ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE NURSERY RHYMES

🕰 Origins

First Recorded – The earliest known printed version appeared in Songs for the Nursery (London, 1805), though oral versions likely existed in England and colonial America in the late 18th century.
American Folklore Evidence – Folklorist Henry Carrington Bolton documented a longer version remembered in Massachusetts as early as 1780, showing how the rhyme evolved regionally.
Counting Tradition – Part of the long‑standing English “counting‑out” rhyme tradition, used both for play and early numeracy.
Variations – Early UK versions differed after “twelve,” with lines like “draw the curtain” or “maid’s in the kitchen,” while US versions often included “kill a fat hen” and “bake it well”.

📜 Meaning

Literal Function – A sequential counting rhyme from 1 to 20, pairing each number with a simple, often domestic action.
Educational Purpose – Designed to teach children numbers, sequencing, and rhythm through repetition.
Metaphorical Reading – Some interpretations see it as a light allegory for work ethic and life progression: prepare (buckle shoes), act (open the door), work (pick up sticks), enjoy rewards (fat hen), and engage in social life (maids a‑courting).

🌟 Fun Facts

Illustrated Classics – Victorian illustrators like Walter Crane and Augustus Hoppin created richly detailed picture‑book editions in the mid‑19th century.
Global Reach – The rhyme has been adapted into multiple languages and localised versions, sometimes changing the objects or actions to fit cultural contexts.
Modern Pop Culture – Recently revived as a meme and remixed in music on platforms like TikTok, showing its adaptability across centuries.
Extended Versions – Some historical renditions go well beyond 20, adding whimsical hunting or cooking imagery.

One, two
Buckle my shoe,
Three, four
Open on the door,
Five, six
Pick up sticks,
Seven, eight
Lay them straight,
Nine, ten
A good fat hen,
Eleven, twelve
Dig and delve,
Thirteen, fourteen
Maids a-courting,
Fifteen, sixteen
Maids in the kitchen,
Seventeen, eighteen
Maids a-waiting,
Nineteen, twenty
My plate’s empty.