Cockle Shells

Click on the title of the rhyme to get the story behind it from "Nursery Rhyme--Lyrics and Origins."

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An Apple a Day


An apple a day keeps the doctor away
Apple in the morning--Doctor's warning
Roast apple at night--starves the doctor outright
Eat an apple going to bed--knock the doctor on the head
Three each day, seven days a week--ruddy apple, ruddy cheek



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For Want of a Nail


For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.



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Georgie Porgie


Georgie Porgie pudding and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry
When the boys came out to play,
Georgie Porgie ran away.



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Here Is the Church


Here is the church, and here is the steeple
Open the door and see all the people.
Here is the parson going upstairs,
And here he is saying his prayers.



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Hush a Bye Baby


Hush a bye baby, on the tree top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock;
When the bow breaks, the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.



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Little Boy Blue


Little Boy Blue come blow your horn,
The sheep's in the meadow the cow's in the corn.
But where's the boy who looks after the sheep?
He's under a haystack fast asleep.
Will you wake him? No, not I--
for if I do, he's sure to cry



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Mary Mary Quite Contrary


Mary Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.



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Monday's Child


Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for his living,
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.



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Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater


Peter Peter pumpkin eater,
Had a wife and couldn't keep her!
He put her in a pumpkin shell,
And there he kept her very well!



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Rain Rain Go Away


Rain rain go away,
Come again another day.
Little Johnny wants to play;
Rain, rain, go to Spain,
Never show your face again!



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A Wise Old Owl


A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?



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