WE will go to the wood, says Robin to Bobbin,
We will go to the wood, says Richard to Robin,
We will go to the wood, says John all alone,
We will go to the wood, says everyone.
What to do there? says Robin to Bobbin,
What to do there? says Richard to Robin,
What to do there? says John all alone,
What to do there? says everyone.
We’ll shoot at a wren, says Robin to Bobbin,
We’ll shoot at a wren, says Richard to Robin,
We’ll shoot at a wren, says John all alone,
We’ll shoot at a wren, says everyone.
She’s down, she’s down, says Robin to Bobbin,
She’s down, she’s down, says Richard to Robin,
She’s down, she’s down, says John all alone,
She’s down, she’s down, says everyone.
Then pounce, then pounce, says Robin to Bobbin,
Then pounce, then pounce, says Richard to Robin,
Then pounce, then pounce, says John all alone,
Then pounce, then pounce, says everyone.
She is dead, she is dead, says Robin to Bobbin,
She is dead, she is dead, says Richard to Robin,
She is dead, she is dead, says John all alone,
She is dead, she is dead, says everyone.
In a cart with six horses, says Robin to Bobbin,
In a cart with six horses, says Richard to Robin,
In a cart with six horses, says John all alone,
In a cart with six horses, says everyone.
Then hoist, boys, hoist, says Robin to Bobbin,
Then hoist, boys, hoist, says Richard to Robin,
Then hoist, boys, hoist, says John all alone,
Then hoist, boys, hoist, says everyone.
How shall we dress her? says Robin to Bobbin,
How shall we dress her? says Richard to Robin,
How shall we dress her? says John all alone,
How shall we dress her? says everyone.
We’ll hire seven cooks, says Robin to Bobbin,
We’ll hire seven cooks, says Richard to Robin,
We’ll hire seven cooks, says John all alone,
We’ll hire seven cooks, says everyone.
How shall we boil her? says Robin to Bobbin,
How shall we boil her? says Richard to Robin,
How shall we boil her? says John all alone,
How shall we boil her? says everyone.
In the brewer’s big pan, says Robin to Bobbin,
In the brewer’s big pan, says Richard to Robin,
In the brewer’s big pan, says John all alone,
In the brewer’s big pan, says everyone.
‘The Cutty Wren’ – one of many rhymes written in a cumulative way (see For Want of a Nail, The House That Jack Built and Who Killed Cock Robin?) – derives from an ancient custom, once widespread throughout the British Isles. The tradition of hunting the wren was carried out on St Stephen’s Day (26 December). The antiquary and writer John Aubrey (1626-97) tells of ‘a whole Parish running like madmen from Hedge to Hedge a Wren-hunting’. Parties of men and boys killed one or more wrens (or pretended to do so), which they then placed in a garland-like ‘bush’ or special box and perambulated the village, singing, dancing, playing instruments and collecting money. The rhyme was chanted in the ceremonial procession after the kill had been made.
Part of the Boxing Day ritual seems to stem from this tiny bird being treated as if it were larger than an elephant. The wren, whose feathers were thought to provide protection against shipwreck, was regarded as the king of birds, due to an ancient folk tale. According to this, in a competition to see who should be king of the birds, the eagle flew higher and faster than all the others. Just as he was proclaiming his victory, the wren, who had hidden in his feathers, popped out and flew a few inches higher, claiming the crown.