Molly, my Sister,and I fell out nursery rhyme lyrics, origins and history

Nursery Rhymes

Molly, my Sister, and I fell out

We have placed this Nursery Rhyme, Molly, my sister, in our category 'Lost Lyrics of an Old Nursery Rhyme'. Can you help us identify the the place of origin or history of this lesser known children's nursery rhyme? Alternatively, do you know of any Nursery Rhymes that we might include in this unusual section? Can you remember a nursery rhyme that we have not included? Please e-mail us with any suggestions and become part of our Nursery Rhyme site (we will credit you with any additions!)

Molly, my Sister, and I fell out
Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history

Molly, my sister,
And I fell out,
And what do you think
It was all about?

She loved coffee
And I loved tea,
And that was the reason
We couldn't agree!

Our grateful thanks go to Tara LaBella for offering the following suggestion regarding the origins of the rhyme:

"I have a vague recollection that this rhyme is referring to the English Protestant Reformation -- that the Molly is, of course, Queen Mary I (Henry VIII's daughter) and that the unnamed speaker is her sister, Queen Elizabeth I, Roman and Anglican Catholics, respectively. "Tea" may be a reference to the "old world" (i.e. the "Old" religion of Roman Catholicism) while "coffee" is a reference to the "new world" of Anglicanism. Another suggestion is that the rhyme refers to two other sisters who did not get along - Mary II (William of Orange's wife) and her sister Queen Anne. Queen Anne was known to have taken an interest in the new fashion of tea-drinking, although it is not known whether her sister or brother-in-law had an interest in coffee -- either in drinking or production!"

Molly, my Sister, and I fell out
Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history

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