nursery rhymes

mistral · Post by **mistral** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 3:34 pm

Now that I have my very own little 4 month old grandson I have been remembering all the old nursery rhymes from the dark and distant past and there is one that has come back to me which my own Dundee Gran used to sing that went as follows -

"If a bogeyman should come at night
When you're tucked in bed without a light
Eyes like saucers give you such a fright
How would you like to be a baby girl?"

Can't remember feeling in the least bit scared when she sang it to me and my sisters but wonder what the PC brigade would think about it nowadays!!
Just wondering if anyone else has ever heard of it, I think there might have been some more verses but can't remember them now!

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:35 am

Hi Mistral
I've not come across that one before - scary stuff!

Best wishes
Lesley

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:23 am

Hello Mistral,

I’ve had a good look around for the poem but couldn’t find anything like it. Perhaps your Grandmother was a bit of a poet and it was her own handiwork.

The expression “Eyes like saucers” is a very old one and is maybe as old as saucers. A search of Google Books shows the expression has been used since at least the 1790s.

Alan

mistral · Post by **mistral** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:20 pm

Thanks for the feedback, Lesley and Alan

While not ruling it out completely, although my Gran loved to sing and recite poems, I don't think that she would have made up a song especially with those words! Will have to see if my Aunts have any ideas, they are the only ones now who might remember.

Another favourite of hers was "Bairnies Cuddle Doon" which, I have discovered from the Scottish Poetry Library website, was written by Alexander Anderson. The website also had the sequel called "Wauken Up" which I always thought was part of the same poem!!

Sylvia, alias Mistral