Light the Fire, Blacksmith

Light the fire, blacksmith, show a pretty light, / In comes (Nellie), dressed in white…

Call a friend in Rude and disgustingLong rope

Light the fire, blacksmith, show a pretty light,
In comes (Nellie), dressed in white,
Pretty shoes and stockings, pretty curly hair,
Pretty beads around her neck, but no chemise to wear.

This is one of the rude and disgusting rhymes children have always loved. We keep every rhyme exactly as children sang it.

How to play

The named skipper comes in.

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).

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