London Bridge by Olaf of Norway in the reign of Ethelred II Unraed ("the Unready," c. 978-1016). Of course, any song about that would have had to be in Old English.... - RBW

Same tune

• Greenberg Shop is Moving South (Greenway-AFP, p. 126 note)

Cross references

• cf. "Rock-A-By Ladies" (tune & meter)

Recordings

• Pratt children and friends, "London Bridge" (on Ritchie03)
• Pete Seeger, "London Bridge" (on PeteSeeger33, PeteSeegerCD03)

References

1. Randolph 578, "London Bridge is Falling Down" (1 text)
2. Flanders/Brown, p. 45, "London Bridge" (1 text)
3. Linscott, pp. 34-36, "London Bridge" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Ritchie-Southern, p. 8, "London Bridge" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. SHenry H48h, pp. 11-12, "Broken Bridges" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Chase, p. 189, (no title; part of a section called "Granny London Tells About Old Times") (1 text, 1 tune)
7. Cambiaire, p. 135, "London Bridge" (1 text)
8. MHenry-Appalachians, p. 244, (no title) (1 short text)
9. Creighton-SNewBrunswick 81, "London Bridge" (1 text, 2 tunes)
10. Opie-Oxford2 306, "London Bridge is broken down" (4 texts)
11. Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #641, pp. 254-255, "(London Bridge)"
12. Fuld-WFM, p. 337+, "London Bridge"
13. ADDITIONAL: Walter de la Mare, _Come Hither_, revised edition, 1928; #68, "London Bridge" (1 text)
14. ST R578 (Full)
15. Roud #502
16. BI, R578