Where Do Nursery Rhymes Come From? See Saw Margery Daw

The nursery rhyme of See Saw Margery Daw first appeared in its modern form in Mother Goose's Melody, which was published in London in around 1765.

See-saw, Margery daw,
Johnny shall have a new master
He shall have but a penny a day
Because he can’t go any faster

I have come across a few possible meanings of the rhyme. One is just linked to a children's game. The see-saw is one of the oldest 'rides' for children and before they were constructed and put in playgrounds, children could play see-saw with logs of different sizes. The words of "See Saw Margery Daw" can reflect children playing on a see-saw and singing this rhyme to accompany their game. See-saw is played by two children sitting opposite each other holding hands and moving backwards and forwards in a rocking motion. When my children were babies I found it a great way to see which teeth had come through, as I was facing a smiley baby with an open mouth!

I couldn't identify anyone with the name Margery Daw and it is assumed that this was purely used to rhyme with the words 'see-saw'.

The rhyme may have its origins as a work song for people sawing logs, helping to keep rhythm when using a two-person saw.

"Daw" sometimes is said to mean a lazy person or an untidy woman, which links the rhyme with a nasty undercurrent..Johnny is sometimes substituted for Jacky or Jack.

The end of the rhyme could be linked to the use of child labour in work houses, where those with nowhere else to live would be forced to work for hardly any money, that is, a penny a day. They could be paid by the amount of work they managed to do, so only a penny a day because they can't work any faster. The words of "See Saw Margery Daw" could have been used to taunt a child by implying his family were poor and destined for the workhouse.

Previous posts: Where do nursery rhymes come from?

Little Miss Muffet

Wee Willie Winkie

Jack and Jill

Five little monekys jumping on the bed - it's a mystery

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Humpty Dumpty

Ring O' Roses

London's Burning

Politically correct nursery rhymes

At Musical Minis, we sing various songs and have fun with music to help your child develop. We aren't a stuffy music lesson but a chance for your children to enjoy themselves with music. Hope to see you there! Watch the video on the right for a good idea for how a session unfolds.

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