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"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 do not know" say the great bells of Bow
"Here comes a candle
to light you to bed
Here comes a chopper
to chop off your head
Chip chop chip chop -
the last man's dead."
The history
and origins of the lyrics - sinister!
The words and lyrics have been much loved by generations of
British children. The place names relate to some of the many
churches of London and the tune that accompanies the lyrics
emulates the sound of the ringing of the specific church
bells. The words of the nursery rhyme are chanted by children as
they play the game of 'Oranges and lemons' the end of which
culminates in a child being caught between the joined arms of two
others, emulating the act of chopping off their head! The reason
for the last three lines of lyrics are easily explained. The
'Great Bells of Bow' were used to time the executions at Newgate
prison, which for many years were done by means of beheading. The
unfortunate victim would await execution on 'Death Row' and was
informed by the warder, the night before the execution ' here
comes the candle to light you to bed' of their imminent fate and
to make their peace with God! The executions commenced when the
bells started chiming at nine o'clock in the morning. When the
bells stopped chiming then the executions would be finished
until the following day! |
