The
Misfortune
of Simple Simon
(various versions of
Yankee Doodle)
Simple Simon - a blockhead, simpleton, foolish people - the origins of 'Simon Says' (children play)
A
series of unlucky events happen on Simple Simon, I think the rhyme upset the
readers... Maybe, part of the misfortune is in fact made by the blockhead
Simon himself? |
If you prefer a plain version, click here.
Simple
Simon met a pieman
Going to the fiar;
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
Let me taste your ware.
Says the pieman to Simple Simon,
Show me first your penny;
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
Indeed I have not any.
Simple Simon went a-fishing,
For to catch a whale;
All the water he had got
Was in his mother's pail.
Simple Simon went a-hunting,
For to catch a hare;
He rode a goat about the streets,
But couldn't find one there.
He went to catch a dickey
bird,
And thought he could not fail,
Because he'd got a little salt,
To put upon its tail.
He went to shoot a wild duck,
But wild duck flew away;
Says Simon, I can't hit him.
Becuase he will not stay.
He went to ride a spotted cow,
That had a little calf;
She threw him down upon the ground,
Which made the people laugh.
Once Simon made a great
snowball,
And bought it in to roast;
He laid it down before the fire,
And soon the ball was lost.
He went to try if cherries ripe
Did grow upon a thistle;
He picked his finger very much,
Which made poor Simon whistle.
He went for
water in a sieve,
But soon it all ran through;
And now poor Simple Simon
Bids you all adieu.