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Magpie rhyme
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One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told.... does anyone know 8,9 & 10?
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I believe there are hundreds of different versions going upto as far as 20 birds. They could possibly originate as far back as ancient celtic times from over 2000 years ago, when the Babd Catha hooded crow was an aspect of one of their battle Gods the Morrigan. The english language did not exist as such back then it was more like modern Welsh. Consequently the words dont translate but often the meanings are the same eg. line 2 is often "2 for Joy" but also "2 for mirth" in other versions. Here are some common ones:
1 for sorrow
2 for mirth
3 for a wedding
4 for a birth
5 for laughing
6 for crying
7 for sickness
8 for dying
9 brings silver
10 takes gold
11 a secret never to be told
1 for sorrow
2 for mirth
3 for a wedding
4 for a birth
5 for rich
6 for poor
7 for a witch (after this point many versions are sinister- usually ending with "I can tell you no more")
8 for a babe buried in the earth
9 for a whoring (sometimes kissing)
10 for crying
11 for wishing
12 life's no longer trying (or somekind of fulfillment " a time of joyous bliss" the words may be different but often the meanings are similar.
I would be very interested if anyone knows any Welsh , Scotish or Irish versions as they are less likely to be corrupted. I dont speak Welsh so please translate to english even if it doesnt rhyme. Could be of use in a book Im writing.
Cheers S Fulton
1 for sorrow
2 for mirth
3 for a wedding
4 for a birth
5 for laughing
6 for crying
7 for sickness
8 for dying
9 brings silver
10 takes gold
11 a secret never to be told
1 for sorrow
2 for mirth
3 for a wedding
4 for a birth
5 for rich
6 for poor
7 for a witch (after this point many versions are sinister- usually ending with "I can tell you no more")
8 for a babe buried in the earth
9 for a whoring (sometimes kissing)
10 for crying
11 for wishing
12 life's no longer trying (or somekind of fulfillment " a time of joyous bliss" the words may be different but often the meanings are similar.
I would be very interested if anyone knows any Welsh , Scotish or Irish versions as they are less likely to be corrupted. I dont speak Welsh so please translate to english even if it doesnt rhyme. Could be of use in a book Im writing.
Cheers S Fulton