Mythology & Folklore
London bridge is broken down
From The Nursery Rhymes of England, collected by J. O. Halliwell (London: Warne; first ed. 1842; this printing 1886)
London bridge is broken down,
Dance o'er my lady lee;
London bridge is broken down,
With a gay lady.
How shall we build it up again?
Dance o'er my lady lee;
How shall we build it up again?
With a gay lady.
Silver and gold will be stole away,
Dance o'er my lady lee;
Silver and gold will be stole away,
With a gay lady.
Build it up again with iron and steel,
Dance o'er my lady lee;
Build it up with iron and steel,
With a gay lady.
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Dance o'er my lady lee;
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
With a gay lady.
Build it up with wood and clay,
Dance o'er my lady lee;
Build it up with wood and clay,
With a gay lady.
Wood and clay will wash away,
Dance o'er my lady lee;
Wood and clay will wash away,
With a gay lady.
Build it up with stone so strong,
Dance o'er my lady lee;
Huzza! 'twill last for ages long,
With a gay lady.
Codex Note
Halliwell's class: Songs.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “London bridge is broken down.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/150/.
Chicago
Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “London bridge is broken down.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/150/.
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