Speak roughly to your little boy, And beat him when he sneezes; He only does it to annoy, Because he knows it teases. I speak severely to my boy, [I]1 beat him when he sneezes; For he can thoroughly enjoy The pepper when [he]2 pleases!
Caroline Pink (and other Nonsense Rhymes)
Song Cycle by Nicholas Maw (1935 - 2009)
1. Speak roughly to your little boy  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832 - 1898), as Lewis Carroll, appears in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, first published 1865
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Henri Bué) , no title
Note: this is a parody of David Bates' "Speak Gently."
1 or "And"
2 or "ye"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. How doth the little crocodile  [sung text not yet checked]
How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale! How cheerfully he seems to grin, How neatly spreads his claws, And welcomes little fishes in, With gently smiling jaws!
Authorship:
- by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832 - 1898), as Lewis Carroll, no title, appears in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, London, Macmillan; chapter 2, first published 1865
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Henri Bué) , no title
Researcher for this page: Barbara Miller
3. The woodchuck  [sung text checked 1 time]
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck If a woodchuck could chuck wood? As much wood as a woodchuck could chuck If a woodchuck could chuck wood. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck If a woodchuck could chuck wood? As much wood as a woodchuck could chuck If a woodchuck could chuck wood. If he could. But he can’t.
Authorship:
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Researcher for this page: Mike Pearson4. Three young rats  [sung text checked 1 time]
Three young rats with black felt hats, Three young ducks with white straw flats Three young dogs with curling tails, Three young cats with demi veils, Went out to walk with two young pigs In satin vests and sorrel wigs, But suddenly it chanced to rain And so they all went home again.
Authorship:
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Researcher for this page: Mike Pearson5. Ching, ching, Chinaman  [sung text checked 1 time]
Ching, ching, Chinaman, How d'you sell your fish? Ching, ching, Chinaman, Six bits a dish; Ching, ching, Chinaman, Oh! That's too dear; Ching, ching, Chinaman, Clear out of here!
Authorship:
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See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_chong [Wikipedia] for background on this derogatory jumping-rope chant.
Researcher for this page: Mike Pearson
6. I'll sail upon the Dog‑star  [sung text checked 1 time]
I'll sail upon the Dog Star, And then pursue the morning, I'll chase the moon 'till it be noon, But I'll make her leave her horning. I'll climb the frosty mountain, And there I'll coin the weather; I'll tear the rainbow from the sky, And tie both ends together. The stars pluck from their orbs, too, And crowd them in my budget! And whether I'm a roaring boy, Let all the nations judge it.
Authorship:
- by Thomas d'Urfey (1653 - 1723) [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in English by John Fletcher (1579 - 1625), no title, from Noble Gentlemen [text unavailable]
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Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight7. Oh, dear me!  [sung text checked 1 time]
Oh, dear me! Mother caught a flea, Put it in the teapot and made a cup of tea. When she put the milk in the flea came to the top; When she put the sugar in the flea went pop!
Authorship:
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Researcher for this page: Mike Pearson8. Caroline Pink  [sung text checked 1 time]
Caroline Pink, She fell down the sink, She caught the scarlet fever, Her Husband had to leave her. She called in Doctor Blue, And he caught it too, Caroline Pink from China Town.
Authorship:
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Researcher for this page: Mike Pearson9. Well, I never  [sung text checked 1 time]
Well, I never, Did you ever, See a monkey dressed in leather? Leather eyes, Leather nose, Leather breeches to his toes. No we never, Didn’t ever, See a monkey dressed in leather? Leather eyes, Leather nose? No leather yes, Or leather nose! Or leather breeches to his toes? Not even leather breeches to his toes!
Authorship:
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Researcher for this page: Mike Pearson