Goosey Goosey Gander | Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme and History

from the MMF Songbook

History for 'Goosey Goosey Gander'

The origin of Goosey Goosey Gander is believed to date back to the 16th century. The moral of Goosey Goosey Gander's rhyme implies that something unpleasant would surely happen to anyone who failed to say their prayers correctly - meaning Protestant Prayers were to be said in English, as opposed to Catholic prayers which were to be said in Latin.

Lyrics for 'Goosey Goosey Gander'

Goosey Goosey Gander where shall I wander,
Upstairs, downstairs and in my lady's chamber
There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers,
I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs.