Oranges and Lemons

Thanks very much to Michelle Berry, Kathy P., Michael Edwards, Kathleen MacEachern, Kathy Haynes, Kathy and Shauna O'Shea, Narelle Smith, Katherine Delany, and Mrs. Wheatley, who all sent me the words (and actions!) to this song!

Oranges and lemons,

Say the bells of St. Clement's.

You owe me five farthings,

Say the bells of St. Martin's.

When will you pay me?

Say the bells of Old Bailey.

When I grow rich,

Say the bells of Shoreditch.

When will that be?

Say the bells of Stepney.

I'm sure I don't know,

Says the great bell at Bow.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed,

Here comes a chopper to chop off your head.

Actions: Form two lines. The first pair of girls make an arch with arms overhead. The other girls go under the arches while singing the song. At the last verse (chop, chop), the arch lowers and whomever is caught inside is "dead".

Apparently, children used to sing this song to Mary Queen of Scots as she awaited her fate in the Tower of London. The bells named in the song are all from nearby churches.