I Went Down Town

I went down town I met miss Brown / miss brown brought a nicle so I bought a pickle…

I went down town I met miss Brown
miss brown brought a nicle so I bought a pickle
the pickle was sour so i brought a flower
the flower wouldn`t smell so I brought a bell
the bell wouldn`t ring so i began to sing
on the mountain stands a lady who she is I do not know
all she wants is gold and silver all she wants is a nice young man
lady lady turn right round
lady lady touch the ground
lady lady show your shoes
lady lady run right through

Sent in by Anonymous

How to play

Do the actions on the "lady lady" lines, then run right through and out.

Where this rhyme comes from

Earliest record: by 1916
Sung in: UK, Ireland, US

This joins two rhymes. The first is the 'went down town' nickel–pickle chain (see Gordon Brown), which is undated. The second is 'On the mountain stands a lady', a singing game: Douglas recorded a London 'lady on a mountain' rhyme in 1916 (in different words), and the Irish Schools' Collection has it as a ring game from the 1930s. The 'Lady, lady, turn right round' ending is the 1916 skipping formula.

Sources: Norman Douglas, London Street Games (1916), pp.85–87, 66; National Folklore Collection, Schools' Collection (1930s), Ballycorus, Co. Dublin, vol. 0798 p.287 ('Stand the Lady').

Do you know an older version, or where this rhyme comes from? Teachers can tell us with the feedback button below.

Older and newer versions

The same rhyme, changed by children over the years.

ActionsPrinted 1898Lady, Lady, Drop Your HandkerchiefLady, lady, drop your handkerchief,
Lady, lady, pick it up…ActionsPrinted 1916Lady, Lady, Drop Your PurseLady, lady, drop your purse,
Lady, lady, pick it up…Actionsafter 1902Teddy BearTeddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground…ActionsLords and LadiesLords and Ladies,
Children, too…ChantsPrinted 1916Mrs. Brown Went to TownMrs. Brown went to town,
Riding on a pony…ChantsPepper (fast)Gordon Brown Went to TownGordon Brown went to town
With his pants on upside down…

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