“See-Saw, Marjorie Daw”

Description

"See, saw, Margery Daw, The old hen flew over the malt house, She counted her chickens one by one, Still she missed the little white one, And this is it, this is it, this is it."

Notes

Opie-Oxford2 has two other entries beginning "See-saw,Margery Daw, Jacky shall have a new master" [Opie-Oxford2 335] and "See-saw, Margery Daw, Sold her bed and lay upon straw" [Opie-Oxford2 336].

in 1873, T. B. Aldrich wrote a story about Marjorie Daw (who did not actually exist). I don't know if the story inspired some of the rhymes, or whether they all predate it. - RBW

References

1. Opie-Oxford2 337, "See-saw, Margery Daw" (1 text)
2. Baring-Gould-MotherGoose #578, p. 233, "(See, saw, Margery Daw)"; cf. #622, p. 247, "(See saw, Margery Daw)"; #624, p. 248, ("See Saw, Margery Daw)"
3. Roud #13028
4. BI, BGMG578