London Bridge is Falling Down
This rhyme is a very ancient one, and versions of it can be found all over Europe. It reflects the belief that bridges cannot remain standing unless a person is set to watch over them to ward off the ghosts and evil spirits that want to pull it down. In the rhyme, all sorts of materials are used in an attempt to keep the bridge standing, but not until a man is set to watch all night does the bridge have any chance of remaining standing.
1.
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.
2.
Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair lady.
3.
Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away,
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair lady.
4.
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar,
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
My fair lady.
5.
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
Will not stay, will not stay,
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
My fair lady.
6.
Build it up with iron and steel,
Iron and steel, iron and steel,
Build it up with iron and steel,
My fair lady.
7.
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Bend and bow, bend and bow,
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
My fair lady.
8.
Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold,
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair lady.
9.
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
Stolen away, stolen away,
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
My fair lady.
10.
Set a man to watch all night,
Watch all night, watch all night,
Set a man to watch all night,
My fair lady.
11.
Suppose the man should fall asleep,
Fall asleep, fall asleep,
Suppose the man should fall asleep?
My fair lady.
12.
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
Smoke all night, smoke all night,
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
My fair lady.
