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?
I think this rhyme may probably related poor Simon to a ruler or a famous historical character  OR, how people survived in the poor economy of the old tines? I can't find any sources, so it's just my guess.  What I can find is a beautiful site of a lady whose have many old books - hundreds years, please take a look of the original 'Simple Simon' picture on a Victorian book on The Elizabeth Nesbitt Room Chapbook Collection.   

If you prefer a plain version, click here.

scanned from an old nursery rhyme book.

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.

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