Dancing Dolly
Dancing Dolly had no sense, / She bought a fiddle for eighteen pence…
Dancing Dolly had no sense,
She bought a fiddle for eighteen pence--
And all the tune that she could play
Was “Over the hills and far away.”
(Or: “Sally get out of the donkey’s way.”)
(Or: “Take my dolly and fire away.”)
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.
Source: Norman Douglas, London Street Games (London: The St. Catherine Press, 1916) (public domain).
Older and newer versions
The same rhyme, changed by children over the years.
More rhymes like this
ChantsPrinted 1916I Had a Dolly Dressed in GreenI had a dolly dressed in green,
I didn’t like her--I gave her to the Queen…ChantsPrinted 1916Sally Go Round the MoonSally go round the moon, Sally,
Sally go round the sun…ChantsPrinted 1916Cold Meat, Mutton PiesCold meat, mutton pies,
Tell me when your mother dies…ChantsPrinted 1916Pounds, Shillings and PencePounds, shillings and pence,
The monkey jumped over the fence…ChantsPrinted 1916I'll Tell MaI’ll tell Ma when I get home
That the boys won’t leave me alone…
I didn’t like her--I gave her to the Queen…ChantsPrinted 1916Sally Go Round the MoonSally go round the moon, Sally,
Sally go round the sun…ChantsPrinted 1916Cold Meat, Mutton PiesCold meat, mutton pies,
Tell me when your mother dies…ChantsPrinted 1916Pounds, Shillings and PencePounds, shillings and pence,
The monkey jumped over the fence…ChantsPrinted 1916I'll Tell MaI’ll tell Ma when I get home
That the boys won’t leave me alone…
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