London Bridge is Falling Down
Version 1
London bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.
Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold.
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair lady.
London bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.
(Mother Goose Club Version)
Version 2
London bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.
Build it up with iron bars,
Iron bars, iron bars.
Build it up with iron bars,
My fair lady.
Iron bars will bend and break,
Bend and break, bend and break.
Iron bars will bend and break,
My fair lady.
Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold.
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair lady.
Source: Wier, Songs the Children Love to Sing (1916)
Version 3
London Bridge is broken down,
Dance over my lady Lee;
London Bridge is broken down,
With the gay lady.
How shall we mend it up again ?
Dance over my lady Lee;
How shall we mend it up again
For the gay lady ?
We will mend it up with gravel and sand,
Dance over my lady Lee;
We will mend it up with gravel and sand
For the gay lady.
But gravel and sand will wash away,
Dance over my lady Lee;
Gravel and sand will wash away
From the gay ladv.
We will mend it up with iron and steel,
Dance over my lady Lee;
We will mend it up with iron and steel
For the gay lady.
But iron and steel will bend and break.
Dance over my lady Lee;
Iron and steel will bend and break,
With the gay lady.
We will mend it up with silver and gold,
Dance over my lady Lee;
We will mend it up with silver and gold
For the gay lady.
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
Dance over my lady Lee;
Silver and gold will be stolen away
From the gay lady.
We will put a man to watch all night,
Dance over my lady Lee;
We will put a man to watch all night
For the gay lady.
Suppose the man should fall asleep ?
Dance over my lady Lee;
Suppose the man should fall asleep?
My gay lady!
We will put a pipe into his mouth,
Dance over my lady Lee;
We will put a pipe into his mouth,
For the gay lady.
Source: Newell, Games and Songs of American Children (1903)
Historical Background
“London Bridge” is reputedly written in reference to King Henry VIII of England (1491 – 1547) and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, the mother of Queen Elizabeth I. The earliest version of the rhyme appears in “Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book,” published around 1744, titled “London Bridge Is Broken Down.” In this early text, “Lady Lee” is supposedly Lady Margaret Wyatt, a childhood friend of Anne, and eventually her faithful lady-in-waiting. The victim of a conspiracy among Henry’s advisors, Anne Boleyn was falsely convicted of adultery and high treason and consequently executed; the lyrics of rhyme are said to document her rise and fall. Though destroyed and rebuilt many times (most recently in 1973), the London Bridge was first constructed by the Romans in 50 AD, and remains one of the most famous landmarks in London to this day.
Download the sheet music of this rhyme
