Policeman, Policeman, Don't Touch Me
Policeman, policeman, don’t touch me, / I have a wife and a family…
Policeman, policeman, don’t touch me,
I have a wife and a family.
How many children have you got?
Five and twenty is my lot,
Is my lot, is my lot,
Five and twenty is my lot.
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 1916Little Mary AnneLittle Mary Anne who lives up stairs,
With high legged boots and a feather in her hat…ChantsPrinted 1916I Am a Little Beggar-GirlI am a little beggar-girl,
My mother she is dead…ChantsPrinted 1916Cold Meat, Mutton PiesCold meat, mutton pies,
Tell me when your mother dies…ChantsPrinted 1916The Animal ShowI went to the animal show, and what do you think I saw there?
The Elephant sneezed and fell on his knees…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 1916Who's in the Well?Who’s in the well?
Only the pussy-cat…
With high legged boots and a feather in her hat…ChantsPrinted 1916I Am a Little Beggar-GirlI am a little beggar-girl,
My mother she is dead…ChantsPrinted 1916Cold Meat, Mutton PiesCold meat, mutton pies,
Tell me when your mother dies…ChantsPrinted 1916The Animal ShowI went to the animal show, and what do you think I saw there?
The Elephant sneezed and fell on his knees…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 1916Who's in the Well?Who’s in the well?
Only the pussy-cat…
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