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Oranges and Lemons is an English nursery rhyme which refers to the bells of several churches, all within or close to the City of London. more...

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In its common version, the lyrics refer to, in turn, St Clement Eastcheap, St Martin Orgar, St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, St Leonard's, Shoreditch, St Dunstan's, Stepney, and St Mary-le-Bow. Some claim that the St Clement's mentioned is actually St Clement Danes. The tune is reminiscent of change ringing, and the intonation of each line is said to correspond with the distinct sounds of each church's bells. Today, the Bells of St Clements Danes actually ring out the tune of the rhyme.

Common lyrics

The most common lyrics are as follows:

"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, says the great bell of Bow

"Here comes a candle to light you to bed

"And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!

Party game

The song is used in a children's party game with the same name, in which the players file, in pairs, through an arch made by two of the players (made by having the players face each other, raise their arms over their head, and clasp their partners' hands). Two (or three) lines are added at the end:

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.)

On the last word, the children forming the arch drop their arms to catch the pair of children currently passing through, who are then "out" and must form another arch next to the existing one. In this way, the series of arches becomes a steadily lengthening tunnel through which each set of two players have to run faster and faster to escape in time. The game works best with a pianist to play the tune, so that unpredictable changes of tempo can be introduced.

Alternative lyrics

A less well known version of Oranges and Lemons (also known as the London Bells" nursery rhyme) includes a number of other London churches:

Gay go up and gay go down, to ring the bells of London town.

"Oranges and Lemons" say the bells of St Clement's.

"Bull's eyes and targets" say the bells of St Margaret's.

"Brickbats and tiles" say the bells of St Giles'.

"Halfpence and farthings" say the bells of St Martin's.

"Pancakes and fritters" say the bells of St Peter's.

"Two sticks and an apple" say the bells of Whitechapel.

"Pokers and tongs" say the bells of St John's.

"Kettles and pans" say the bells of St Anne's.

"Old Father Baldpate" say the slow bells of Aldgate.

"You owe me ten shillings" say the bells of St Helen's.

"When will you pay me?" say the bells of Old Bailey.

"When I grow rich" say the bells of Shoreditch.

"Pray when will that be?" say the bells of Stepney.

"I do not know" says the great bell 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 lyrics may reflect trades and activities that took place near the location of the churches mentioned.

Read more at Wikipedia.org