Evie, Ivy, Over

Evie, Ivy, over, / The kettle is boiling over…

ChantsLong rope

Evie, Ivy, over,
The kettle is boiling over--

How to play

Swing the rope to and fro, then right over on "over".

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.

Douglas gives only the beginning. This is the 1916 London form of "Bluebells, cockle shells, easy ivy over".

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.

Pepper (fast)ChantsBluebells, Cockle Shells (Easy Ivy Over)Blue bells, cockle shell Easy ivy over
Oh no, here comes Miss Blackwell…

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