I Went Down the Lane
I went down the lane to buy a penny whistle, / A copper come by and pinch my penny whistle…
I went down the lane to buy a penny whistle,
A copper come by and pinch my penny whistle.
I ask him for it back, he said he hadn’t got it--
Hi, Hi, Curlywig, you’ve got it in your pocket.
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).
More rhymes like this
ChantsPrinted 1916Caroline PinkCaroline Pink, she fell down the sink,
She caught the Scarlet Fever…ChantsPrinted 1916Evie, Ivy, OverEvie, Ivy, over,
The kettle is boiling over…ChantsPrinted 1916Mrs. Brown Went to TownMrs. Brown went to town,
Riding on a pony…ChantsPrinted 1916Sweet, Sweet CarolineSweete, sweet Carroline,
Dipt her face in Terpentine…ChantsPrinted 1898Half Pound Tuppeny RiceHalf pound tuppeny rice,
Half a pound of treacle…ChantsPrinted 1898When I Was Young and AbleWhen I was young and able,
I sat upon the table…
She caught the Scarlet Fever…ChantsPrinted 1916Evie, Ivy, OverEvie, Ivy, over,
The kettle is boiling over…ChantsPrinted 1916Mrs. Brown Went to TownMrs. Brown went to town,
Riding on a pony…ChantsPrinted 1916Sweet, Sweet CarolineSweete, sweet Carroline,
Dipt her face in Terpentine…ChantsPrinted 1898Half Pound Tuppeny RiceHalf pound tuppeny rice,
Half a pound of treacle…ChantsPrinted 1898When I Was Young and AbleWhen I was young and able,
I sat upon the table…
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