Alphabe Thursday G is for Goosey Goosey Gander
Goosey, Goosey gander,
Whither shall I wander?
Upstairs and downstairs
And in my lady’s chamber.
There I met an old man
Who wouldn’t say his prayers.
I took him by the left leg
And threw him down the stairs.
This nursery rhyme always puzzles me; so I wasn’t surprised to read that the first four lines don’t actually belong with the other four. How does that happen?
The last four are rather like a another poem which school children address to the crane -fly better known as a daddy-long-legs. While pulling off its legs they repeat.
Old father Long-Legs
Can’t say his prayers:
Take him by the left leg,
And throw him down the stairs.
I really hoped to discover that was a legitimate reason why children should sing such a horrible song but sadly I didn’t
I just hope that we encourage our children to care for daddy-long-legs and old men even if they don’t or can’t say their prayers; and say Thanks but no thanks to this unlovely song.
Coat Hanger Doll's House 
I remember this nursery rhyme as a child. 🙂
I am glad you remembered it with a 🙂 Nursery Rhymes were joyful I remember xxx
I remember this one!
😉
I, too, remember this nursery rhyme. It seems to me that rhymes such as this one were generally inspired by some horrible occurance, such as a plague. Ring Around A Rosey was such a rhyme.
Yes I think you are right! 😉
Good memories!
Yes 😉
Very interesting. It seems that a lot of fairy tales and other children’s verse is ugly. Not sure exactly why; maybe to scare youngsters into good behavior. {:-D
I think you are dead right!! That’s how I was bought up! Ugly times!!
I remember this!
It’s funny but when I read those as a child and to my CHILDREN I was never struck by the violence in them as I am now.
What a glorious and grand link for the letter G.
Thank you.
A+
Yes! I the same …. Thanks for the opportunity to share XX