As I Was A-going by a Little Pig-sty Lyrics
A jacket is hung up next to a petticoat to keep it company, the wind blows hard, and both of them tumble into the well.
As I Was A-going by a Little Pig-sty
As I was a-going by a little pig-sty,
I saw a child's petticoat hanging to dry,
I took off my jacket and hung it hard by,
To bear the petticoat company.
The wind blew high, and down they fell;
Jacket and petticoat into the well.
Into the well, into the well,
Jacket and petticoat into the well.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/as-i-was-a-going-by-a-little-pig-sty/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken or sung
- Best for ages
- 2 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Hanging to dry | Pretend to peg clothes on a line. |
| The wind blew high | Blow hard and sway your arms. |
| Into the well | Crouch down low, as if falling in. |
What Does As I Was A-going by a Little Pig-sty Mean?
A petticoat is a skirt worn under a dress, and in the past children wore them too. The speaker sees one drying on a line by the pigsty and hangs a jacket hard by, meaning close by, so the petticoat will not be lonely. It is a silly kindness, and the wind spoils it: both pieces of clothing land in the well.
History and Origin
The rhyme is printed in National Rhymes of the Nursery. Wells were the main water supply in many villages, and washing was dried on lines, hedges and bushes nearby, so the scene would have been familiar to every child who heard it.
Learning Activities
- Washing line: peg doll clothes on a string and blow them with a fan.
- Keep it company: pair up odd socks so none of them is lonely.
- Echo game: say "into the well" in a deep, echoing voice.