Mythology & Folklore

I love sixpence, pretty little sixpence

by Anonymous (English nursery rhymes) traditional; recorded 17th–19th century

From The Nursery Rhymes of England, collected by J. O. Halliwell (London: Warne; first ed. 1842; this printing 1886)

Mythology & Folklore

I love sixpence, pretty little sixpence,
I love sixpence better than my life;
I spent a penny of it, I spent another,
And took fourpence home to my wife.

Oh, my little fourpence, pretty little fourpence,
I love fourpence better than my life;
I spent a penny of it, I spent another,
And I took twopence home to my wife.

Oh, my little twopence, my pretty little twopence,
I love twopence better than my life;
I spent a penny of it, I spent another,
And I took nothing home to my wife.

Oh, my little nothing, my pretty little nothing,
What will nothing buy for my wife?
I have nothing, I spend nothing,
I love nothing better than my wife.

✦ ✦ ✦

Halliwell's class: Songs.

MLA

Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “I love sixpence, pretty little sixpence.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/155/.

Chicago

Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “I love sixpence, pretty little sixpence.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/155/.

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