There She Stands, a Lovely Creature Lyrics
A suitor offers gold, houses and ships to the lady he has chosen, and she answers that all she wants is a nice young man.
There She Stands, a Lovely Creature
"There she stands, a lovely creature,
Who she is, I do not know;
I have caught her for her beauty,
Let her answer, yes or no.
"Madam, I have gold and silver,
Lady, I have houses and lands,
Lady, I have ships on the ocean,
All I have is at thy command."
"What care I for your gold and silver,
What care I for your houses and lands,
What care I for your ships on the ocean,
All I want is a nice young man."
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/there-she-stands-a-lovely-creature/
- Type
- Action Songs
- Tune
- Sung in a ring, a suitor in the middle and the chosen partner answering
- Best for ages
- 5 to 9 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| There she stands, a lovely creature | Look round the ring and point politely to someone. |
| Let her answer, yes or no | Nod or shake your head in answer. |
| What care I for your ships on the ocean | Shake your head and wave a hand as if brushing the offer aside. |
What Does There She Stands, a Lovely Creature Mean?
The first verse is the suitor's: he has seen a lady, does not know her name, and says he chose her for her beauty. He asks her to say yes or no. In the second verse he lists what he owns, gold and silver, houses and lands, ships on the ocean, and puts it all at her command.
The last verse is the lady's reply, and it is the twist. She does not care about gold, houses or ships; all she wants is a nice young man. That makes the rich offer funny and the answer easy to sing out.
History and Origin
William Wells Newell prints the song in Games and Songs of American Children, from New York. He says it was recited to him by informants of the most cultivated class and was also played as a round by the children of the street, in words that were identical in both cases.
Newell calls it an old English song, fitted for a ring game by an added verse, which allows a player to choose a partner.
Learning Activities
- Choosing a partner: stand in a ring with one child in the middle, who points politely to the next partner.
- Silly riches: make up other things the suitor could own, such as castles or a hundred hats.
- Answer in song: let the child who is chosen sing the third verse alone, with a big gesture.