Nursery Rhymes

The origins of the "Pussycat pussycat" rhyme dates back to the history of 16th century Tudor England. One of the waiting ladies of Queen Elizabeth Ist had an old cat which roamed throughout Windsor castle. On one particular occasion the cat ran beneath the throne where its tail brushed against the Queen's foot, startling her. Luckily 'Good Queen Bess' had a sense of humour and decreed that the cat could wander about the throne room, on condition it kept it free of mice!

Source rymes.org.uk

Rock–a-bye Baby I often wondered where these lyrics came from as was a song I sung to my children. Source “Wikipedia.org

“Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetop,

When the wind blows, the cradle will rock,

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,

And down will come baby, cradle and all.

Alternate Lyrics as shown in The Real Mother Goose published in 1916:

Rock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is green;

Father's a nobleman, mother's a queen;

And Betty's a lady, and wears a gold ring;

And Johnny's a drummer, and drums for the king.

The most common version used today is:”

There a many possibilities as to the origin and one is” that the words began as a "dandling" rhyme

- one used while a baby is being swung about and sometimes tossed and caught. An early dandling rhyme is quoted in The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book which has some similarity:”

“Catch him, crow! Carry him, kite!

Take him away till the apples are ripe;

When they are ripe and ready to fall,

Here comes baby, apples and all.”

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Lady Bird, Lady Bird,

Fly away home!

Your house is on fire,

And your children are gone!

All except one,

And her name is Nan,

And she has crept under the warming pan!

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Auch, a charmin’ young colleen

Was Kitty O’Toole,

The lily of swate Tipperary,

Wid a voice like a thrush

And wid cheeks like a rose

An’ a figure as neat as a fairy.

I saw her one night,

Sure she looked like a quane,

In the glory of swate one and twenty.

As she sat wi’ McGinty’s big arm round her waist,

Auch, but I envied McGinty.

An’ soon after that,

In the swate summer time,

The boys and the girls were invited

By Mickey O’ Toole, o’ the cabin beyant,

To see Kate and McGinty united.

An’ when in the church they were made into wan,

An’ the priest gave them blessings in plenty,

An’ Kitty looked swater than every before,

Auch, but I envied McGinty.

But the time it did pass,

And Mcginty he died.

Sure my heart was all broke up with pity

To see her so mournful, lonely and sad,

That I went and got married to Kitty.

And now when I look where McGinty is laid

Wid a stone o’er his head, cauld and flinty,

As he lies there so peaceful, quiet and still,

Auch, but I envy McGinty.

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Daisy, Daisy.

Give me your answer, do.

I’m half crazy over the love of you

It won’t be a stylish marriage,

I can’t afford a carriage,

But you’d look sweet

Upon the seat

Of a bicycle built for two!

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God made Grandmothers

To listen and care

And hear a child's simple prayer

To read sories and take time

For nonsese and rhyme

He made Grandmothers

To laugh and chase sad times away

And to brghten he day

God made Grandmothers special

Like angels above

To guide us and help us

But mostly, to love

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Dream Angus

Can you no hush your weepin'

A’ the wee lambs are sleepin'

Birdies and bairnies are nestlin' the gither,

Dream Angus is hirplin' ower the heather

Chorus

Dreams for sale, fine dreams for sale,

Angus has got fine dreams for sale

Hush my wee bairnie an’ sleep wi’ oot fear

Dream Angus has brought you a dream my dear