Oranges and Lemons

Oranges and lemons
Say the bells of St. Clement's.

You owe me five farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin's.

When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey.

When I grow rich
Say the bells of Shoreditch.

When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.

I do not know
Says the great bell of Bow.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed
And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!
(Chip chop, chip chop, the last man's dead.)

The exact date of origin of this well known nursery rhyme is unknown. In 1665 there was a Square Dance called Oranges and Lemons. There are no known records of the lyric which accompanied the dance but is likely that the words were similar to that of the nursery rhyme. The words to Oranges and Lemons have been much loved by numerous generations of children. The names relate to some of the many churches of London and the tune that accompanies the lyrics emulates the sound of the ringing of the individual church bells.

The words of the nursery rhyme are chanted by children as they play the game of Oranges and Lemons the end of which culminates in a child being caught between the joined arms of two others, emulating the act of chopping off their head!
The reason for the sinister last three lines of the lyrics of Oranges and Lemons are easily explained. They were added to the original rhyme, probably by children! This addition dates to some time before 1783 when the infamous public execution gallows (the Tyburn-tree) was moved from Tyburn-gate (Marble Arch) to Newgate, a notorious prison for both criminals and debtors hence "When will you pay me"?" This move was necessary to reduce problems caused by the crowds, often exceeding 100,000 which gathered along the execution procession route. This stretched along a three mile route from Newgate Prison to Tyburn and around the Tyburn tree itself.

The Bells of Old Bailey or more accurately the tenor bell of St Sepulchre, had been utilised prior to 1783 to time the executions but this was after the gallows had been moved. Newgate prison (which is now the site of the Old Bailey) obtained its own bell. As the words to the poem "Oranges and Lemons" indicate, the unfortunate victim would await execution on Death Row and would be informed by the Bellman of St. Sepulchre by candle light 'here comes the candle to light you to bed' at midnight outside their cell the Sunday night prior to their imminent fate, by the ringing of the 'Execution Bell' (a large hand bell).

The executions commenced at 9.00 a.m. on Monday morning following the first toll of the tenor bell. Who would have thought that Oranges and Lemons, a children?s rhyme, could have such a sinister historical connotation?

On a lighter note - these beautiful roses were bought for my recent birthday and are still going strong. My favourite colours too.