Scoutscan.com Song Database

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'm sure I don't know, 
Says the great bell at Bow.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
Here comes a chopper to chop off your head.

Actions:

Form two lines. The first pair of girls make an arch with arms
overhead. The other 
girls go under the arches while singing the song. At the last
verse (chop, chop), the 
arch lowers and whomever is caught inside is "dead".

Apparently, children used to sing this song to Mary Queen of
Scots as she awaited 
her fate in the Tower of London. The bells named in the song are
all from nearby 
churches.