Lucy Locket Lyrics
Lucy Locket loses her pocket and Kitty Fisher finds it, but there is nothing inside. Children sing it to the tune of Yankee Doodle and play a hiding game in a circle.
Lucy Locket
Lucy Locket lost her pocket,
Kitty Fisher found it;
Nothing in it, nothing in it,
But the binding round it.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/lucy-locket/
- Type
- Mother Goose, Action Songs
- First published
- 1800s
- Tune
- Yankee Doodle
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Lucy Locket lost her pocket | Everyone sits in a circle while one child walks around the outside holding a handkerchief or small bag. |
| Kitty Fisher found it | The walker drops the "pocket" behind someone. |
| Nothing in it, nothing in it | That child picks it up and chases the walker around the circle. |
| But the binding round it | The walker tries to reach the empty spot before being tagged. |
What Does Lucy Locket Mean?
In the 1700s, a "pocket" was not sewn into clothes. It was a small cloth bag tied around the waist under a skirt, easy to lose. Lucy loses hers and Kitty finds it, but it's empty except for the binding, the ribbon edging around it.
Kitty Fisher was a real and famous name in 18th-century London, often drawn and written about, which may be why she ended up in the rhyme.
History and Origin
The rhyme was sung by English children in the 1800s, usually to the tune of Yankee Doodle, and it was often part of a circle game like drop the handkerchief.
Learning Activities
- Play the game: you need at least five children and a handkerchief or small bag.
- Make a pocket: sew or glue a simple cloth pouch with a ribbon to tie around the waist.
- Same tune: sing Yankee Doodle, then Lucy Locket, and hear how they match.