Mythology & Folklore

Where are you going, my pretty maid?

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

Where are you going, my pretty maid?
I'm going a-milking, sir, she said.
May I go with you, my pretty maid?
You're kindly welcome, sir, she said.
What is your father, my pretty maid?
My father's a farmer, sir, she said.

Say, will you marry me, my pretty maid?
Yes, if you please, kind sir, she said.
Will you be constant, my pretty maid?
That I can't promise you, sir, she said.
Then I won't marry you, my pretty maid!
Nobody asked you, sir! she said.

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Halliwell's class: Songs.

MLA

Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “Where are you going, my pretty maid?” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/166/.

Chicago

Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “Where are you going, my pretty maid?” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/166/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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