Oranges and Lemons...?

Question

Can anyone explain the full meanings behind this rhyme? i know its about London, but what exactly? Do you know the entire lyrics?

Answer 1

Its a street guide to the old city of London

Oranges and lemons
Say the bells of St Clements

St Clement Eastcheap, - St Clement is the patron saint of seamen, which he became due to the fact he was martyred by being cast into the sea with an anchor around his neck. Records suggest there has been a church on the site as far back as the 11th Century. Before the Great fire of London (1666) and current church (built by Wren in 1686), the area was near the wharves where citrus fruit used to be unloaded.

Citrus fruit was an expensive luxury in Elizabethian England.

You owe me five farthings
Say the bells of St Martins

St Martin Orgar, again the body of the church was destroyed in the Great Fire. The tower survived, until it was rebuilt in 1851. The ryme relates to the moneylenders who traded nearby. Thus the child singing the song, would borrow money to by expensive fruit.


When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey

St Sepulchre-without-Newgate (opposite the Old Bailey),
The Old Bailey is still the number one court in London, but it was for serious crimes, and the child is only owing money. The Old Bailey did not have its own bell - it refers to the bells of St. Sepulchre-without-Newgate church and the bell of Newgate prison! The infamous Newgate prison which housed both criminals and debtors.

The bell of St. Sepulchre marked the time ( death knell ) of imminent executions until Newgate prison acquired its own bell. The church was destroyed by the Great Fire of London and rebuilt by Wren in 1671. The medieval courthouse of London was also destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and was replaced by London's Central Criminal Court which was used during 1673 -1834. The local name for the court was the 'Old Bailey' which was so-called after the street in which it was located Bailey Street.

When I grow rich
Say the bells of Shoreditch

St Leonard's, on Kingsland Road in Shoreditch - now part of the London Borough of Hackney - Was often frequented by Elizabethan actors as it was located near to the first purpose built theatre called 'The Theatre' and also in close proximity to the 'Curtain Theatre'. The current church, rebuilt in 1740 still has the graves of many actors including William Shakespeare's friend and builder of the Curtain Theatre, Richard Burbage. The hopeful phrase " When I grow rich" must have been echoed by many an actor in Elizabethian England.

When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney

St Dunstan's, Stepney High Street has a long traditional link with the sea and it was once known as the 'Church of the High Seas'. Many sailors were buried in the churchyard. The phrase "When will that be?" could possibly refer to wives waiting for sailors to return from voyages with their fortunes - their wives would have to wait for their return to receive any wages, but they never knew how long the voyages might be - a two year wait was not uncommon!

I'm sure I don't know
Says the great bell at Bow

St Mary-le-Bow. off Cheapside. There has been a church on this site dating back to before the arrival of the Normans in 1066. The current building was built by Sir Christopher Wren between 1670 and 1680, after the Great Fire of London destroyed the previous church. You were considered a Cockney - a londerner, if you were born within the sound of Bow Bell...

Here comes a candle to light you to bed
Here comes a chopper to chop off your head

This version was created for the execution of Charles by Parliament , but the Elizabethian nursery rhyme is much better

Gay go up and gay go down
To Ring the Bells of London Town
"Oranges and Lemons" say the Bells of St. Clements
"Bullseyes and Targets" say the Bells of St. Margaret's (refer to archery which was practised in the nearby fields.)
"Brickbats and Tiles" say the Bells of St. Giles (refers to the bricks and tiles made from London clay used by the city builders)
"Halfpence and Farthings" say the Bells of St. Martin's
"Pancakes and Fritters" say the Bells of St. Peter's (this was the area of the original 'fast food' of old London's workers)
"Two Sticks and an Apple" say the Bells of Whitechapel (Whitechapel Bell Foundry- transportation of bells to other parts of London drew great crowds and the atmosphere was similar to that of a fair where of course toffee apples were traditionally eaten)
"Maids in white aprons" say the Bells at St. Katherine's (main food market before great fire, where women of the early 1600's sold the wares which included meat, game, poultry and fish.)
"Pokers and Tongs" say the Bells of St. John's (by the Tower of London - used as a treason prison for many years and the refer to the instruments of torture which were used there!)
"Kettles and Pans" say the Bells of St. Anne's (refer to the utensils sold by the coppersmiths who worked nearby)
"Old Father Baldpate" say the slow Bells of Aldgate (Church of St. Botolph's - known as the 'Prostitutes' church' - refers to "Old Father Bald Pate" relates to Saint Botolph. A bald pate was a colloquialism used to describe a bald-headed person, and the main client of the ladies.)
"You owe me Ten Shillings" say the Bells of St. Helen's (The church was frequented by many rich merchants who lived in the area. Many operated as a money lenders)
"When will you Pay me?" say the Bells of Old Bailey
"When I grow Rich" say the Bells of Shoreditch
"Pray when will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney
"I do not know" say the Great Bell of Bow
Gay go up and gay go down
To Ring the Bells of London Town

