Join-in Rhythms - Bells of London Town- Mother Goose Society Web Site

Mother Goose Society

Join-In Rhythms

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**Join-In Rhythms**
**The Bells of London Town**
First recorded c1744, this responsive song was added to in the long version (as here) in 1810. In 1905, Edward Everett Horton described the thrill that seeing the actual churches had on the American visitor who has previously only known them via this song..
The Bells of London Town (Each refrain should be intoned in a bell-like way. The final word of each phrase should be held in a ringing tone.) Gay go up, and gay go down, To ring the bells of London town. Oranges and lemons, Say the bells of Saint Clement's. Oranges and lemons. Pancakes and fritters, Say the bells of Saint Peter's. Pancakes and fritters. Two sticks and an apple, Say the bells of Whitechapel. Two sticks and an apple. Bull's eyes and targets, Say the bells of Saint Margaret's. Bull's eyes and targets. Brickbats and tiles, Say the bells of Saint Gile's. Brickbats and tiles. Pokers and tongs, Say the bells of Saint John's. Pokers and tongs. Kettles and pans, Say the bells of Saint Anne's. Kettles and pans. Maids in white aprons, Say the bells of Saint Catherine's. Maids in white aprons.	Old Father Baldpate, Say the slow bells of Aldgate. Old Father Baldpate. Half-pence and farthings, Say the bells of Saint Martin's. Half-pence and farthings. You owe me ten shillings, Say the bells of Saint Helen's. You owe me ten shillings. When will you pay me? Say the bells of Old Bailey. When will you pay me? When I grow rich, Say the bells of Shoreditch. When I grow rich. Pray, when will that be? Say the bells of Stepney. Pray, when will that be? I am sure I don't know, Says the great bell at Bow. I am sure I don't know. Here comes a candle to light you to bed, And here comes a chopper to chop off your head. Here comes a candle to light you to bed, And here comes a chopper to chop off your head. --Mother Goose Rhyme — from Children's Counting-Out Rhymes, Fingerplays, Jump-Rope and Bounce-Ball Chants and Other Rhythms (McFarland Pub.) 1983 by Gloria T. Delamar