I Had a Little Nut Tree

Version 1

I had a little nut tree.
Nothing would it bear,
But a silver nutmeg
And a golden pear.

The King of Spain's daughter
Came to visit me,
And all for the sake
Of my little nut tree.

Source: Bullard The Most Popular Mother Goose Songs (1910)

Version 2

I had a little nut-tree, nothing would it bear
But a silver nutmeg and a golden pear;
The king of Spain's daughter came to visit me,
And all was because of my little nut-tree.

I skipped over water, I danced over sea,
And all the birds in the air couldn't catch me.

Source: Smith, The Little Mother Goose (1912)

Historical Background

“I Had a Little Nut Tree” is believed to have first been published in 1797 in “Newest Christmas Box.” James Orchard Halliwell claimed the rhyme refers to Juana of Castile, who visited the court of Henry VII in 1506. Having both been widowed, Juana and Henry VII were pressured to marry each other; however, the marriage never happened. Another theory claims the rhyme celebrates Queen Catherine of Aragon, King Henry VIII’s first wife and Juana’s sister. Juana and Catherine were daughters of Ferdinand and Isabella, the Spanish monarchs who commissioned Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the New World.

Download the sheet music of this rhyme