Answer 2

Oranges And Lemons Meaning

Answer 3

Oranges And Lemons Game

Answer 4

It's sung to a children's game in which two children (one an orange & the other a lemon) join hands and raise and lower their arms in a chopping motion while the other children troop through the arch created by the orange's and lemon's arms. The rhyme is recited and the child caught as the last line is recited is then asked whether he/she wants to be an orange or lemon and lines up behind the appropriate child. Once all the children have been captured and lined up behind either the orange or the lemon and a tug o' war takes place.

It's believed that the rhyme is something to do with the rapid demise of Henry VIII's wives

David C - St Clements is in fact St Clement Danes in the Strand

Answer 5

'Oranges and Lemons' - The Nursery Rhyme



'Oranges and Lemons' is a well-known English Nursery Rhyme. Of unknown origin, it is possible that the children of London made up the words to fit the rhythm of the ringing bells. Research shows which churches in London's East End are associated with the rhyme.

Please note, the last three lines do not appear in the earliest recordings of this rhyme.

Oranges and lemons
Say the bells of St Clements
You owe me five farthings
Say the bells of St Martins
When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey
When I grow rich
Say the bells of Shoreditch
When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney
I'm sure I don't know
Says the great bell at Bow
Here comes a candle to light you to bed
Here comes a chopper to chop off your head

Chop chop chop chop the last man's head!

Answer 6

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Answer 7

A childrens rhyme of the 17th century. Mainly about the bells of London churches. A dance and singing rhyme

Oranges and Lemons say the bells of St. Clements
You owe me five farthings say the bells of St.Martins
When will you pay me says the bells of Old Bailey
When I grow rich say the bells of Shoreditch
When will that be say the bells of Stepney
I do not know says the great bell of Bow
Here comes a candle to light you to bed
Here comes a chopper to chop off your head
Chip chop chip chop the last man is dead.

Th last lines were added to the original and refer to the public executions at Tyburn which were signalled by the striking of the church bells.

Answer 8

There are some other answers that have given you the right rhyme but I'd just like to pass on an extra bit of info which you might find interesting. If you were born within the sound of the bells of the church at Bow you are considered a true East Ender. That's the defining qualification.

Answer 9

oranges and lemons say the bells of st clement's (which is a church in London). I'm not sure what it means actually, I always thought it was just a little rhyme. Maybe to help schoolchildren remember the names of the churches? It's quite old.

Answer 10

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Answer 11

Oranges and Lemons is an English nursery rhyme which refers to the bells of several churches, all within or close to the City of London. In its common version, the lyrics refer to, in turn, St Clement Eastcheap, St Martin Orgar, St Sepulchre-without-Newgate (opposite the Old Bailey), St Leonard's, Shoreditch, St Dunstan's, Stepney, and St Mary-le-Bow. Some claim that the St Clement's mentioned is actually St Clement Danes. Given the present state of St Martin Orgar, St Martin-in-the-Fields makes a convenient stand-in.

The tune is reminiscent of change ringing, and the intonation of each line is said to correspond with the distinct sounds of each church's bells. Today, the bells of St Clement Danes actually ring out the tune of the rhyme.
The origins of Oranges and Lemons are not well known, but are thought to date to at least the 17th or 18th century. A square dance named "Oranges and Lemons" dates to 1665.[2]

The lyrics may reflect trades and activities which took place near the location of the churches mentioned.

Some believe that it may be a reference to when King Charles I was beheaded and all the church bells rang to mark his execution. The final lines in the children's party game may refer to capital punishment. The tenor bell of St Sepulchre-without-Newgate was rung to mark executions at Newgate prison.[2]

The BBC's editable reference site mentions a possible sexual meaning to the rhyme, focused on the last few lines: the "candle to light you to bed" is thought to refer to the newlyweds going off to bed to consummate the marriage, while the "head" to be removed is the bride's "maidenhead". Other phrases in the extended version of the rhyme are also interpreted to refer to other aspects of sexuality and the wedding night. [3] This interpretation also appears in Heavy Words Lightly Thrown (by Chris Roberts, 2003), a book about the meanings of common nursery rhymes. [5]