Caroline Pink
Caroline Pink, she fell down the sink, / She caught the Scarlet Fever…
Caroline Pink, she fell down the sink,
She caught the Scarlet Fever,
Her husband had to leave her,
She called in Doctor Blue,
And he caught it too--
Caroline Pink from China Town.
Where this rhyme comes from
- Printed
- 1916
- Where
- London
We have copied these words exactly as they were printed in 1916, spelling and all. It is one of the London girls' chants Douglas lists alongside their skipping, clapping and ring games.
Scarlet fever was a common and feared childhood illness in 1916.
Source: Norman Douglas, London Street Games (London: The St. Catherine Press, 1916) (public domain).
More rhymes like this
ChantsPrinted 1916Mrs. Brown Went to TownMrs. Brown went to town,
Riding on a pony…ChantsPrinted 1916I Went Down the LaneI went down the lane to buy a penny whistle,
A copper come by and pinch my penny whistle…ChantsPrinted 1916Sweet, Sweet CarolineSweete, sweet Carroline,
Dipt her face in Terpentine…ChantsPrinted 1916Evie, Ivy, OverEvie, Ivy, over,
The kettle is boiling over…ChantsPrinted 1916Lay the Cloth, Knife and ForkLay the cloth, knife and fork,
Bring me up a leg of pork…ChantsPrinted 1916Piggy on the RailwayPiggy on the railway, picking up the stones,
Up came an engine and broke Piggy’s bones…
Riding on a pony…ChantsPrinted 1916I Went Down the LaneI went down the lane to buy a penny whistle,
A copper come by and pinch my penny whistle…ChantsPrinted 1916Sweet, Sweet CarolineSweete, sweet Carroline,
Dipt her face in Terpentine…ChantsPrinted 1916Evie, Ivy, OverEvie, Ivy, over,
The kettle is boiling over…ChantsPrinted 1916Lay the Cloth, Knife and ForkLay the cloth, knife and fork,
Bring me up a leg of pork…ChantsPrinted 1916Piggy on the RailwayPiggy on the railway, picking up the stones,
Up came an engine and broke Piggy’s bones…
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