O is for Oranges and Lemons #AtoZChallenge

I’m doing the A to Z Challenge in April, using the theme of the UK & Ireland. For the letter O, I remember the childhood rhyme, “Oranges and Lemons.”

For those of you who didn’t grow up with the It’s a Small World album, it consisted of 18 songs, each representing a different country. England, for me, has been represented by “Oranges and Lemons” for almost as long as I can remember. The bells of the churches of London ring out rhymes and tell a bit of a story about paying back your debts. I think I ignored the brutal ending to the song since it’s sung so prettily.

For more scholarly folks, here’s the oldest known version of the rhyme sung at Gresham College, which is completely missing the “cut off your head” part.

You may recognize the rhyme and the church, St. Clement Danes, from 1984 by George Orwell — a thread of memory that connected Winston to a time before the Party controlled everything.

One of my highest achievements in travel-planning was to “accidentally” walk along the Strand at the moment when St. Clement Danes church played “Oranges and Lemons” on its carillon. If you’re in London and want to repeat this feat, be near the church at 9am, noon, 3pm or 6pm. We caught the noon ringing, which was a very busy time and we had to duck into a convenient doorway to stay out of the way of fast-moving pedestrians.

Did you grow up singing about oranges and lemons?

Comments

O is for Oranges and Lemons #AtoZChallenge — 6 Comments

Jean @ Howling Frog on April 17, 2018 at 10:13 am said:

I did not, and I always wondered what the tune was, since I saw it sometimes in books. My own kids did Musikgarten when they were little, and it features folk songs from the British Isles. I was happy to finally learn Oranges and Lemons, and also Molly Malone, the Skye Boat Song, and the Ash Grove.

Reply ↓
Lisa on April 17, 2018 at 2:24 pm said:

Being an American, I am not familiar with any of the bell songs and rhymes. I run across them in novels now and again. It seems that sometimes the bells are given names? Odd the Disney version would include the head chopping lyrics!

Reply ↓
Colin on April 17, 2018 at 8:33 pm said:

As an ex-pat Brit, I do indeed recall this rhyme/song from my childhood. It was one of many creepy nursery rhymes we had growing up, like Wee Willie Winkie and Ring-a-Ring-a-Roses.

I hope you’re having a wonderful A-Z, Joy!

http://www.colindsmith.com/blog

Reply ↓
Colette B on April 19, 2018 at 5:25 pm said:

Much alike the illustration on the youtube file for the Gresham lecture, Oranges and Lemons is also a group game/dance performed to the song. During my childhood in the 1970s it was a must at all the best birthday parties and other celebrations.

Reply ↓
Colette B on April 19, 2018 at 5:25 pm said:

Much alike the illustration on the youtube file for the Gresham lecture, Oranges and Lemons is also a group game/dance performed to the song. During my childhood in the 1970s it was a must at all the best birthday parties and other celebrations.

Reply ↓
- Tizzy Brown on April 28, 2018 at 3:36 pm said:
  
  Yes, I remember doing the dance too! Someone was always caught at the end in the chopping part.
  
  Reply ↓